[wideawake]

I would hold up the right for someone to burn a flag. I would also support anyone who beat up a person burning a flag (that would be a form of expression too.)

When I was in college I said the exact same thing: "Go ahead and burn it - but don't be surprised when I bust your jaw for ya when you do it."

The response of the left then was: "Burning the flag is speech, hitting a flagburner is assault."

My response was: "According to the law, there are such things as 'fighting words' - if flagburning is speech, it's also 'fighting words' and there is no reason why I should get in trouble if you intentionally provoke me like that."

This is still how I feel and it's common sense. Flagburning is intended to be a provocative act purposely done to enrage patriots.

[dfwgator]

But go ahead and try to burn a Rainbow Flag, you'll get charged with a hate crime.

[Stashiu]

I have buried my comrades with that flag over their caskets. You try to burn it, I will try to stop you.

[Graymatter]

The response of the left then was: "Burning the flag is speech, hitting a flagburner is assault."
My response was: "According to the law, there are such things as 'fighting words' - if flagburning is speech, it's also 'fighting words' and there is no reason why I should get in trouble if you intentionally provoke me like that."

That is an excellent argument. I have never heard it before. Thank you very much!