If I were to grant you, for the sake of argument, that burning Old Glory was 'political speech' (even though I hate the notion...it's the exact same corruption of the language that is used to justify the most explicit forms of pornography), would you agree that it is a VILE form of political speech?
Come to think of it, if it IS speech, I'd have to say that it's the equivalent of fighting words.
If I was on a jury, I think I'd have a hard time voting to convict a man charged with beating the cr*p out some Leftist scumbag who was caught in the act of burning our flag.
I certainly don't agree with the sentiments behind the burning of a flag (at least in the context of political protest), but I wouldn't grant that they are fighting words. First, I've never heard of a fight breaking out over such an act, so it doesn't seem to apply. Secondly, I'm not real impressed with the concept of "fighting words" to begin with. If I was on a jury, I'd have no problem convicting a man charged with beating the crap out of some Leftist scumbag who was caught in the act of burning a flag. As far as I'm concerned, the proper response to free speech you don't like is to engage in free speech yourself. Smacking someone around on that pretext is what we have to teach 6-year olds not to do. Adults should be prosecuted for it.