Flag Protection: New Poll Shows Over 80 Percent of Americans Support It

US Newswire ^ | 6/20/05

[NeoCaveman]

First rule of politics: When you see an 80% issue stand next to it, smile and wave.

[JCEccles]

No. I'm saying if you pull a flag out on a public street and commence to urinate on it, soak it with lighter fluid, and set fire to it, a veteran with an opposing opinion ought to have the right to employ reasonable force to prevent you.

Now in some places, Berkeley and Boston come to mind, you shouldn't have any problem at all. You problem there is that you might have too many people crowded around with their pants down, helping you out.

But in Texas, it might be problem for you. Not because of a criminal statute, but because other people are more likely to have a different opinion and just as strong of a desire to express it.

Please pay attention.

[Modernman]

"Citizens" burning an American Flag as part of an I-Hate-America-Political-Statement may also cause bodily harm in the near term if the Flag burner is surrounded by veterans :-)

And I would be in favor of arresting those veterans, if they acted like thugs. None of the veterans I know would do such things.

More importantly it may indirectly cause even more public harm as it emboldens enemies foreign and domestic and demoralizes our armed forces.

Repressing free speech is, in the long term, much more dangerous to our Republic than the actions of a few moronic commie flag-burners.

[Publius Valerius]

Why just flag burning?

Now you are singling out a type of speech--content based regulation, and that's certainly strikes at the core of the First Amendment.

If you don't like flag burning, walk away. Grow up.

[TheOtherOne]

Who needs liberals when you have other FReepers to argue with?

[No Dems 2004]

"I'm not willing to molest the Constitution just to show a bunch of foreigners that their protests bother me."

Your view is very strange, indeed. It's clear that we just don't agree. The American flag should be regarded as sacred, in a way, and we have the support to pass the amendment, let's do it. If you want to defend flag-burners, then be my guest. But I for one support this amendment.

[billbears]

More importantly it may indirectly cause even more public harm as it emboldens enemies foreign and domestic and demoralizes our armed forces.

What next? Illegal to speak out against leaders during times of foreign police actions?

[Modernman]

I'm saying if you pull a flag out on a public street and commence to urinate on it, soak it with lighter fluid, and set fire to it, a veteran with an opposing opinion ought to have the right to employ reasonable force to prevent you.

Veterans should be allowed to act like thugs?

[Publius Valerius]

None of the veterans I know would do such things.

You got that right. A number of members of my immediate family are current or former military, and none of them support such an amendment.

[TheOtherOne]

If you don't like flag burning, walk away. Grow up.

Or better yet, he can make a giant sign, saying whatever he wants about the flag burner. Does he fear that his ideas cannot compete with a flag burner?

[No Dems 2004]

"You know it, I know it. You're just trying to rationalize in order to make yourself feel better about banning speech."

Your views are also very odd and it marvels me that someone would fight so hard for people to be able to desecrate our flag. But I guess some people just don't think things through.

Let's pass the amendment . . .

[Modernman]

You got that right. A number of members of my immediate family are current or former military, and none of them support such an amendment.

Veterans understand what they are fighting and dying for. Government repression of free speech is something our veterans fight against.

[Publius Valerius]

Yeah, I guess not. Have you figured out how burning a flag isn't speech yet? Once you think that through, let me know.

[TheOtherOne]

If you have ever lived in countries that hate America or where hatred of America exists, believe me you would understand why I don't mind the flag being protected. The flag represents our country and it is totally stupid to let people burn the flag to show their rage against America.

I don't think this is taking away free speech from Americans.

You do realize that this ammendment, even if it passed, would not outlaw flag burning in those foriegn countries that bothers you so much.

The only people this affect is Americans or others on American soil.

[highball]

Right. Mob rule.

Thanks, but no thanks. I love freedom too much to subject it to the whim of a group of people on the street.

[so_real]

But let's not have government criminalize flag burning. That's not appropriate. Let's just let the flag burner risk feeling the immediate consequences of his public free speech as expressed by private citizen who disagree.

I totally agree. No one is "free" from the consequences of "free" speech.

[highball]

it marvels me that someone would fight so hard for people to be able to desecrate our flag.

Hey, some people are antiquated enough to actually care about the values of this nation instead of fighting solely for their own petty preferences.

I'm not surprised that you don't recognize it - it seems a lost cause these days.

[highball]

You really think that mob violence should be used to punish speech we don't like?

Really?

[RightWhale]

The national flag is not in the Constitution. There is some question of what the flag actually is in appearance and which version is oficially in use.

[JCEccles]

It's not mob rule. It's how people in our nation handled such problems before the Supreme Court decided flag desecrators have superior rights of free speech over other people.

The American way is to roll up your sleeves and defend what needs defending.