My random thoughts, all in once place, so they are easier to skip over:
Some of the arguments for a flag-burning amendment seem too much to me like the arguments for hate crimes legislation --- which I'm also against.
Does "hate" make the crime worse? Does burning a flag while committing treason make the treason worse? (I know some of you will say yes there.)
As others have mentioned, it's also a minor infringement on property rights, as long as it's your own flag.
I'd also be wary that if burning one symbol is made illegal, what is next? Burning effigies of politicians (Republicans, of course) --- I've seen it, and it bothers me more than burning a flag does. Actually got yelled at by a hippy for calling the burner an idiot. (Sorry for the slippery slope argument).
I can't even say I'd never, ever burn the flag. (The skies still appear to be clear outside ...) It's a symbol ... but what if it someday becomes a symbol of something I no longer support? I could never see not supporting the government of my country ... but I'm sure many of the Founding Fathers didn't expect it to happen, either.
If the American flag is, twenty years from now, revised with a big portait of Quenn Hillary in the middle, wouldn't you be tempted to burn it?
Of course, the lack of the right to burn a flag at that point would be the least of our problems.
That said, one of the coolest things I've ever seen photos of is Rick Monday snatching Old Glory from some flag-buring idiots. Think about it - when a flag is burned in this country, who's side usually comes out looking better? If you support a flag-burning amendment for purely symbolic reasons -- and many of you do -- what's a more powerful symbol, a lone ballplayer saving the flag from desecration, or police in riot gear beating down a lone flag-burner?
The former, which is exactly the point I've been making.
Thank you.
So, if burning the flag is free speech, then you're saying that you support the suppression of free speech, as long as its done by a baseball player?
So, if burning the flag is free speech, then you're saying that you support the suppression of free speech, as long as its done by a baseball player?