[Modernman]

Freedom of speech has nothing to do with desecrating the American flag.

Burning the flag is a very clear political message. We might not like the message, but it is still speech.

[JCEccles]

Burning the flag is a very clear political message. We might not like the message, but it is still speech.

By that same standard, reasonable force by a private citizen to prevent the public burning of a flag can be considered symbolic free speech.

[so_real]

Burning the flag is a very clear political message. We might not like the message, but it is still speech.

But so is yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater. There are limits even to the expression of free speech. Some of us simply find desecrating the symbol of our nation closer to yelling "Fire!" than others do.