[nmh]

"But, the Durbin amendment had that provision that if you used a flag as toilet paper after discrediting heroic efforts in the middle east and were a leftist, you could burn them by the dozen."

Exactly.

It defeats the purpose of the original amendment -

NO FLAG BURNING!

Burning a flag totally disrespects those who DIED for it. It's a symbol that gave them hope and pride.

If you can't ARTICULATE your disagreement - burning a flag won't do it. Burning a flag is NOT SPEECH. It is a despicable ACT.

[Dimensio]

Burning a flag totally disrespects those who DIED for it.

Disrespect is despiciable, but I do not see just cause in outlawing such a show of disrespect just to outlaw disrespect. Such acts only draw further undeserved attention to the flag burners.

[Publius Valerius]

It's not speech? It doesn't send a message? Sounds like it conveys a message, especially since you're getting so fired up over the message that it sends.

Sorry that you don't like the content of the message, but deal. Being a grown-up means dealing with things you don't like.

[PackerBoy]

I am very conservative. I oppose the Flag Amendment because it curtails one form of free political speech, however revolting that form might be to you and me. Freedom of speech means the right to offend others through spoken words, written words and symbolic acts.

In 1776, or in 1789, do you think our Founding Fathers would have opposed flag burning? I think not!

[discostu]

Burning a flag is speech, it's stupid speech, but it's speech. And it's even political stupid speech, which is exactly what the First Ammendment is supposed to be protecting. This new ammendment is an abomination against everything this country stands for.

[Auntie Dem]

... If you can't ARTICULATE your disagreement - burning a flag won't do it. Burning a flag is NOT SPEECH. It is a despicable ACT.

Giving somebody the finger is an ACT, but it says something too.

Personally, I oppose an amendment banning flag burning. I think a law that says anyone assaulting anyone burning a flag cannot be prosecuted for assault would work for me.

If burning a flag is speech, then that "speech" is "Fighting Words", and deserves an appropriate response: A couple of left jabs, two rights to the face, an uppercut to the jaw, and a size 12 to the groin would do it.

How many of these left-wing scumbags have the guts to take a beating for their despicable acts? None. Flag burnings would practically disappear from public discourse.

[Solitar]

The amendment prohibits desecration -- which can be done in many different ways.

It does not explicity prohibit burning of the flag. The flag would still be burnt in an honorable fashion such as when VFW and American Legion posts dispose of unserviceable flags.