[billbears]

Now I own the album. Does that give me the right to make endless copies of it and ship them to China to satisfy the musical cravings of tens of millions of Neil Diamond fans? Limitations are placed on private property all the time.

Nope not the same. However I would be a little concerned you spent $10 on a Neil Diamond album...In that case you are stealing from Neil Diamond, you are infringing upon his right (and the right of the corporation that published the album) to make a profit. Your rights to do with your property or act as you see fit stops when you infringe upon the rights of another. Pride in a symbol is going to be a little hard to define as a right.

It would be the same however if you chose to use the Neil Diamond CD as target practice on the practice range.

[durasell]

There are similarities. People like nmh -- and he/she is by no means alone -- feel a vested interest in the flag. A type of ownership. That ownership may not be legally enforced, but it's certainly a real thing.