Posted on 11/29/2016 5:43:34 AM PST by SamAdams76
President Elect Donald Trump put out an interesting tweet this morning: "Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag - if they do, there must be consequences - perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!"
Maybe some 4-D chess going on? I also found this, Trump's Tweet coupled with a "Flag Protection Act" bill that none other than Crooked Hillary Clinton introduced to the senate floor in 2005.
Anyway, this should provoke some interesting discussion as well as another meltdown from the Left.
You are allowed to burn the American flag in this country, but don’t ever get caught burning a Rainbow Flag!
Good idea...and the UN rag as well.
What a great way to think about this issue.
Can you burn a rainbow flag or an Isis flag or a BLM flag etc etc in this country? The American Flag has become like the Christian/Jew, the only group that it is ok to disparage publically.
“What other expressions of speech or thought should the Federal Government be able to imprison you over?”
Let’s draw the line at publicly smashing things and/or lighting things on fire (other than lanterns and properly contained, permitted bonfires). We can discuss the constitutionality of throwing feces or smearing objects you don’t own with feces.
I watched a speach by, Scalia where he addressed this very topic as a jurist. It was something to the effect of people who burn the flag suck but nothing in the constitution says you can’t, their you go shut the book and go to bed. Then I think he said something about plastering their face aim over so prospective future employers could get a good look at them
It’s political speech, the most precious and important right that we have. We have the right to petition the government for grievances, and for the government to start imposing limits on free expression of political speech would make a mockery of our freedom of speech and expression. Scalia was, as usual, exactly correct.
Yes, because Scalia was not afraid to rule the right way, even knowing it would be unpopular.
Seems like there should be some things off limits. Don’t go reductio ad absurdum on us.
Well, you’re getting off topic here. Trump’s tweet was specifically about flag burning protest. The last thing we want is an authoritarian government telling us when/if/how we can express our thought and/or speech. Maybe you’d like Cuba better?
The only problem with that position is the fact that many people fought and died to protect the right to burn the flag.
Congress is not empowered to legislative flag burning.
I want people who take the decision to burn their flag to be able to do so out in the open where I can see who they are.
The reason I wouldn’t burn my flag is that I don't want to, not because it is illegal to do so.
Let them burn their flag out in the open where we can observe them. It is illegal for someone to burn my flag and I intend to see that law strictly enforced. It is also illegal for someone to create public hazard and that should law should also be strictly enforced.
Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants. If the broad light of day could be let in upon men’s actions, it would purify them as the sun disinfects.
It was illegal prior to 1990. I know the Constitution - can’t seem to find the flag burning part.
It’s not absurd at all. It’s fundamental to our individual liberty to express thought and/or speech. And, further, who gets to decide what should be “off limits”.
Big Government has no business telling people, no matter how moronic they are, what forms of peaceful political protest are acceptable to The State.
I completely agree!
As for those of us who may not be up to the stomping of crap, may I suggest the always handy fire extinguisher for use on any object in the area?
Message is being sent to muzzies and libs. I like it!
No 5 to 4 in the SCOTUS as free speech. 1 vote short of the 1 vote needed in CONgress I heard this morning.
I have a pretty good sense of decorum. I’d be happy to be the final arbiter.
The reason I wouldn’t burn my flag is that I don't want to, not because it is illegal to do so.
I agree 100%. Let the democrats be the party of restricting what you do with your personal property, let them be the party of bans and suppression. Men and women have scarified limbs and life for that flag, it deserves honor and respect and I choose to pay that respect.
This issue here the same issue as with any and all political issues, it is an issue of LIBERTY.
They fought and died to protect this country. I don’t think our military is going after isis because they want to kill our flag burners.
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