Although I’ll score that one as the Democrats being slightly more idiotic about this. Slightly.
Not sure what’s more idiotic 4th of July-themed legislation: GOP’s annual flag burn ban or Dems’ ban on foreign-made flags? #RememberFreedom
— Kevin Binversie (@kevinbinversie) June 28, 2013
Team Elephant, and all that.
Moe Lane
PS: Burning an American flag is an immoral and insulting act. It is, alas, also a generally-recognized method of communicating a specific idea, and as such is in fact covered by the First Amendment. There’s no freaking point in arguing that by now.
My question for both sides, in light of the ongoing debate over immigration: Is burning a Mexican flag an act of constitutionally-protected free speech or a vicious hate crime that should be criminally prosecuted?
I will say that I found Bill Buckley’s reasoning for passing a constitutional amendment banning flag-burning compelling: namely that the populace needs reminding that the people are the final say as to our laws and Constitution, not the Supreme Court. The flag-burning amendment he was proposing didn’t even ban flag-burning, it just made it clear that Congress had the power to ban it if it wanted to.
Could we equate the burning of a U.S. flag, not in the process of disposal, as fighting words?
Sorry for jumping in on this, but I need to point out that the PS should read:
“Burning an American flag is an immoral and insulting act [unless you are properly retiring one that can no longer wave (faded beyond recognition, seams busted, edges frayed, et cetera)].”
Well worn flags deserve their viking-esque funeral.
But, yeah, burning flags for the purposes of says “[Expletive deleted] you, America!” or “I’m at a protest!” is repugnant.
Yes, true. I’ve always wanted a retirement method for flags that was more… appropriate… though. And by ‘appropriate’ I mean ‘involved with killing Bad Guys.’