House Approves Flag-Burning Amendment

[Black_Hole]

I am against flag burning, but there is no need to put something in our nation's greatest document to outlaw it...

 

[JohnRM]

American and disapprove.

 

[vikingruler]

I agree with the Amendment of burning the flag being illegal. Also, the American flag isn't just a piece of cloth, it is ingrained in American culture. For instance, many songs refer or the basis of them is the United States flag. A very notable one is the National Anthem, "And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that the FLAG was still there". Another song that not everyone might have heard of is "Your a Grand Old Flag", the title alone conveys the importance of the flag. So burning the flag is burning part of America's culture, but not just any part, a cornerstone. The flag shouldn't be descreated and anyone who does, deserves to be reprimanded.

 

[Atlas14]

Flag burning is outragous. If you hate America that much move out. If you can't afford to move out, then don't waste your money on matches and a flag next time. Freedom of speech is one thing; burning the symbol of our country's heritage, culture/history, and pride is another. Lines can be drawn with every other situation, this is where the line should be drawn with freedom of expression.

 

[Elrohir]

The constitution would be like the Bible, full of contradictions.

That was a cheap shot.


I'm an American and I oppose the Amendment. Not because I approve of burning the flag (Except for the purpose of ceremonially retiring the flag, which I have participated in) but because I don't think this is worth amending the Constitution over. I think it should be a matter for the State's to decide whether or not it should be outlawed.

 

[VoodooAce]

If you are burning a flag, then that means you truly hate this country, which means you shouldn't be living here.

Wrong. This irritates me to no end.

I don't hate America, but if this amendment passes, I'll burn a flag out of protest with no guilt whatsoever. I wouldn't think of doing so unless this amendment were to pass, which it won't.

The nerve to have someone tell me this. I volunteered to serve in the US Army to help protect this country.

You should think before you type.

 

[OrpheusPrime]

Im totally behind the Dems on this one. The law against burning the flag undermines the freedom that the flag stands for.

I wouldn't burn one myself but id rather not put more limitations on personal freedoms in this country.

 

[Jack the Ripper]

Has anyone mentioned flag retirement burnings/ceremonies?

 

[Bootstoots]

I agree with the Amendment of burning the flag being illegal. Also, the American flag isn't just a piece of cloth, it is ingrained in American culture. For instance, many songs refer or the basis of them is the United States flag. A very notable one is the National Anthem, "And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that the FLAG was still there". Another song that not everyone might have heard of is "Your a Grand Old Flag", the title alone conveys the importance of the flag. So burning the flag is burning part of America's culture, but not just any part, a cornerstone. The flag shouldn't be descreated and anyone who does, deserves to be reprimanded.

It is irrelevant that the flag is ingrained in American culture and that various "patriotic" songs refer to it. The banning of a distasteful symbolic act, in this case the burning of the American flag, is a flagrant violation of freedom of expression, which is (at least as far as I can tell) what our country stands for.

Flag burning is outragous. If you hate America that much move out. If you can't afford to move out, then don't waste your money on matches and a flag next time. Freedom of speech is one thing; burning the symbol of our country's heritage, culture/history, and pride is another. Lines can be drawn with every other situation, this is where the line should be drawn with freedom of expression.

The burning of a flag, as VoodooAce and others have pointed out, does not necessarily mean that one hates the country and everything it stands for. It may be intended as a very strong protest against a certain governmental action. And why should the burning of what you see as "the symbol of our country's heritage, culture/history, and pride" be illegal? You may be offended, but a large part of what this country stands for, what I love about it, is that you have the right to be offensive. It is part of the freedom of expression. You mention limiting this freedom, the basic tenet upon which most of our other freedoms are based, to exclude the burning of the flag. I'm asking you: why should a country that believes in freedom ban the commission of a certain offensive act, regardless of whether or not that act expresses contempt for the country's "heritage, culture/history, and pride"?

 

[Lonkut]

Lol WTH happened to the Bill 'o rights? if they ban flag-burning whats next? no talking against government? and next thing u know the bill 'o rights is getting thrown out because its a threat to national security. Talk about 'a free country'.

 

[Lonkut]

Flag burning is outragous. If you hate America that much move out. If you can't afford to move out, then don't waste your money on matches and a flag next time. Freedom of speech is one thing; burning the symbol of our country's heritage, culture/history, and pride is another. Lines can be drawn with every other situation, this is where the line should be drawn with freedom of expression.

I agree with the Amendment of burning the flag being illegal. Also, the American flag isn't just a piece of cloth, it is ingrained in American culture. For instance, many songs refer or the basis of them is the United States flag. A very notable one is the National Anthem, "And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that the FLAG was still there". Another song that not everyone might have heard of is "Your a Grand Old Flag", the title alone conveys the importance of the flag. So burning the flag is burning part of America's culture, but not just any part, a cornerstone. The flag shouldn't be descreated and anyone who does, deserves to be reprimanded.

Oh man thats the dumbest thing a patriot has ever said. I got nothing against this country but I should be able to burn whatever the hell I want unless it doesn't endager the life of others. Oh and IT IS just a piece of cloth.

 

[Nobody]

what are you meant to do with old flags?

 

[IglooDame]

Has anyone mentioned flag retirement burnings/ceremonies?

Yes. The amendment is not specifically outlawing flag-burning, it is outlawing flag desecration. Thus, ceremonial burning of old flags by Boy Scouts and the like would not be affected. And actually, it is not in and of itself outlawing flag desecration, it is granting Congress the constitutional power to do so.

 

[Gothmog]

For those of you against this amendment and what it stands for...

why do you hate freedom?

Remember, you're either for us or against us.






Seriously, does anyone know what they would do about flags that look a lot like the american one but are slightly different? For example different number of stripes, or a circle in place of one of the stars?

Basically I agree with those who said that any law against flag burning on ideological grounds undermines the freedom that the flag is supposed to stand for.

 

[nonconformist]

Yes. The amendment is not specifically outlawing flag-burning, it is outlawing flag desecration. Thus, ceremonial burning of old flags by Boy Scouts and the like would not be affected. And actually, it is not in and of itself outlawing flag desecration, it is granting Congress the constitutional power to do so.

Desecration assumes that the object is sacred. I think this is another expression of the all-too-common American "God Bless America" syndrome.

 

[Renata]

For those of you against this amendment and what it stands for...

why do you hate freedom?

Remember, you're either for us or against us.

Did it hurt you to say that?

Seriously, does anyone know what they would do about flags that look a lot like the american one but are slightly different? For example different number of stripes, or a circle in place of one of the stars?

No idea. The amendment is stupid on so many levels.

Renata

 

[IglooDame]

Desecration assumes that the object is sacred. I think this is another expression of the all-too-common American "God Bless America" syndrome.

I think you're right. I'm just explaining that "but we won't be able to properly dispose of worn flags" is not an argument against the amendment. If you want to oppose it, oppose it based on Stratego/Gothmog's point that people will start burning "almost-flags" instead, and more importantly that it is limiting one of the freedoms that the flag stands for in the first place and turns the symbol into an irony.

 

[Gothmog]

Renata wrote:

Did it hurt you to say that?

Yeah, I definitely sprained something...

 

[Bigfoot]

The amendment will never be adapted anyway, it is unlikely to get past the Senate and there is no way it will get ratified by 3/4 of the states. The House members knew that going in, this is just more political posturing intended to prove how 'patriotic' they all are.

 

[CurtSibling]

Foreigners probably don't understand this, but the Constitution in the United States is considered somewhat of a sacred document, and many of us consider it above mere policy. That's why a lot of people who oppose gay marriage (such as myself) opposed the Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage -- it's just not the level of stuff that the constitution deals with.

What I understand is that many Americans are just too idealistic and lose sight of the important factors.

What the hell does a flag matter. The nation and the people matter, not meaningless bits of cloth...

Hollywood has contaminated reality over there, it seems!