Flag Burning

[Dante]

Should Flag burning be against the law?

[MoveAlong]

No. Freedom of expression - People who watch the person dishonor a flag would be mad, but that's at the person's own risk. Plus they're still protected under the law.

Tho I still wouldn't do that :P

[Booman5]

No it shouldn't be against the law, the flag is a symbol and everything can be a symbol. For instance a tree is a symbol, to me, of peace and nature, but people burn trees all the time. In essence by burning a flag you are burning a piece of cloth, to some that cloth symbolizes something, and the burning of that cloth is also a symbol. This would be freedom of expression, even though many view it as an act of hate.

[theonetheycallbob]

I'm very unsure on this one. I agree that it is freedom of expression, but at the same time you are disgraceing our country. There are other ways of expressing your anger or dis-pleasure with the government. Peaceful marches. Remember, that flag and those who faught for it, died for it, are the reasons your able have such freedoms.

[Ethannnnnn]

I'm very unsure on this one. I agree that it is freedom of expression, but at the same time you are disgraceing our country. There are other ways of expressing your anger or dis-pleasure with the government. Peaceful marches. Remember, that flag and those who faught for it, died for it, are the reasons your able have such freedoms.

im going to have to agree with you

[kolte]

Meh. Not saying that the people who think flag burning should be illegal, but....well, making flag burning illegal is stupid. Those who support it are...well, misguided, i think. I personally think, well, I've done it before, and people get mad yes, but thats why i did it really, to make people mad.

fuck it *eats some candy*

[Rawrbaby]

no it shouldn't be against the law, people have the right to express thier beliefs as they want i mean i wouldnt go as far as burning a flag and even tho i dont support half of americas values and what it stands for im not going to do that but anyway people should be allowed to express thier beliefs and even the government has a special way of burning flags but it shouldnt be against the law

[JoshDude]

Yes. Disgracing one's country.

[MoveAlong]

Yes. Disgracing one's country.

No. Freedom of expression. I can disgrace whatever I want. Besides, I'm only one in millions...

[0=]

If flag burning became illegal then more shit would become illegal. Example: I disgrace your rug by pissing on it. Do I go to jail? Nope. You get angry and I have to replace the rug at most. Now let's say I piss on your flag (not being allowed to burn it), you get angry and try to make that illegal and put me in jail. If you make one display illegal you have to make them all illegal.

[Pioneer92]

No. Freedom of expression - People who watch the person dishonor a flag would be mad, but that's at the person's own risk. Plus they're still protected under the law.

Tho I still wouldn't do that :P

its almost like MoveAlong posts everything on my mind before i even get to see a topic :eek:

[Camazotz]

It all depends how they burn it, and for what reasons. If they simply want to make a point and need to burn the flag, then should it be legal. But if they burn it for fun, then it should be illegal. But how to prove whether they should be guilty or not has me.

[Whisper]

meh let'em
freedom of speech
freedom of expression

http://files.blog-city.com/files/O05/150158/p/f/flagburnpriceless.jpg

[Sage]

It all depends how they burn it, and for what reasons. If they simply want to make a point and need to burn the flag, then should it be legal. But if they burn it for fun, then it should be illegal. But how to prove whether they should be guilty or not has me.

Excuse me, do you have something against Pyromaniacs? I hope not.

[Ironic Infidel In England]

Do not insult pyromaniacs.. It's a dangerous path. Never mess with a group of people who are, for the most part, experts in fire and explosions.

[Maverick]

Excuse me, do you have something against Pyromaniacs? I hope not.
Don't jump to conclusions and make wild accusations.

[Sage]

Don't jump to conclusions and make wild accusations.

Don't take jokes that seriously. : /

Honestly, I feel that flag burning is perfectly okay, freedom of expression and all that jazz. Nobody is forcing us to be patriotic here.

[Octo22]

It all depends how they burn it, and for what reasons. If they simply want to make a point and need to burn the flag, then should it be legal. But if they burn it for fun, then it should be illegal. But how to prove whether they should be guilty or not has me.

Burning things in general is illegal. You need a license to burn shit. Although a police officer is less likely to stop if you're burning a piece of paper, compared to all your leaves. Therefore it's all illegal (although this depends on location, I know this law to exist in North American sections)

Do not insult pyromaniacs.. It's a dangerous path. Never mess with a group of people who are, for the most part, experts in fire and explosions.
Excuse me, do you have something against Pyromaniacs? I hope not.

Why support Pyromaniacs so much? No one on this website is one. And before you claim that you are, many people are fascinated/compelled to play with fire. Pyromaniacs have an uncontrollable urge to light everything on fire, and thus do. If you are sitting at your computer, and not outside trying to burn shit down, you're not a pyro. It's mental disease, don't take it lightly.

[Ironic Infidel In England]

I AM pyro. the only reason I'm not out side trying to "burn shit down" is that my parents know I am pyro, and thus keep all means of fire-making from me. Do not talk about what you don't know. I mean, the lengths I've gone to in the past to set stuff one fire.. you wouldn't believe.

[Octo22]

I AM pyro. the only reason I'm not out side trying to "burn shit down" is that my parents know I am pyro, and thus keep all means of fire-making from me. Do not talk about what you don't know. I mean, the lengths I've gone to in the past to set stuff one fire.. you wouldn't believe.

This still seems to me more like an OCD regarding fire. Pyromaniac is a mental disease, have you been diagnosed? And also, it's not that hard to merely go to a shop and buy a lighter.

And I'd just like to state, I'm not trying to personally attack you, but seriously too many young people claim to have diseases when they've just got similar traits and want attention. If you've been medically diagnosed, then you are. If you like fire and mommy and daddy know this, you're not.

[Ironic Infidel In England]

I have been diagnosed. And shops seem to be reluctant to sell me lighters, as the first thing I do is attempt to burn stuff in their shop. They don't like that for some reason. And it sounds like a personal attack, but since you've said it isn't I won't infract you.

[Octo22]

I have been diagnosed. And shops seem to be reluctant to sell me lighters, as the first thing I do is attempt to burn stuff in their shop. They don't like that for some reason. And it sounds like a personal attack, but since you've said it isn't I won't infract you.

Well there you go, I'm sorry you've been diagnosed with that. Trust me, with the amount of kids who think being a pyro is "cool", I'm not attacking YOU, just the general concept. Sorry if you took offense.

[kolte]

I am. I don't like pyros. They piss me off, I want to burn them. MY GOD. *burns self* lol

Who cares about a flag. Nationalism is on the road of fascism. So, I say, in order to make sure we don't slip further down the path of fascism, we should burn all flags and dispose of all members of power, to be replaced by students fresh out of university.

[That1Guy]

This still seems to me more like an OCD regarding fire. Pyromaniac is a mental disease, have you been diagnosed? And also, it's not that hard to merely go to a shop and buy a lighter.

And I'd just like to state, I'm not trying to personally attack you, but seriously too many young people claim to have diseases when they've just got similar traits and want attention. If you've been medically diagnosed, then you are. If you like fire and mommy and daddy know this, you're not.

OMG i know what you mean. But psychiatrists are starting to do it too. A kid flunks a class "oh our boy is perfect, he cant possibly fail, there, must something wrong with him" they go to the psychiatrist, he asks two questions, hands you a bottle with a big red warning on it and says come back next week. The whole time the kid was just lazy but now these pills are messing with him and he ends up killing someone.

I am an aspiring pyrotechnician (not pyromaniac) and I know this cycle much more intimately than I care to recall :hint::(

[boognish]

Back to the actual topic i would like to give my 2 cents in for this view. it you hate the prez, burn his picture, if you hate the country burn the flag.

but just as the american flag is a symbol of freedom burning it means the burner does not want to be protected by the US government or constitution. so police should be allowed to treat the flag burner as they would be in any dictator run country, shot, alot.

[Serenity]

I don't feel like going through the entire thread, but has anyone brought up the fact that if an American flag touches the ground it's the law to burn it? Just sayin.

As for people who burn it out of spite, idk I'm kind of undecided. Yes, I believe they should be punished for such an act of direspect and rebellion, but I hardly think they should be shot.