Flag Burning.....

It should be legal because it is are basic right. Its not unpatriotic either because we as Americans can choose how to represent ourselves.

The Act of flag burning does not acheive its purpose!, it attacks the nation, the people, and the society within it rather than attacking the governement. If it is your goal to protest the government then so be it, but flag burning does not acheive this goal in any manor effectively.

I believe in protesting the government. But the flag burning shows disrespect towards citizens within the country. It is ones own right to disrespect there country but they should not disrespect other people with different points of view. Flag burning is unfocused hatred and is an unnecessary showing of discontent towards the country and its people.

"There are many other forms of nonviolent protest that remain available to protesters who seem to have no shortage of creativity," Lynch said. "This is one they can do without."

U.S. Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (D-South Boston)

"The Act of flag burning does not achieve its purpose!, it attacks the nation, the people, and the society within it rather than attacking the governement"

-It doesn't attack the nation. The United States uses the American Flag as its symbol, but who represents the U.S.? The Government does. So in times of needed change, the act of burning a flag should be used.

"If it is your goal to protest the government then so be it, but flag burning does not achieve this goal in any manor effectively."

-How does burning a flag not spread the message of change in a effective manor? It's symbolizing that we need a change in this country, not a hatred towards it.

-Flag Burning is a patriotic act done by people who care deeply enough about our freedoms to challenge the government when it becomes a threat to the people. Patriots who love America burn flags in hope that change will come.

Just like you have the power to raise your flag at school or at a church, we have the right to burn a flag. Much like raising the flag, it represents something. Raising the flag can represent the praising of this country or support of are imperialistic ways. The burning of a flag to some could represent extreme hatred to this country(and for some burners I'm sure this is the reason) or it could represent a need for change, a sign of hope.

The flag itself to some represents freedom. If you agree with that, then you should be a flag burner supporter because our freedom is being slowly taken away in the name of protecting us from terrorist who we originally created and trained to fight the Russians secretly.

Burning a flag is not an act of communication, it in no way achieves its goals of protesting the government and it offends Americans of all races and creeds who believe in a strong America. Everyone has their right to free speech, however if you are involving others by attacking them and their American life then flag burning shouldn't be allowed. With Flag burning banned there would still be many ways to protest the government that do not attack or involve any other people. By banning flag burning ones rights to freedom of speech are not being taken away, it is merely protecting the rights of the millions of other people that are openly patriotic and feel flag burning to be highly offensive. The act of flag burning can be comparable to the burning of the cross by the Ku Klux Klan.

We can imagine no more appropriate response to burning a flag than waving one's own, no better way to counter a flag burner's message than by saluting the flag that burns, no surer means of preserving the dignity even of the flag that burned than by - as one witness here did - according its remains a respectful burial.

-- Justice William J. Brennan, from his majority opinion in Texas v. Johnson (1989)

The ideas of liberty and equality have been an irresistible force in motivating leaders like Patrick Henry, Susan B. Anthony, and Abraham Lincoln, schoolteachers like Nathan Hale and Booker T. Washington, the Philippine Scouts who fought at Bataan, and the soldiers who scaled the bluff at Omaha Beach. If those ideas are worth fighting for - and our history demonstrates that they are - it cannot be true that the flag that uniquely symbolizes their power is not itself worthy of protection from unnecessary desecration.

-- Justice John Paul Stevens, from his dissent in Texas v. Johnson (1989)

The flag represents a strong, healthy and free America. And burning it stands to attack everything inside its borders and history. Flag burning SHOULD BE ILLEGAL.

"Burning a flag is not an act of communication, it in no way achieves its goals of protesting the government and it offends Americans of all races and creeds who believe in a strong America."

-The act of burning a flag to some can be considered offensive. But in time of revolutionary needs people are always offended by radial protesters. Do you think when we were in need of being free from Britain that certain people who disagree with your views weren't offended when we threw tea over board? This country was born off radical beliefs and it will only change through those thoughts and actions. The act of burning a flag is a radical action calling the people to rise up and defend their liberties from the government who is taking them away.

"Everyone has their right to free speech, however if you are involving others by attacking them and their American life then flag burning shouldn't be allowed."

-The act of burning a flag does in no way attack the people of America unless interpreted that way. I can't speak for everyone who has burnt a flag, but I'm pretty sure it is done to show their disbelief towards our government, not the country and its people. When a flag is being burnt and you see it, you have to be a little tweaked out to think their hating on you and your country. The flag does represent our personal freedom as a country, but like I have said, who represents this country? The government.

"The act of flag burning can be comparable to the burning of the cross by the Ku Klux Klan."

I think its a little extreme to compare radical people who burn flags to the KKK who killed thousands of people. The people who burn flags aren't going around and killing Americans, their simply showing their views through radical actions. I do agree with you on one point though, some people do take it really offensively, but most people who do tend to be sheeple(people who follow everything their told by their masters[such as the government] and don't question anything. Much like a herd of sheep).

"The ideas of liberty and equality have been an irresistible force in motivating leaders like Patrick Henry, Susan B. Anthony, and Abraham Lincoln, schoolteachers like Nathan Hale and Booker T. Washington, the Philippine Scouts who fought at Bataan, and the soldiers who scaled the bluff at Omaha Beach. If those ideas are worth fighting for - and our history demonstrates that they are - it cannot be true that the flag that uniquely symbolizes their power is not itself worthy of protection from unnecessary desecration.
-- Justice John Paul Stevens, from his dissent in Texas v. Johnson (1989)"

-Yes their ideas are worth fighting for and are flag do represent those ideas. But when the time comes and we need to stand up and fight for those freedoms again, the act of burning a flag is a tool that we can use. The flag represents those ideas of freedom and the government regulates those ideas through their control, so in a time like now, we need to stand up and fight back. Show are anger towards them.

The act of flag burning intrudes on other peoples rights.
Flag burning should not be legal.
Flag burning does not communicate protest in any sort of intelligent manner.
Flag burning attacks people who have fought hard to build a sae and free america that we all live in.

Well we seem to fumbling around the same issues theirs not much else to say. Just the different opinions. We will leave it up to the voters.

Well, I could continue debating this for days. But seeing as you have not written an argument in Round 4 there is nothing for me to argue against.

Flag burning is not constitutional and should be illegal!