Is it ok to burn an american flag?
- Thread starter Kris
- Start date
Side note: I am mildly high off of medication, so sorry if this comes off as rude.
So... Like... We should be shutting down Amazon and eBay...
Should also be throwing anyone with a tattoo of the American Flag + [literally anything] in prison too while we're at it.
Ahahahahahahahahaha IF THIS IS HOW WE BURN DOWN CAPITALISM, COMRADES, I'M ALL FOR IT!
So even if we go strictly by this law, which is obviously not enforced in any serious capacity, the law itself states that it's okay to burn the flag given a certain set of circumstances, answering the thread's question.
Well.
Alrighty then.
In all seriousness though Iamtheechiking: It was an informative look at the law itself, so, thanks for that.
Things you cannot do with flag said:
So... Like... We should be shutting down Amazon and eBay...
loltats said:
Should also be throwing anyone with a tattoo of the American Flag + [literally anything] in prison too while we're at it.
Hahahahaha said:
Ahahahahahahahahaha IF THIS IS HOW WE BURN DOWN CAPITALISM, COMRADES, I'M ALL FOR IT!
Respectful Way to Destroy Flag said:
So even if we go strictly by this law, which is obviously not enforced in any serious capacity, the law itself states that it's okay to burn the flag given a certain set of circumstances, answering the thread's question.
Well.
Alrighty then.
In all seriousness though Iamtheechiking: It was an informative look at the law itself, so, thanks for that.
Iamtheecchiking
Conquering New Realms 1 pair of Oppai at a time
You're welcome. I don't really have an opinion either way, on the burning conversation. I just had a friend reference this before and didn't see it shared here yet.
I haven't researched it deeply, but I'm not sure that it is a law. It is labeled as a US code. I'm not sure what legal status that holds. I imagine it holds some, do to the fact that it is a Code and on Cornell Law. Might be something to research or look up.
Though you are correct. I have a shirt with the American flag on it. That breaks the code. I believe the NFL breaks the code by spreading out a big American flag on the field. I think corporations break the code by using it in commercials. I don't think it has ramifications though. Nor do I think that people actually pay attention to this code, or even really know it. I didn't know their was a code till just recently, but I knew some aspects of it due to Boy scouts and how we were taught to handle the flag.
Edit: Here is some the Wikipedia that has info on US Codes. I kind of understand it, but specifically I am still clueless as Law Jargon is above my head.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Code
Edit 2: I think by my limited understanding, it is a law (Used loosely). More specifically, the Title the flag is under, is considered Positive Law. However, I have no idea what consequences would be for breaking said law. Also, if as another user said previously, Supreme ruled against things in this code, then it would not hold much authority.
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Ciera
Member
I agree with you, the american flag should not be burned unless for special ceremonies. Burning the American flag is like burning us. It is like burning who we are, what we are, all our rights, our freedoms. Our country fought long and hard to give us freedom, they lost 344959 men and women to fight for our freedom and to let us wave that flag proudly in the sky. Now yes, I know even if they burned it, our freedom would still be here, but the flag is a main part of us, our freedom, our past, our lives, our history.
Natalija
Queen of LaLa Land, state of Capital Bulshit :P
You know guys, after looking thru the US Medical System thread... I changed my mind on this topic. You do need to burn your flag. Definitly. Absolutely. W/o doubt. That wuld be the very start, at least.
Lets just say I lacked perspektive on how things are over there, until I seen that thread. Now I'm somevhere betwen the state of "thank fuck I dont live there" and "angry as hell".
Lets just say I lacked perspektive on how things are over there, until I seen that thread. Now I'm somevhere betwen the state of "thank fuck I dont live there" and "angry as hell".
Natalija
Queen of LaLa Land, state of Capital Bulshit :P
Wel I'm not too proud to admit that I didnt know enogh about the issue to make a informed decizion on where I stand. I just vent by how things are over here, and used that as a template. But now that I see things are NOTHING like they are over here... yea. I changed my mind.
Water under the bridge, friend. So long as we treat each other kindly, listen to one another--even if we disagree, fundamentally--we'll illuminate one another, and make the world a better place.
That, or we get something to laugh at. Either way is a win I suppose!
Natalija
Queen of LaLa Land, state of Capital Bulshit :P
Sure thing, pinky-boy! 
And yes, I wont turn into a cultural-diversity embracing, cloud-walking, big-words-talking, fairy-and-unicorn-beliving, rainbow-colored leftist libbie like you, but I can respekt our diferences, even if I prefer a a less abstrakt and more concrete solution to a problem vhich tends to involve more phyzicality. Peace!
And yes, I wont turn into a cultural-diversity embracing, cloud-walking, big-words-talking, fairy-and-unicorn-beliving, rainbow-colored leftist libbie like you, but I can respekt our diferences, even if I prefer a a less abstrakt and more concrete solution to a problem vhich tends to involve more phyzicality. Peace!
Mistyriver428
New Member
If you are doing it for a cerormony, in a respectful way, it is all right. But, whats not right is to do it just burn it for no reason.
Jtec
New Member
I think burning the flag is perfectly acceptable. I know it represents a lot, but the burning of cloth is going to suddenly remove those connotations. Outlawing this behavior would be outlawing something based off of the associations made with it, and personal opinion. Someone could associate a certain wood carving with freedom and kindness, only due to their experiences, but no one would be in outrage if that were burned.
Emory
Well-Known Member
This is a tricky subject considering those who are supporting flag burning are deriving their argument from the rights represented by the very symbol they wish to desecrate. It should be noted here that at the time in which the Supreme Court ruled that flag burning was constitutional 48 states held laws prohibiting flag burning so the concept of flag burning prohibition is not foreign to state legislation. However, as a firm proponent of free speech I am unfortunately inclined to support (understand I use that word “support” in the most indirect manner) those who wish to exercise their first amendment freedoms. Regardless, if people wish to blatantly disrespect this country, one that offers them the freedom to do so, then they should gtfo. Simple as that. But they are unfortunately well within their rights to desecrate the flag.
NujabesLives!
Music for the soul
Ooh, I'm a bit late in replying to this. But I've got the time so why not.
I personally have no motivation to go out and burn any flags. But I also think it's possible to respect the dead among our military and of all those who serve abroad/have made sacrifices and great strides for our country without having to respect what is essentially a piece of fabric at the same time.
It's nice to rally behind your country's team at sports events and wave miniature flags. But to hold a flag up to such a high standard as we tend to do in America is simply something I don't agree with.
So, yes if you feel it adds to what you're trying to say then burn away. Just be aware if you're breaking any laws by doing so. Making a point is one thing, getting yourself in trouble with the law is another.
I personally have no motivation to go out and burn any flags. But I also think it's possible to respect the dead among our military and of all those who serve abroad/have made sacrifices and great strides for our country without having to respect what is essentially a piece of fabric at the same time.
It's nice to rally behind your country's team at sports events and wave miniature flags. But to hold a flag up to such a high standard as we tend to do in America is simply something I don't agree with.
So, yes if you feel it adds to what you're trying to say then burn away. Just be aware if you're breaking any laws by doing so. Making a point is one thing, getting yourself in trouble with the law is another.
Arcane
Member
I know I'm late to the party but I'd like to weigh in with my own thoughts.
I can go out right now and buy boxer shorts imprinted with the image of the American flag. Or swimming trunks, even. I can straight up free ball it in the very image of Old Glory and if my butt's not clean, I might even leave a streak. I can also go out and buy an ash try with an image of the American flag and put out cigarettes on it. Every -insert patriotic holiday here-, small flags get stabbed into the ground and left in the dirt and rain. So what makes the flag you bought at Wal-Mart so special? People want to talk about what the flag symbolizes and yet this country uses it for marketing as much as they do for patriotism.
Now I don't support flag burning. I think it's a useless gesture done by people who are either too lazy or too stupid to accomplish anything productive in the name of whatever cause they're burning the flag for. However, I do support the right to burn the flag because as others have said before me, it's those rights that the the flag is meant to represent. It's easy to defend somebody's right to express themselves when you agree with them but it takes real character to recognize the rights of those whom you don't agree with. And if seeing somebody burn the flag drives a person to physical violence then that makes them a violent criminal, not a patriot.
It's kind of like eating dogs. To a lot of people, they're pets that should never be thought of as food. And I get that. I even agree with it, to an extent. However, I still view them as animals like any other and so I'm not weirded out by the idea that other cultures do eat them. That doesn't mean I want to eat one or that I think you have the right to shishkebob your neighbor's dog. To a lot of people, the American flag is a symbol that should be respected symbolically and physically. And I get that. I even agree with it, to an extent. However, I still view it as a piece of cloth like any other and I'm not offended by the idea that someone might want to burn it in order to make a point.
And if anybody is offended by my thoughts on flag burning then hey, at least I don't eat dogs, right?
I can go out right now and buy boxer shorts imprinted with the image of the American flag. Or swimming trunks, even. I can straight up free ball it in the very image of Old Glory and if my butt's not clean, I might even leave a streak. I can also go out and buy an ash try with an image of the American flag and put out cigarettes on it. Every -insert patriotic holiday here-, small flags get stabbed into the ground and left in the dirt and rain. So what makes the flag you bought at Wal-Mart so special? People want to talk about what the flag symbolizes and yet this country uses it for marketing as much as they do for patriotism.
Now I don't support flag burning. I think it's a useless gesture done by people who are either too lazy or too stupid to accomplish anything productive in the name of whatever cause they're burning the flag for. However, I do support the right to burn the flag because as others have said before me, it's those rights that the the flag is meant to represent. It's easy to defend somebody's right to express themselves when you agree with them but it takes real character to recognize the rights of those whom you don't agree with. And if seeing somebody burn the flag drives a person to physical violence then that makes them a violent criminal, not a patriot.
It's kind of like eating dogs. To a lot of people, they're pets that should never be thought of as food. And I get that. I even agree with it, to an extent. However, I still view them as animals like any other and so I'm not weirded out by the idea that other cultures do eat them. That doesn't mean I want to eat one or that I think you have the right to shishkebob your neighbor's dog. To a lot of people, the American flag is a symbol that should be respected symbolically and physically. And I get that. I even agree with it, to an extent. However, I still view it as a piece of cloth like any other and I'm not offended by the idea that someone might want to burn it in order to make a point.
And if anybody is offended by my thoughts on flag burning then hey, at least I don't eat dogs, right?
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Nightwisher
A lost wish
Late to this party, but this is actually something I'm very vocal about and I saw it and thought I might as well.
I know it was mentioned before but this was decided upon with Texas vs. Johnson, in which SCOTUS decided that it was symbolic speech and thus protected under the First Amendment.
Personally, I'd prefer protecting someone's right to protest their government in non-violent means like burning a flag than impeding upon that right because I believe in the flag.
I understand wanting to respect the flag, but it seems dishonest to stand for freedom and then impede upon that right.
Even with the US Code to Respect the Flag. That's just a list of how one who wants to respect the flag can respect it. Even the language of it is written in such a way to make room for those who don't want to follow that code.
I know it was mentioned before but this was decided upon with Texas vs. Johnson, in which SCOTUS decided that it was symbolic speech and thus protected under the First Amendment.
Personally, I'd prefer protecting someone's right to protest their government in non-violent means like burning a flag than impeding upon that right because I believe in the flag.
I understand wanting to respect the flag, but it seems dishonest to stand for freedom and then impede upon that right.
Even with the US Code to Respect the Flag. That's just a list of how one who wants to respect the flag can respect it. Even the language of it is written in such a way to make room for those who don't want to follow that code.
synthetic aesthetic
Member
I believe that if you can burn the american flag you should should be logically consistent and believe that applies to any flag, same if you don't like it being burnt. I wouldn't burn any flag since I think it's disrespectful.