Pros And Cons Of Flag Desecration

Confederate heritage organizations used the flag widely in their rituals memorializing and celebrating the Confederacy and its heroes. According to historynet.com “In the decades after the flag fad, the Confederate flag became, as one Southern editor wrote, “confetti in careless hands.” Instead of being used almost exclusively for memorializing the Confederacy and its soldiers, the flag became fodder for beach towels, t-shirts, bikinis, diapers and baubles of every description.” People are misusing the Confederate Flag and forgetting the true meaning of what it stands for when it was back in war times. As the dam burst on the Confederate flag material culture and heritage groups lost control of the flag, it acquired a new identity of being a symbol of rebellion and lost the historical context of the

The Confederate Battle flag is one of the most recognized symbols in the United States. It is not always a welcome symbol in today’s society. Take for instance the state of South Carolina having to remove it from its statehouse on April 12, 2000. The reason it is not always welcome is because people often misinterpret its true meaning. It is not a symbol of hatred but, a symbol of southern pride and honor. The pride and honor of all the men and women who carried it the flag into battle fighting for what they believed in, Southern independence.

The burning or desecration of the American Flag may fall under both freedoms. When one thinks of the flag, they usually think of the blood that was shed for this country. It was shed so that we could have liberties, such as, freedom of speech and expression, which fall under the First Amendment rights of the Constitution. However, when you think of a burning flag, what comes to mind? One might say it shows disrespect and hatred to a country that has given so much. In the case of Texas v. Johnson, Johnson was accused of desecrating a sacred object, but, his actions were protected by the First Amendment. Although his actions may have been offensive, he did not utter fighting words. As stated in Source D “Justice William Brennan wrote the 5-4 majority decision in holding that the defendant’s act of flag burning was protected speech under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.” By burning the flag, Johnson did not infringe upon another's natural human rights. He was simply expressing his outrage towards the government, which is within the jurisdiction of the First Amendment. Another court case, where the 5-4 majority ruled in favor of the defendant was United States v. Eichman in 1980, a year after the Johnson case. “In the case of United States v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990), the law was struck down by the same five person majority of justices as in Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989).” [Source D] Multiple times in flag burning cases,

In 1969, the Supreme Court of the United States (U.S. Supreme Court) put forth rules allowing the burning of the flag to be protected under the First Amendment. The U. S. Supreme Court first ruled on flag discretion in 1907 in the Halter v. Nebraska case. Prior to this ruling flag discretion statues strictly prohibited the burning of the American flag , as well as, disrespecting the flag in any way shape or form. In 1968, Congress reacted to the burning of the American flag in New York during a protest against the Vietnam War by passing the Federal Flag Desecration Law. In a few court cases it has been declared that burning the American flag is only illegal if the flag has been stolen. When a flag is worn/torn the proper way of disposing of the flag is to burn it; however, when disposing of a flag by burning it there are steps that should be followed in order to do so honorably. The flag should be folded in its customary manner and then placed on a fire that is fairly large with sufficient intensity to ensure complete burning of the flag. After placing the flag on the fire all individuals should come to attention, salute the flag while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and observing a brief moment of silence. Once the flag has been completely consumed the fire should be safely extinguished and the ashes should be buried. Congress has made seven attempts to overrule the Supreme Court decision regarding the burning of the American flag by passing a constitutional amendment that had an exception to the First Amendment and allowed the government to ban flag desecration. (Thelawdictionary.org,

Do we even have the right to say what we want? If they interdict the flag than it is restricting our rights. The first amendment states that we have freedom of speech. We should be able to display our affection based on our freedom of speech. At Christiansburg High School they had suspended over than 20 people, for showing their affection towards the flag.

Opponents of the Flag Desecration Amendment, propose reasons that make sense in not passing such an amendment and in doing so would lead to an ultimate betrayal of the freedoms granted to us by the First Amendment. In passing the Flag Desecration Amendment, it would mean that if a person wanted to express political freedom of speech by desecrating the flag they could not. A proposed Amendment would undermine the First Amendment. As Americans we are granted many freedoms and the freedom of speech is a major one, so if congress were to say that a person could not express themselves and to have it in writing then what else would change. Opponents also make a point that flag burning is rare. They say that is doesn’t happen every year, but when it has that it was to express political speech as the Supreme Court held in 1989. Opponents also say that once freedoms such as this be taken away then what’s to say what else congress will regulate and subject to violations. Anna Ross, form the “How a Member Decides to Vote” module mentions, that while it might make us mad to see our flag being desecrated, it is not good enough reason to weaken one of the most important principals of democracy.

Protesting is one of the many freedoms of being an American citizen. Although there are freedoms, I believe flag desecration shouldn’t be allowed as a form of protest. Flag desecration should not be allowed because it is very disrespectful toward our veterans and our country, and it shows how you abuse your rights and freedoms as a citizen. Veterans fight and die for the freedoms and rights that the people of the United States have which is why one should never disrespect an American veteran. Veterans fight for that flag everyday of their lives because war sticks with them forever.

Through the years of America, there have been multiple accounts of flag desecration. Flag desecration is a term that is used to describe a various set of acts that intentionally destroy, damage, or mutilate a flag in public, and in this case, the American flag. Citizen’s typically doing this treasonous act when they want to make a political point against their country or policies in the country or another country. Some of these actions include: burning it, urinating or defecating on it, defacing it with slogans, stepping upon it, damaging it with stones or guns, cutting or ripping it, verbally insulting it, or dragging it on the ground. A few countries have laws that forbid the methods or just uses of this

It was under federal law in 48 of 50 states in the U.S. to desecrating an American flag and it was a criminal offense in Texas because burning the flag isn’t a right to freedom of speech. Due to the face that flag burning will endanger the flag’s symbolic meaning and flag burners know that burning the American will seriously affect others.

So why get rid of this flag? Being a nation that prohibits slavery in written law, some Americans who continue to believe the false rumor that the flag represents slavery and racism or are less educated with the history behind the flag and want to get rid of it. Our society has represented the Confederate flag in a disrespectful manner and needs to change that.

The Confederate Battle Flag was once known as the “Southern Cross” and represented the eleven states in the Confederacy, along with Kentucky and Missouri. The Confederate flag was used to identify the people who still believed in the institution of slavery and did not agree with its abolishment. Additionally, the flag was a popular symbol for white supremacy. With the stigma it possesses, it is not surprising that people today are upset that the flag is still widely flown. This is seen especially when it is showcased on government buildings. A government speaks for the people of that area. By having the flag on its building, it is saying that the people still believe in what the flag represents. There is a lot of controversy regarding the

Despite the fact that flags are burned in protest, millions of American flags fly from the flagpoles of schools, government institutions, and the homes of our citizens.  The American flag has not been diminished or demolished because of the actions of a few people who choose to express their opinions via burning a flag.  To quote John Lewis, a member of the United States House of Representatives (D-GA), "Is our flag so weak that it cannot withstand public desecration and attack?  Is our flag so weak that we must pass laws to protect it?  No, our flag is greater than that"  (H.J. Res. 33 19).

very legitimately be seen as a harmful form of free speech. However in present day, the confederate flag, for the most part does not carry the same meaning or same threat. Many people, who express themselves through the confederate flag as a symbol, do so as a form of showing southern pride or southern heritage. The current symbol of the confederate flag does not display the same form of harm as it did in history. The current flag does not physically harm anyone nor does it present a credible threat that could morally harm someone through fear. This form of free speech does not cause true harm to individual liberties of the people who see the flag. The symbolism of the flag is objective and feeling offended by the flag is based on interpretation. A specific statement of hatred that can be reasonably interpreted as a credible threat is not a form of free speech. In the scenario when someone 's free speech can be reasonably viewed as a threat to another person 's safety, there may be interference. In a scenario where a person has a credible fear because of free speech, then there is a clear infringement on persona liberty. The ability to live life without fear is an individual liberty that should be protected. Fear is an infringement of the right to live and the right to liberty. If someone feels their life is threatened by something, then both their right to life, and right to individual liberty are compromised. Compared to simply being offended by something, which cannot

acceptable to have a "narrow, special amendment to protect a special flag from desecration." ("Consequences" 2). Even Thomas Jefferson and James Madison denounced flag burning as a crime (Brady H 2). Others feel that flag desecration disrespects those who lost their lives for our country, stating the flag symbolizes the blood that runs through our country. George Whalen, a soldier, said "the stars and stripes of our nations flag is the symbol of our nation's values... It represents loyalty patriotism and love of our country." ("citizens" 3). Those against flag desecration must remember that the men and women who fought and died for our country were fighting for justice, freedom, and independence, all of which give one the right to desecrate the flag. Yes, the flag represents these freedoms, but the

The first official confederate flag was made in 1861 for use of the Confederate states. The main reason for the southern states seceding at the time was because of how they wanted to keep slavery. The flag has started to become popular as a symbol of hate and racism in the modern day. This type of thing should not be aloud to be flown in public buildings and should be kept out of schools.