Flag Desecration Should Be Outlawed On August 22, 1984, Texas resident Gregory Lee Johnson was arrested for burning an American flag during a protest of the Republican National Convention. Johnson had violated a Texas flag desecration law officially known as the Texas Venerated Objects law, which outlawed "intentionally or knowingly desecrating a national flag" (Goldstein 197). Johnson took his case to the United States Supreme Court. In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled, by a five to four vote
is necessary for Flag Burning is seen as a heinous act and many seen it as an act of disrespect. Disrespectful for the men and women who make the sacrifice and sometimes , if necessary, the ultimate sacrifice. Many want the constitution to protect the flag from any discrimination to protect the ones who have fallen. If the government is to mandate protection of flag, criminalizing any nature of disfiguration of the flag, it will be trampling on civil liberties as we know. The Flag stands for freedom
burning flags, and even cutting them up to use as clothing. Although mocking the American government and the flag is disrespectful, revoking the right to do so would be a violation of freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by the First Amendment. Those who support the no-flag burning amendment argue that the United States flag is a special case. Because it would undermine the constitution and set a dangerous precedent that will make it easier for others enact restrictive amendments to the Bill
American flag is a symbol that embodies untold sacrifices, inspiration, and encompasses the values Americans hold dear. The colors of the American flag have the following meaning: “…White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour [SIC], and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice" (qtd, in Streufert). Despite its many honors, reverend symbolism, and sanctity, some American citizens chose to desecrate the American flag during
The Flag-burning Debate Continues Nazis captured Jim Rogers. He was routinely beaten and given barely enough food to survive. During the time he spent in a World War II prisoner of war camp, he managed to keep his sanity by scraping together bits and pieces of colored cloth in order to make an American flag. As his fellow prisoners began to die, it was his American flag which provided him with a sense of identity and gave him the inspiration to keep living. It is no wonder, then, that
mean? The American Flag can be seen almost anywhere. From the high-school, to the ball park, and even in our homes, the American flag stands as a symbol of all that is good and true in America. 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
burning the flag when I came across an article on Regory Lee Johnson. In 1984, he showed up at the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas and burned an American flag in order to show his knowledge of the policies of Reagan administration. At the time, he was convicted of flag desecration, but the Supreme Court overturned that decision by ruling that burning a flag was “expressive conduct within protection of the first Amendment” (Pledging allegiance). The issue of flag desecration is one that
For over 200 years, the American flag has been a symbol of our country’s strength and freedom. It has been the beacon of hope for so many both, citizens and noncitizens. It’s stars, stripes, and colors all have meaning. The stars represent the 50 states, the stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the red symbolizes hardiness and valor, the blue stands for perseverance and justice, and the white represents innocence and purity. This flag has been flown, in its variations, since 1776 and since
Abstract Several times in our nation's history, Congress has introduced a bill that would provide for banning flag desecration. Each time, however, the Supreme Court ruled that this act was protected by the First Amendment freedom of speech rights. The debate over this topic continues, with both sides arguing for "the good of the country." In a 1943 landmark Supreme Court case, Justice Robert H. Jackson wrote, "The freedom to differ is not limited to things that do not matter much" (qtd
The Symbol of Our Country On June 12,1997 the Flag Amendment was passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 310 to 114. The Amendment gives Congress the right to prevent the physical desecration of the American flag. “Today’s vote is strong evidence that the voice of the American people has been heard and heeded by the US House of Representatives”(Flag Alliance, Inc. 1), says Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady, who is the head of the Citizens Flag Alliance(CFA). Today, forty-nine state legislatures
nation’s flag what do you see? Do you see 13 stripes and 50 stars? Do you see a nation that has been over many trials and obstacles and is still unified? Or do you see war amongst us? Do you see hatred? So a question worth pondering: why would anyone even think it is justified to be allowed to burn our flag? The American Flag is the fabric of our nation; millions of Americans have fought for the flag, it is more than a symbol of hope to many groups and people respect the flag. Making flag burning
Dallas City Hall, Gregory Lee Johnson burned the American Flag in protest of the Regal administration policies and some Dallas corporations. The burning of the flag caused the various eye witness to feel seriously offended by the action that Johnson preformed. After this action Johnson was charged with desecration of the flag and venerated object of the state of Texas. The state court affirmed that the burning of the Flag as a desecration of a precious symbol and gave Johnson a year of prison and
American Flag Desecration is Treasonous! The flag it is the symbol of our nation, the symbol of our freedom, the symbol of those that have gone before us to defend our liberties, and most importantly the symbol which at one point or another each person has pledged their allegiance to. Desecrating this symbol which all should hold dear is to desecrate America’s values and betray the devotion which all have pledged to our nation. Knowing the importance of our high flying flag makes it treasonous
basics. What is flag burning? Easy enough, it’s burning a flag. Branching off of that there is also flag desecration, which is basically abusing a flag in public. Some people may be completely oblivious to the fact that others even burn flags. There are only two reasons that someone would want to burn a flag. One reason is out of respect (People before lawyers org.). When a flag is old, and worn out it is never supposed to just be thrown away. Because of that, there are things called flag burning ceremonies
controversy with the flag burning right? Well flag burning, for most people, happens to be a huge issue seeing as though it is repulsive or anti abolitionist in a certain state of mind. These people constantly ask the question, can flag burning be punishable by law? Flag burning cannot be punishable by law, nor should it be, “no matter how uncomfortable they make others feel or how much people disagree the U.S. Supreme Court has affirmed and reaffirmed that the right to desecrate the flag is included in
Flag Desecration Flag desecration is not American. People who burn the American flag lack respect for themselves, America, and the many people who have died to preserve American freedom. The people who desecrate the American flag have no right to call themselves Americans. They are unpatriotic, two faced, cowards, and worse of all un-American (communist). To be patriotic a person must love and defend his own country against all foreign and domestic threats. These unpatriotic people are two faced
White and Blue The American flag is majestic, waving in the wind, standing tall and proud. For the patriotic, respectful Americans, it brings us to our feet when the national anthem plays, mouthing the words with honor. America is a free country, often referred to as the promise land, where respect should be earned. The American flag is treated as a living object. It is respected and easily recognizable all around the world. It should be illegal to burn the American flag because not only is it disrespectful
“ And each of us can practice rights ourselves, treating each other without discrimination, respecting each other's dignity and rights.” (Bellamy) Discrimination is constantly seen in our everyday lives, despite the fact that it is illegal in the United States. According to pewresearch.org, “About half of Hispanics in the U.S. (52%) say they have experienced discrimination or have been treated unfairly because of their race or ethnicity.” Society fails to acknowledge the disadvantages many receive
left to face an empty flag pole. I pop to attention as every bone in my body freezes. My mind flashes to the thousands of white crosses at Arlington National Cemetery, each representing a life that believed so devoutly in the piece of fabric in my hands that they were willing to risk everything. The other midshipman begins to bring down the clasps on the rope that attaches to the flag. I attach the flag to the line with one hand and continue to hold on tightly as he hoists the flag. With each upward
Is Flag Burning protected under the First Amendment? There is a proposed amendment to make flag burning illegal. Congress tried to pass the Flag Protection Act of 1989, but the act failed because it is seen as a form of public protection. There have been other attempts to pass legislation to protect the American flag but all of the attempts have failed so far. Flag burning is very controversial because people have different definitions of what “freedom of speech” means and what our flag