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Forum nameOkay Activist Archives
Topic subjectRE: Flag Burning
Topic URLhttp://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=22&topic_id=22966&mesg_id=22993
22993, RE: Flag Burning
Posted by janey, Thu Jul-27-00 05:22 AM
When we talk about freedom of expression, we're talking about a right protected by the First Amendment to the federal Constitution. That right prohibits the federal government from enacting laws that would prevent or inhibit certain protected speech. Speech/expression falls on a continuum from most protected to unprotected. Examples: Most Protected = political speech. Less protected = obsenity or commercial speech. Unprotected = pornography (notably child pornography).

Burning a flag is a symbolic expression of a political statement, and therefore it falls into the most protected category.

If you are a soldier who is interested in maintaining the freedoms articulated in the Constitution and its amendments, then you should be honored to be buried beneath a flag that others have the right to burn. What a treat (she said sarcastically) it would be to perform military service for a country/society that did not protect political speech.

That's not all I want to say but at least it's shorter than my usual rants.

Peace.