I was told the other day that our flag was nothing more than a piece of cloth. It is just fine to burn it, step on it, spit on it. or anything else you would want to do. Hey, it's protected free speech under the first amendment. Just a piece of cloth. Of course, a pride flag, or a flag from another nation like Israel or Mexico is protected in the United States. Anyone defacing or touching those flags are subject to prosecution as a hate crime. A hate crime, as we all have been told, "is motivated by prejudice on the basis of ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or similar grounds." None of that applies to the American Flag however, you're free to do as you please. The motivation isn't relevant in that scenario, only your first amendment right applies.
We have many laws concerning such things as defacing property both public and private. The FCC still regulates the use of certain language on public airways. If it is deemed offensive, profane or indecent it isn't allowed. Advertising too, is regulated and fines levied and licenses revoked. No cries from anyone about the first amendment or free speech rights regarding any of that. I expect many parents are grateful for such wishing to shield their children from such, although that is growing increasingly difficult to do. Public nudity and sexual acts are still highly regulated and violators subjects to arrest or steep fines. Why is that? Is that based in morality, or in something different? Something one would call public decency and a healthy respect for others. There is no debating any of that stuff may be deemed offensive, profane and indecent.
Now as far as respecting the flag of the United States I would suggest it should be protected for the very same reason as all those others. It's a sense of common decency and respect for others. There is no debate that when it comes to publicly burning or otherwise desecrating that flag that it is offensive to a great number of people. Do I need to explain why I'm offended? I don't believe I do, those doing that act are fully aware of the reaction, in fact, that is exactly what they are counting on. That alone is the sole purpose for doing that. The same reason I may hurl racial slurs or derogatory comments at you. What is that purpose? It isn't to change your mind about anything, to elicit empathy from you, it is to make you angry, upset, and offended. And generally speaking, it works every single time.
I could go on about my patriotic sentiments regarding that flag. I was in the Navy for twenty years. I've seen a casket slide out from under that flag into the ocean as taps was played. I've stood in the cemetery and watched as a grieving widow was handed that flag, on the behalf of a grateful nation. I have the flag that draped the coffin of my own father, a veteran of WW2. I have the flag presented to me upon my retirement from that naval service. I could talk about the sacrifices made to protect that flag, to honor that flag and pay respect to all those that have defended her, to those that marched before. But all of that isn't the reason it should be protected, that isn't the motivation behind that. The motivation is the acknowledgement of what that flag represents to millions of people. That is what should be respected and protected.
Just a piece of cloth? Aren't all those others just a piece of cloth as well? Your pride flag is just a piece of cloth but it is illegal for me to burn that, or rip it down from your flagpole. Why is that, it's just a piece of cloth. Can I deface, destroy or otherwise damage a headstone? Why not, it's just a piece of rock. Why is it a hate crime to deface any religious buildings with swastikas or gang symbols? That isn't just vandalism in the eyes of the law, that is a hate crime. Why isn't it a hate crime to deface my flag? Give me one solid reason why it shouldn't be. Burning the flag or otherwise desecrating it isn't making any statement at all, it isn't an expression of speech, it is an act to incite a strong reaction, same as name calling.
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