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American Falg Burning. American Flag Burning How big of a problem is flag burning
such that a Constitutional amendment is required to prohibit it? ...
Submitted by 1369scooby on November 26, 2007
Category: English
Words: 1174 | Pages: 5
Views: 84
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American Flag Burning
How big of a problem is flag burning such that a Constitutional
amendment is required to prohibit it? Given how strong people's emotions seem
to run when this issue comes up, you might think that this is one of the most
pressing matters facing America. The truth, though, is that bans on flag burning
and desecration are a solution in search of a problem: flag burning almost never
occurs, and when it does, the only harm it causes is to the sensibilities of the
very few people who see it. And what happens when someone witnesses a flag
being burned or desecrated in public? Is their pocket picked? Does it break their
leg? In fact, they experience no loss of property and no physical injury
whatsoever. All that happens to them is that they are offendedperhaps
extremely and deeply offended, but only offended nonetheless. Others are also
extremely and deeply offended when they see Nazis marching, when they see
gay pride parades (or just gays walking hand-in-hand), when they see interracial
couples, when they see the confederate flag flying, and so forth.
Attempts to ban flag desecration, either through statute or through
constitutional amendment, would ban much more than most people seem to
realize. Usually people only think about trying to stop burning the American flag,
Flores 2
but the truth is that past and current laws against flag desecration cover far more
than just burning the flag. Perhaps if people thought more about just what they
are outlawing, they would not be so quick to support flag desecration bans.
Within months of the Texas v. Johnson decision that burning an American
...
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