Posted on 11/29/2016 1:03:45 PM PST by Innovative
Donald Trump would appear to have done something very controversial (again) on Twitter Tuesday morning, registering his support for making flag-burning a crime punishable by as much as a year in jail or even the revoking of one's citizenship.
As our Philip Bump notes, it's not the first time Trump has pitted himself against things that have been defined by the Supreme Court as First Amendment rights — nor will it likely be the last. And as Bump also notes, Trump's decision to stand against flag-burning is likely to pit defenders of the practice “against the patriotism of people who find flag-burning unacceptable.”
But the size of that latter group might be bigger than the coverage of this topic suggests. And Trump's position probably won't strike most Americans as being all that controversial.
In fact, making flag-burning illegal appears to have had overwhelming public support as recently as a decade ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Personally, I think any law enforcement officer who arrests someone for burning a flag (absent any other public safety issue, mind you) should probably be fired for having too much time on his hands.
Is “lynching” an effigy of Obama protected speech?
Is burning a Rainbow Flag at a Gay Rights parade protected speech?
Is burning a cross at night protected speech?
Is burning a Pan African flag at a BLM march protected speech?
If the answer to any of the above is yes, then burning the American Flag is also protected speech.
I’d like to see some people who burn cars and smash windows and assault others arrested. Those are not legitimate protests.
Absolutely. You can burn your own cars and smash your own windows, but if you do it to someone else’s property you should be considered lucky to escape with your life.
Colin Kaepernick is inciting the public by refusing to stand for the national anthem.
Maybe we should make it illegal to sit or kneel while the national anthem is being played. While we're at it, we might as well make it law that you must put your hand over your heart during the playing of the anthem, or any time a government vehicle passes by displaying the flag. And absolutely no crossing your fingers while you do it.
They saw Hillary’s support for the same thing.
Yes, unless there is an intent to intimidate. Virginia v. Black (2003).
The one thing that burns me up (pun) about this is that the U.S. Flag is open for any type of abuse, but if you do the same for the Mexican or Rainbow gay flag, it is seen as racist and a hate crime.
God seems to bless even Donald’s mistakes. As things stand this would need a constitutional amendment. If Donald agrees the USSC has the last word on the invention called gay marriage, he’d have to agree about this too.
Kneeling during an anthem is not violent or destructive. Burning a flag contains a veiled threat.
The notable thing here is that he said “must” rather than “should.”
I’d say, you and what army, Donald?
If we are going to press an issue hard enough to try to get a constitutional amendment... for heaven sakes Donald please fix “Gay Marriage” before even THINKING of fixing this.
It might or might not.
I’d want to see a Constitutional amendment that would forbid requiring any state to call any civil union or like arrangement, that is not between a natural born man and a natural born woman, a “marriage.”
Fix the abomination that is spiritually burning the USA, before worrying about people burning their own pieces of cloth.
So free speech only covers speech with a clear message? Either it’s legal or not, we don’t need the government deciding which flag burnings are legal and which aren’t based on how “clear” the message is. IMHO flag burning and Islam should be like wearing a Nazi uniform; it’s legal, but nobody will want to have anything to do with you.
What is the veiled threat? It seems to me that burning a flag is simply a display of a lack of respect for the country.
As to it being destructive, are you talking about the destruction of a flag?
And it could say a number of things, like “this country is figuratively burning itself up.”
“...I will defend the Constitution before I defend Nationalism which imprisons a person for exercising their right...”
well said. I’d add that Patrotism and Nationalism are different.
Flag worship is unamerican
Kaepernick is a fool, but he is just a symptom of the greater problem. Owners and franchises can set their own standards of behavior, yet they continually field felons and reprobates.
Flag burning is more of the same. The issue is rarely the issue. Which is worse, burning our flag or raising children to hate it on the taxpayers’ dime?
Okay, I wasn’t aware of that.
I do find it hard to believe though. Bet she didn’t mean it if she did spout something along these lines.
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