Should Burning your countries flag be illegal?

[The Neo-Hellenic Republic]

I saw a picture of a group of radical leftists burning an American flag (they were Americans) and it made mW think, why isn't this illegal? Its disgusting and why would anyone want to burn the flag of their country? Even itlf it's done something wrong, you should still stand by it.

NSG, do you think it should be illegal to burn your country's flag?

[Laerod]

Well, it creates a fire hazard, so I'd generally be in favor of it being illegal. If they got the proper permits and it was their property, then it wouldn't be something that needs to be prohibitted.

[Russels Orbiting Teapot]

1: Burning is the proper way to dispose of a flag.
2: any country that has a tradition of free speech should allow flag burning. Flag burning is absolutely an act of political speech, and must be protected.
3: acts of flag burning are made more powerful by attempts to censor or punish them.

[Alyakia]

I saw a picture of a group of radical leftists burning an American flag (they were Americans) and it made mW think, why isn't this illegal? Its disgusting and why would anyone want to burn the flag of their country? Even itlf it's done something wrong, you should still stand by it.

NSG, do you think it should be illegal to burn your country's flag?

lol @ the idea of republicans in northern ireland getting arrested for burning british flags 10/10 you really though this law through

[SuperFruitland]

As a former Boy Scout, people burning an American flag in the proper way is actually the proper way to dispose of an American flag. Given that they were following proper procedure (not letting the flag touch the ground and such) it'd be seen as an act of respect to a flag and America itself...

[Ostroeuropa]

1: Burning is the proper way to dispose of a flag.
2: any country that has a tradition of free speech should allow flag burning. Flag burning is absolutely an act of political speech, and must be protected.
3: acts of flag burning are made more powerful by attempts to censor or punish them.

This, pretty much.

[The Neo-Hellenic Republic]

I saw a picture of a group of radical leftists burning an American flag (they were Americans) and it made mW think, why isn't this illegal? Its disgusting and why would anyone want to burn the flag of their country? Even itlf it's done something wrong, you should still stand by it.

NSG, do you think it should be illegal to burn your country's flag?

lol @ the idea of republicans in northern ireland getting arrested for burning british flags 10/10 you really though this law through

Burning terrorist flags is fine so I dont see a problem with burning British flags.

[Calimera II]

Flag desecration is illegal in many countries. In Austria offenders can be fined or punished with up to 6 months of imprisonment. In Argentina it is also illegal: ''The Penal Code (Código Penal) on its Article 222 criminalizes the public desecration of the national flag, coat of arms, national anthem, or any provincial symbol, imposing from 1 to 4 years of imprisonment.''

And in the US:

The flag of the United States is sometimes symbolically burned, often in protest of the policies of the American government, both within the country and abroad. The United States Supreme Court in Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989), and reaffirmed in U.S. v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990), has ruled that due to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, it is unconstitutional for a government (whether federal, state, or municipality) to prohibit the desecration of a flag, due to its status as "symbolic speech." However, content-neutral restrictions may still be imposed to regulate the time, place, and manner of such expression.

[Ostroeuropa]

lol @ the idea of republicans in northern ireland getting arrested for burning british flags 10/10 you really though this law through

Burning terrorist flags is fine so I dont see a problem with burning British flags.

lul.
So you're basically advocating racist double standards.
YOUR patriotic feelz need to be protected, not anybody elses. (Ignoring for the moment the free speech issue.)

[The Neo-Hellenic Republic]

Flag desecration is illegal in many countries. In Austria offenders can be fined or punished with up to 6 months of imprisonment. In Argentina it is also illegal: ''The Penal Code (Código Penal) on its Article 222 criminalizes the public desecration of the national flag, coat of arms, national anthem, or any provincial symbol, imposing from 1 to 4 years of imprisonment.''

And in the US:

The flag of the United States is sometimes symbolically burned, often in protest of the policies of the American government, both within the country and abroad. The United States Supreme Court in Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989), and reaffirmed in U.S. v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990), has ruled that due to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, it is unconstitutional for a government (whether federal, state, or municipality) to prohibit the desecration of a flag, due to its status as "symbolic speech." However, content-neutral restrictions may still be imposed to regulate the time, place, and manner of such expression.

I could care less about free speech as long as a flag isn't being desecrated. If you hate your country to the point of burning their flag then leave.

[Vassenor]

lol @ the idea of republicans in northern ireland getting arrested for burning british flags 10/10 you really though this law through

Burning terrorist flags is fine so I dont see a problem with burning British flags.

So presumably you'd be fine with loyalists burning Irish tricolours then. Since from their point of view they'd be burning terrorist flags, which by your reasoning is OK.

[Ifreann]

Even itlf it's done something wrong, you should still stand by it.

That's just silly.

[The Neo-Hellenic Republic]

Burning terrorist flags is fine so I dont see a problem with burning British flags.

So presumably you'd be fine with loyalists burning Irish tricolours then. Since from their point of view they'd be burning terrorist flags, which by your reasoning is OK.

No that's not fine because that's the true flag of Ireland.

[Alyakia]

lol @ the idea of republicans in northern ireland getting arrested for burning british flags 10/10 you really though this law through

Burning terrorist flags is fine so I dont see a problem with burning British flags.

nah it's legally their country so if flag burning was illegal they'd be jailed. you can write about how this one totally doesn't count from your jail cell.

[The Neo-Hellenic Republic]

Burning terrorist flags is fine so I dont see a problem with burning British flags.

nah it's legally their country so if flag burning was illegal they'd be jailed. you can write about how this one totally doesn't count from your jail cell.

Implying I live in false Ireland.

[Vassenor]

So presumably you'd be fine with loyalists burning Irish tricolours then. Since from their point of view they'd be burning terrorist flags, which by your reasoning is OK.

No that's not fine because that's the true flag of Ireland.

But how is it any different from burning the British flag, which is still the flag of sixty-three million people who have nothing to do with what goes on on that side of the Irish sea?

[Alyakia]

Flag desecration is illegal in many countries. In Austria offenders can be fined or punished with up to 6 months of imprisonment. In Argentina it is also illegal: ''The Penal Code (Código Penal) on its Article 222 criminalizes the public desecration of the national flag, coat of arms, national anthem, or any provincial symbol, imposing from 1 to 4 years of imprisonment.''

And in the US:

The flag of the United States is sometimes symbolically burned, often in protest of the policies of the American government, both within the country and abroad. The United States Supreme Court in Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989), and reaffirmed in U.S. v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990), has ruled that due to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, it is unconstitutional for a government (whether federal, state, or municipality) to prohibit the desecration of a flag, due to its status as "symbolic speech." However, content-neutral restrictions may still be imposed to regulate the time, place, and manner of such expression.

when did argentina make that law

[Alyakia]

nah it's legally their country so if flag burning was illegal they'd be jailed. you can write about how this one totally doesn't count from your jail cell.

Implying I live in false Ireland.

implying it wasn't a hypothetical you and you living in probably america doesn't change the fact that your own idea would criminalize your own allies

[Wallenburg]

Flag burning makes you uncomfortable? Don't join the Boy Scouts.

[Ifreann]

So presumably you'd be fine with loyalists burning Irish tricolours then. Since from their point of view they'd be burning terrorist flags, which by your reasoning is OK.

No that's not fine because that's the true flag of Ireland.

So really your problem isn't people burning their country's flag, your problem is people burning the flag of countries you personally like.

[Wallenburg]

Flag burning makes you uncomfortable? Don't join the Boy Scouts.

[Ostroeuropa]

So presumably you'd be fine with loyalists burning Irish tricolours then. Since from their point of view they'd be burning terrorist flags, which by your reasoning is OK.

No that's not fine because that's the true flag of Ireland.

You realize not even the Irish state bothers with this bullshit you're peddling anymore?

95% of citizens of the republic of Ireland agreed to the good friday agreement, where among other things the republic of ireland ammended it's constitution to abandon it's claim to northern ireland.

95% of Ro-Irish citizens, and the Ro-Irish government, say you are wrong.

Even itlf it's done something wrong, you should still stand by it.

Practice what you preach.

[The 502nd SS]

Flag burning makes you uncomfortable? Don't join the Boy Scouts.

Thats retiring the flag >_>

[Ifreann]

Flag burning makes you uncomfortable? Don't join the Boy Scouts.

Thats retiring the flag >_>

Retiring it with fire.

[Neutraligon]

Well first burning a flag in protest does not mean the person hates the entirety of the country the flag they are burning. Sometimes they are protesting specific laws or actions by the government. No it should not be illegal as it is a form of political speech protected in the US in the Constitution.