Quote:
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Originally Posted by Bill O'Rights
It's not exactly a washcloth we're talking about. It's not the actual woven fibers that are an issue. It's the meaning, and the symbolism, attached to those woven fibers that lend the emotionalism given to it.
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Yes, it
is a wash cloth we're talking about, except that not many people will use it to wash anything. It has meaning and symbolism to many people, yes, but a washcloth can have meaning to someone yet burning that isn't forbidden. Why not? Why is the symbolism of the US flag more important than the symbolism of my washcloth? According to the US Constitution,
it is not.
The fact that flag burning is a debate truly is stupid.
Here are two things that I think everyone already knows but I will say them, anyways.
It is not the government's job (and, hence, there's no need to pass legislation) to protect you from being offended. In fact, it
is the government's job to protect my right to offend you.
Why do we protect freedom of speech, anyways? If your speech is popular then people will defend it. That's part of the definition of popular. Speech that people like doesn't need defending. You only have to protect speech that is unpopular. That's why rights advocates are always protecting assholes, because if you want to limit people's rights then you will start with the people no one likes. No one likes them, anyways, so who cares if they have rights? The thing is, when you take away someone's rights, you are taking away your own...
The flag is a symbol. Burning the flag is also a symbol...