“A riot is the language of the unheard.” Words from one of the most successful, yet peaceful protesters, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Today in America there are riots occurring daily. These riots had actually started as protests and escalated quickly. American citizens have the right to do so, thanks to the Constitution. However, these so-called protests have spiraled out of control and peaceful protests are a thing of the past. In past protest, people have made signs and have marched, in today 's situation people are burning the American flag. It should be illegal, right? The sad news is that it is one hundred percent legal. It should be illegal to burn the flag because it is a symbol of America and freedom, it is disrespectful, and it is an important part in history.
What would happen if someone tried to rip up or burn the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence? Someone would have to face some serious consequences. Why should it be so different with the flag? The flag is a symbol of America and freedom. If we no longer had the flag what could
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Although burning the American should be illegal, it is not. According to the Law Dictionary, the only thing that someone can be charged with is setting a fire without a permit. Burning the American Flag is protected by the first amendment, which gives the right to express ourselves. However, burning the Stars and Stripes is taking freedom of speech a little too far. There are other ways to protest Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is a prime example. He promoted peace and achieved equal rights for African Americans. He never burned an American flag, he respected the flag. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. believed that his followers should also respect the flag. He marched peacefully, he never started a riot. He received more attention than the riots are causing around the country. He went down in history in a positive way and the protest that occurring today won’t be remembered. Why do we feel as if we don 't riot we won 't be
It is clear to see that flag burning causes tension, good tension as MLK would call it, that causes attention to be drawn to a topic and forces people to acknowledge the problem. Destroying the American flag is a powerful method of protest that says “This flag is useless because America is not what it is supposed to stand
The general argument made by author William J. Brennan in his work, “Majority Opinion,” is that it is legal to burn the flag if it is a form of political protest. More specifically, Brennan argues that we can not criminally punish people for burning a flag: the only thing we can do is convince them that they are wrong. He writes that they only thing we can do is “ Persuade them that they are wrong.” In this passage, Brennan suggests that criminally punishing a person for burning the flag will decrease the values of the flag by opposing the First Amendment. In conclusion, Brennan’s belief is that we should not punish people for burning the flag, but convince them that they are wrong.
The Court ruled that yes, burning an American flag was symbolic
A 5-to-4 decision held that Johnson's burning of a flag was protected expression under the First Amendment and all charges were dropped. In response to this ruling Congress passed the Flag Protection Act Of 1989. “The act states that ‘whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles, burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag of the United States shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.’ The act does not prohibit any conduct consisting of the disposal of a flag when it has become worn or soiled." (1989).
Are You A Rebel?: Reasons Why The Confederate Flag Isn’t Actually Demeaning Racist or history? Demeaning or heritage? Questions like these arise when the confederate flag is discussed.
Should someone be locked up for burning the American Flag? Yes, because the American represents unity and freedom between all 50 states. Most of the U.S. may have become emotional, because of what happened to the flag. Desecrating an American Flag was a criminal offense in Texas, as it was under federal law and in 48 of the 50 states. Johnson was arrested and charged with violating the flag.
For the longest time it was considered illegal, but in the case of Texas. V. Johnson that changed. This case ruled that it was legal to burn the flag as long it was not bringing harm to others. In the political cartoon (document 2), there is a man burning the American Flag, which is legal. Behind him is another man burning a smaller version of the flag, which is on the first man's back pocket.
Protestors were beat, jailed, and tormented for standing up for their beliefs. As Martin Luther King Jr. wrote in Letter from a Birmingham Jail, “I am in a Birmingham jail because injustice is in here.” The law enforcers were disobeying the laws and they were not peaceful. They stripped the protestors right to freedom of speech while terrorizing the marches and their participants. This was not the American way.
CRJU 1068 Should desecrating the American flag be illegal? The American flag is so loved because of what it represents; the land of the free. Unfortunately, that freedom also includes the ability to use or abuse that flag in protest.
There seems to be a 50/50 split on the thoughts of the people as the controversy continues. Lets focus on the ones who find taking a knee, a peaceful protest and say that Trump is trying to suppress players rights by making comments on the topic. Some see this protest, against the flag, actually being patriotic. John Legend says “Protest is patriotic… If we quell protest in the name of patriotism, we are not patriots.”
Steven Sternberg Mrs. Burns English 1 CP 1 March, 2018 The Flag Protest “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color” (Kaepernick, Colin). The flag protest has been a protest existing for a long time but, recently sparked lots of controversy. Although kneeling during the national anthem may seem disrespectful are often seen as a disrespect to the flag and troops, a inefficient way to promote a cause, and anger many people in shows division in the country, it can show that the ideals of freedom is justified, it generates conversation and awareness about topic, and is a legal form of peaceful protest.
“…arguments that a flag that some see as a symbol of support for racism and white supremacy couldn’t remain on the capitol grounds after the Charleston massacre”(Jason Hanna and Ralph Ellis). The quote shows how others think the same. Others see the flag as a sign that the progress we have made is for nothing because others believe in racism and white supremacy. And I believe that it is unacceptable to show the flag that is wrong. It is more than just a piece of cloth it is a symbol of how we cannot agree on anything and there will always be people who are so
The flag represents freedom and justice and those who are being oppressed feel as though these certain rights are being taken away and that is why it is okay for someone to kneel during the National Anthem. While many people believe that kneeling during the National Anthem is wrong and is disrespectful to the country’s ideals, what many Americans do not realize is that if they look past their beliefs and try
But this is a form of disrespect towards this country and its armed forces. As well as an unnecessary risk, because although others claim that this is a form of peaceful protest many have gotten death threats, and that is not peaceful at all. It is a great act of disrespect towards the country and its military service to kneel during the national anthem. Many veterans as well as family from deceased soldiers have spoken up about their thoughts on the subject.
Stop Burning the American Flag! Ronald Reagan once said, “When we honor our flag we honor what we stand for as a Nation - freedom, equality, justice, and hope.” The Texas v. Johnson case is a vast problem that seems to be overpowering in today’s society. Since the case began there have been flag burnings all over the country, and no one seems to be concerned since people are not getting disciplined. People should not be burning the flag that so many people fight and lost their lives for.