Burning The American Flag Essay

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Introduction: The flag is one underlying feature of a country’s identity. It symbolizes unity and a country’s pride. Such a notable attribute should be held in high regard and respect. Many use the burning of the American flag as a symbol of distasteful protest, attacking the very symbol that unifies them. Still, I believe disrespect should be punished, as it displays ignorance and arrogance against one’s country. The flag is a symbol of unity and pride. A nation's flag represents the collective identity and shared values of its citizens. Justice Anthony Kennedy states, “Though symbols often are what we ourselves make of them, the flag is constant in expressing beliefs Americans share, beliefs in law and peace and that freedom which sustains …show more content…

For instance, burning the flag, while controversial and often seen as disrespectful, is a form of protest protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution under the Texas v. Johnson Act. states that flag burning is protected under the First Amendment’s freedom of speech. In the 1989 case Texas v. Johnson, Gregory Lee Johnson burned the US flag during a protest at the 1984 Republican National Convention. He was arrested and charged under Texas law. The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled his actions were protected under the First Amendment. This sparked debate on free speech limits and symbolic expression protection. Punishing individuals for exercising their right to free speech sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the principles the flag is meant to symbolize – namely, freedom and democracy. Moreover, burning the flag is often a symbolic gesture aimed at drawing attention to perceived injustices or grievances within society, rather than a direct attack on the country itself. Furthermore, the burning of the American flag is commonly associated with flag retirements, which is a dignifying way to dispose of a flag in such a condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display. Burning the flag in any other context is reprehensible, as it infringes on the honorable, purposeful act of a flag's

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