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Freedom for an individual
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People in the United States have the freedom to do what they want. The Constitution allows us to have our own opinions and not get punished for it. That being said, everyone has a different opinion and will stand up for what they believe is right and wrong. People should be punished for destroying something that represents our country. People should be punished for burning the American Flag because they are destroying a representation of our country that we stand and pledge to everyday. The author exclaims, “...citizens who peacefully express disagreement with government policies may be slaughtered” (American Flags Stands for Tolerance.18.5-9). Although this is for the People’s Republic of China, it was put in the text for a reason. That reason being, to prove that someone that destroys something that represents our country, or disagrees with something that represents the country, should be punished. Standing during the pledge or national anthem shows the freedoms we have, which is a reason we do stand in front of the pledge. You are allowed to have your opinion but, you should not be allowed to dismantle something that speaks for our country. …show more content…
Destroying the flag causes a disturbance of peace for our country because there will be people who disagree and state their opinion causing protests and riots.
The author claims, “...punish a person for burning a flag as a means of political protest” (Texas v. Johnson Majority Opinion.15.5-6). This being said a person cannot be punished just for burning a flag because they have the freedoms to do so, but they can be punished for disturbing the peace. If you disturb the peace you are not following the First Amendment, therefore you are in return in the wrong. People who burn the flag will make a corruption in the environment with the people around them who disagree with their actions and stand up for what they
believe. Some think people should not be punished for burning the American Flag because they are just expressing their freedom that our constitution gives us. The author explains, “Each individual is to have the freedom to develop by his or her own lights, and not by the command of officialdom. That requires not just the right to be let alone, but also the right to communicate with , to learn from and test views in conversation” (American Flag Stands for Tolerance.19.28-30). This means that our government allows us to express ourselves. The people should not be penalized if it states in the Constitution that we have the freedom to do what we want. However, the people should be penalized for creating an outburst and destroying the peace by burning the flags because some people around you will disagree and then a protest will start. In conclusion, the burning of the flag should be punished. You are taking a portrayal of our country and what we stand for. If people burn the flag, people around them will disagree and then a frenzy will erupt. Burning of the flag destroys a symbol of our country and should not be prohibited.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals pointed out that the state, under the first amendment, could not punish Johnson for burning the flag due to the current circumstances. The court found that Johnson's burning of the flag was expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment. They concluded that the State could not criminally sanction flag desecration in...
Johnson and his lawyers were dissatisfied with this decision and made an appeal to the Fifth Texas Supreme Judicial District. This appeal, made on May 8, 1985 would be titled as Texas vs. Johnson. The defense argued that Johnson was prosecuted in violation of the first Amendment, clearly states that no law may take away a person's freedom of speech or expression, and of the Bill of Rights and the free speech clause of the Texas Constitution. Johnson argued that in his opinion, flag burning is part of freedom o...
Free speech and the First Amendment rights do not give people lisence to desecrate a symbol of pride and freedom. It is not all right to protect those who let it burn, lighting up the sky with their hatred. It definitely is not acceptable to insult the men and women who fight every day to protect this nation by burning the symbol of their labors. Therefore, it is crucial that the Supreme Court pass the amendment to the Constitution to protect the flag of the US.
Is the upholding of the American flag as a symbol of the United States more important than the freedom of speech provided by the First Amendment? Are there certain freedoms of expression that are not protected under the First Amendment and if so what qualifies as freedom of speech and expression and what does not? The Supreme Court case of Texas v. Johnson proves that the First Amendment and the freedom of speech are not limited to that of spoken and written word, but also extended to symbolic speech as well. Texas v. Johnson is a case in which the interpretation of the First Amendment rights is at the top of the argument. This case discusses the issue of flag burning as a desecration of national unity and that the flag of the United States should be protected under a law.
After ruling the case in Johnson’s favor, it made it difficult to make a law banning the act of flag burning. Laws would be suggested and one would make it to the supreme court. The law would make flag burning a national offense punishable by law. Unfortunately the same majority decision as in the Texas v. Johnson case would arise as a five-to-four majority agreed once again that the law would abridge the right to freedom of speech. Seeing as the same judges presided over the case, the same defense was used to justify their ruling on the law. It was unconstitutional to abridge speech and by their ruling in Texas v. Johnson, the majority still viewed flag burning as a form of symbolic speech. Not only did the ruling in Texas v. Johnson hinder immediate lawmaking against flag burning, but it also divided a nation for a time. Johnson burned the flag, so he says, as an act against the Reagan administration. If this was so as he claimed that divided the nation, not only against him but against the supreme court. You have the protestors during the time who agreed with Johnson, the patriots against Johnson, and those left confused about what was right and wrong. No one side was right, yet no one side was wrong in their eyes. Johnson’s act was crude and even to those who agreed with his right to freedom of speech, they didn’t view his act as unpunishable. The case made the nation doubt itself and its
Much history came within the Texas v. Johnson case. It all started during the 1984 Republican National Convention, this is where Johnson participated in a political demonstration to protest what policies Regan was administrating (Brennan 1). A march was occurring throughout the city streets, which Johnson did take part in. Johnson burned an American flag while protesters chanted him on (Brennan 1). No person was specifically injured during this protest; although, many witnesses were severely offended (Brennan 1). Johnson was convicted of Desecration of a venerated object, which violated the Texas Statue. The state court of appeals affirmed Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and reversed the case stating it was a form of expressive conduct, so it was alright (Brennan 1). In a 5 to 4 decision the Supreme Court came to the conclusion that Johnson’s burning of the flag was protected under his First Amendment rights (Brennan 1). The court also found that although witnesses may have found it offensive, does not...
"Protecting Freedom of Expression on the Campus” by Derek Bok, published in Boston Globe in 1991, is an essay about what we should do when we are faced with expressions that are offensive to some people. The author discusses that although the First Amendment may protect our speech, but that does not mean it protects our speech if we use it immorally and inappropriately. The author claims that when people do things such as hanging the Confederate flag, “they would upset many fellow students and ignore the decent regard for the feelings of others” (70). The author discusses how this issue has approached Supreme Court and how the Supreme Court backs up the First Amendment and if it offends any groups, it does not affect the fact that everyone has his or her own freedom of speech. The author discusses how censorship may not be the way to go, because it might bring unwanted attention that would only make more devastating situations. The author believes the best solutions to these kind of situations would be to
Freedom of speech and expression is a right given to all Americans under the First Amendment of the Constitution. It is a difficult concept to embrace when individuals are faced with ideas they oppose. In this kind of situation, the protection guaranteed to American citizens becomes even more important. The First Amendment was designed not only to protect the freedom to express ideas and sentiments with which one agrees, but also the ideas and sentiments with which one disagrees. It is for precisely this reason that the government should maintain the right of individuals to express their dissatisfaction with the policies of the government through the act of flag burning and not amend the Constitution to make such an act illegal.
Some have seen friends and family get tortured and murdered by their own government for daring to do things we take for granted every day. For those who risked everything simply for the chance to become an American....what kind of feelings do they have for the flag when they Pledge Allegiance the first time? Go to a naturalization ceremony and see for yourself, the tears of pride, the thanks, the love and respect of this nation, as they finally embrace the American flag as their own. Ask one of them if it would be OK to tear up the flag.
Your First Amendment rights are extremely close to being violated by none other than the United States Congress. I refer to the Flag Desecration Bill that, if passed, would do irreparable damage to our right to free speech and undermine the very priniciples for which the American flag stands. Fortunately, West Virginians have an ally in Sen. Robert C. Byrd. Sen. Byrd, who previously favored the bill, now fights to protect our rights by stopping the passage of this bill. I applaud his stand and want to reinforce his position. I also encourage you to join Sen. Byrd's campaign to ensure the legacy and supremacy of the greatest law in the land: the United States Constitution.
In 1776, the colonist in America were unhappy. There were many problems going on in America that year and the founding fathers wanted to fix that. The founding fathers had a vision of freedom and equality. Modern day America does not live up to the vision because there’s racial inequality and poverty.
The burning of an American flag is not necessarily anti-American or unpatriotic. Sometimes, the greatness and majesty of the flag is better portrayed in the powerful political and societal statement of destroying it. This act can convey the feeling of the American people that their government is not the body it should be or that it is not doing the will of the people. This is probably one of the most emotional actions they can take to get the government's attention. Some of these protestors may even love the flag as much as those who are for banning flag burning, but the burners want to emphasize the seriousness of their complaint. The act of burning a flag may be the people's way of telling the government that it is co...
All of these points are plain examples of why standing up for the pledge of allegiance is just a waste of time. Give respect where respect is due. Personally, I don’t believe we should stand and respect a country that’s doesn’t do the same for us as Americans. They disgrace other cultures, and put people down who don’t meet their standards of “America”. America isn’t the same, we have more diversity here and we can do nothing but accept it. Torturing people and telling them they 're not good enough to live here makes people hate us more and want to kill us. Abolishing the pledge of allegiance would be an eye opener and maybe these patriotic Americans can see that and make a change.
Flag Burning can be and usually is a very controversial issue. Many people are offended by the thought of destroying this country's symbol of liberty and freedom. During a political protest during the 1984 Republican Convention, Gregory Lee Johnson was arrested for burning an American flag. Years later in 1989, Johnson got the decision overturned by the United States Supreme Court. In the same year, the state of Texas passed the Flag Protection Act, which prohibited any form of desecration against the American flag. This act provoked many people to protest and burn flags anyway. Two protestors, Shawn Eichman and Mark Haggerty were charged with violating the law and arrested. Both Eichman and Haggerty appealed the decision because the law was inconsistent with the first amendment to the Constitution. The right to petition the government for a redress of grievances is protected by the first amendment of the Constitution. Burning American flags and other such actions are not treasonous and should no be treated as so, as long as these actions are done to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Born in Somalia and raised in the midst of the Somali Civil war, Keenan Abdi Warsame (K'naan) became an international sensation because of his hit single “Wavin Flag.” He originally wrote this song for Somalia and the aspiration of freedom he wanted for his people and homeland. Waving’ Flag is symbolic in my life and has impacted millions of people worldwide. This song expresses empowerment, freedom, and the will to become stronger. These ideas and meanings are evident through the lyrics and beautiful melody.