Defacing the American Flag

[surferarmo]

At my school, UCSC, there have been a number of incidents where students would place on their balcony an American flag, only to find it torn and destroyed the next day. When the campus police were called to stop the defamation of property, the cops replied with this along with the University Chancellor "The American flag does not mean the same thing to you as it does to those who destroyed it."

Lets forget the fact that it is illegal to do such a thing. The police and the University called flag defamation a form of speech. Isn't waving the American flag a form of expression, a form of speech? In protecting one alternative of expression, they block another. This is very contradictory. Also I have a problem when someone messes around with the property of another.

Another double standard being laid into the system by our "brilliant liberal institutions".

[Anonymouse]

Re: Defacing the American Flag

At my school, UCSC, there have been a number of incidents where students would place on their balcony an American flag, only to find it torn and destroyed the next day. When the campus police were called to stop the defamation of property, the cops replied with this along with the University Chancellor "The American flag does not mean the same thing to you as it does to those who destroyed it."

Lets forget the fact that it is illegal to do such a thing. The police and the University called flag defamation a form of speech. Isn't waving the American flag a form of expression, a form of speech? In protecting one alternative of expression, they block another. This is very contradictory. Also I have a problem when someone messes around with the property of another.

Another double standard being laid into the system by our "brilliant liberal institutions".

I'm confused.

So if someone wished to burn an American flag, you would support their right?

[sSsflamesSs]

Surferarmo, I am also confused about your stand on this.

How can burning the flag be a form of speech? Say what you want, but don't resort to vandalism.

[Anonymouse]

Surferarmo, I am also confused about your stand on this.

How can burning the flag be a form of speech? Say what you want, but don't resort to vandalism.

If you want to burn a flag why not?

This goes back to my thread on political systems and the state.

The State calls it vandalism. Others call it a form of expression.

[surferarmo]

I never said that burning the flag was a form of speech. I think it is bullxxxx. Maybe I worded it wrong. I said that the Chancellor, and the police said that it was a form of speech. I belive that displaying a flag is a form of speech.

I wonder though. If I burned a rainbow flag, which symbolizes sodomy to me, I would be charged with a hate crime. Double standards suck.

[sSsflamesSs]

If it's not your flag, don't burn it.

Buy your own flag, then burn it to prove your point if that's necessary.

[Anonymouse]

This is what I mean by the State limiting your liberties. That shouldn't be confounded with freedom. You should be able to burn whatever flag you want.

And I understand flames' point. Since we live in a society where there are property laws and such burning someone elses flag isn't wise.

[surferarmo]

Well I guess the whole point is that if I touced a Brazilian flag on my campus and threw it on the floor, I can gauruntee a riot would start and I would arrested. How come our flag is not defended with such merit.

[sSsflamesSs]

I don't know the Constitution by heart, but is there an actual law that prevents the burning of the flag?

[surferarmo]

Yes there is.