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Burning the American Flag on the 4th of July
I've been putting off writing my first piece for the Greene County Herald for a while now, so I've decided it's only fitting to start with something completely outrageous. So here it is: If you're looking for a way to celebrate freedom this 4th of July, you should consider burning an American flag.
Before I continue, I have to say this: I don't hate the United States of America. I have lived here my entire life and I can't think of any other country I'd like to live in. But I love freedom more than the United States of America, or any form of government. I'm not going to preach at you about the downfalls of our current (or past) governments, because that's not why I'm talking about burning our flag.
To put it as simply as I can, freedom is the idea that you can do things that other people will not like, so long as you are not causing anyone undue harm.
Burning the American flag is an incredibly contentious act. Several constitutional amendments have been proposed to ban that act, although they have all failed. Most people take offense to the burning of the flag because they see it as a blatanly anti-American act; a spit in the eye and a slap in the face to every hard-working God-fearing American and every soldier that ever fought for our freedom.
The reality is that we would not have this amazing free country if not for our frequent and vehement political disagreements. We have to be careful not to forget the importance of free political speech, even when we are emotionally affected by what appears to be an assault on an icon of our freedom.
The American flag is a temporary, physical symbol of an indestructable idea: a nation in which the people govern the government, rather than the government governing the people. A nation where one can live without fear of tyranny, without persecution for practice of religion or political ideology. We must remember that you can burn a million flags, but you will never kill freedom.
So am I really advocating that you burn an American flag this weekend? Am I going to? No. My point is simply this: if you desire freedom, if you love freedom, if you wish to preserve freedom, you must be willing to tolerate the offensive, illogical, insensitive freedom of your fellow man.
About the Author
Josh is a Voluntaryist freedom activist currently living in Columbus. He has lived in Cedarville, Jamestown, and Troy since moving to Ohio from Illinois. He has worked on the anonymous free-speech forum m.essag.es.
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Comments
Well Sir, I would have to agree with you that most people would take offense to the burning of the flag because they see it as a blatanly anti-American act; a spit in the eye and a slap in the face to every hard-working God-fearing American and every soldier that ever fought for our freedom.
I served 20 years in the Military and am proud of the service that I did for my country. If I had it to do all over again, I would definitely do it.
Sure you could go burn a flag, but don't ask for any help from me nor will I condone it. In my opinion it should be illegal to burn the flag except when doing so to properly and honorably dispose of a used flag.
As for the flag being a temporary physical symbol, I respectfully suggest you take a course in American history.
What exactly would a course in American history tell me that would convince me that the flag is not a temporary physical symbol of the indestructible idea of freedom?
You have demonstrated my point, by being willing to crush the freedom of political speech of others because you are emotionally upset by their actions. That is how freedom is lost.
Why should it be made an illegal act?
The symbol of freedom is not tantamount to the notion of freedom itself. The flag should never be confused with the Republic, for the latter is always greater. The respect we afford The Stars and Stripes may be misplaced, to the extent we fail in our duty as citizens to secure liberty for the next generation.
The issue isn't the desecration of a hallowed icon of blood-bought freedom from tyranny. The gist of the matter is liberty itself, in whatever form it is symbolized.
But more to the point, if your actions deprive no one of property or liberty--flag-burning comes to mind--then I've no business enacting legislation which prohibits you from doing something I don't like.
That's freedom.
It's not hampered by my personal etiquette. It's not bounded by your likes and dislikes. It's not even governed by our sense of national pride. Freedom means I'm at liberty to govern myself, as I see fit, so long as I do you no harm.
Honored Veteran, don't be too quick to suggest which cherished opinions of yours ought to be made into law. Far lesser men than you have done so, and continue to do so, as our present profligate government testifies. Thus, the freedom you rightfully and proudly served to protect is today but a hollow shell of what it used to be.
Jefferson uttered: "Of liberty I would say that, in the whole plenitude of its extent, it is unobstructed action according to our will. But rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add “within the limits of the law,” because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual."
Kind Sir, I respectfully suggest *you* take a course in American history.
As an Army veteran, it won't be the first item I reach for when I wish to burn a symbol to make a statement. Honestly, it won't. However, if I do feel like burning it--and I might--then I expect to do so without someone's illogical and insensitive laws attempting to regulate my offensive liberties.
In other words, I refuse to entertain someone's fetish concerning the flag.
You put it well: burning a flag is a perceived assault on our freedom. Let those cry over it who will, as they likely perceive little else.