Why? Is there really an answer for that? Why should someone have to respect the flag of the United States of America? Instead of saying that they should, I ask you to explain why they should.

That being said, you have made the assumption that burning the flag can only be done out of disrespect, which does not make sense. The reasons I have listed for burning the flag include disrespectful reasons, neutral reasons, and also reasons born from a deep respect for the flag.

So even if there were some good reason not to disrespect the flag, what does that have to do with burning the flag? You misassociate the act of burning something with a disrespect, but the vast majority of manmade fires have nothing to do with a disrespect for anything.

Frankly, this code shouldn't exist in my opinion. Does a free nation truly force the patriotism of its people? Does a free nation ban its people from disliking the nation? Of course not, why should it do that? Disrespecting the nation doesn't hurt anyone. Our nation doesn't even ban us from disrespecting individual people, and surely individual people are far more important than "the nation", for "the nation" is really nothing more than an idea; it isn't a person with real feelings or something like that.

Then why do you work to change any policy ever? Why do you ever disagree with the administration? Why don't you just love it or leave it?

The truth is that our nation isn't perfect, and some people are going to be displeased with the actions of our nation. But those people should be free to disrespect it all they want. What kind of nation are we to force our people to love our nation, to tell them that if we aren't giving them a fair chance, then instead of expressing their displeasure, instead of protesting, they should just leave our nation? Are we not good people who care about the opinion of our citizens?

Instead of taking away people's right to disprespect the nation, we should be considering that disrespect rationally. We should consider whether the disprespectful people have a valid reason to disrespect the nation, and if so, we should correct that. If not, we should do nothing, so long as they aren't harming anyone else.

And what will really be accomplished by forcing people to engage in patriotic acts? Do you think forcing people to act patriotic really makes them love this country more? Or do you agree with me that forcing people to act patriotic is nothing more than a denial of freedom, and that by preventing people from burning the flag, we are the ones disrespecting our nation.

Instead of loving the flag, I recommend that you guys love freedom, equality and happiness. If you don't love those things, then maybe you should be the ones who leave. Or, if you don't believe in freedom, then don't fight for a nation which holds freedom tatamount. But you don't have to leave and you can fight if you want; it's your choice in a free nation.