I haven't responded to this topic, so I think it is time that I offer my two cents. When I first was going to answer the poll question I was going to answer No. However, wehn I reread it, the question posed was should flag burning be protected by the First Amendment. Yes it should. The First Amendment protects the freedom of speech, and political dissent is the most important of all speech that should be protected. Some may argue that the burning of a flag is an action, and not speech, however, I agree that it is a method of expression, and thus should be protected.

Having said that, if a Constitutional Amendment were to be passed by the Congress seeking to prohibit the desecration of the flag, I, like tadpole, would be one if its strongest supporters.

Like tadpole, I have served in the armed forces. (GO ARMY) It was here that I was taught the the flag is a living symbol. As a member of a color guard and a color sergeant I have much respect for the flag. You see we are taught that the flag represents the ideals of this nation, the belief in liberty and justice for all. The flag is used to drape the coffins of the soldiers, sailors, and airman who have died in service to their country. The Red of the Flag represents the blood spilled in service to her, the white represents justice, and the blue represents valor.

For those who would burn the flag, I say that it is one thing to do so amidst a crowd of those who support your views. If you truly wish to make a statement about your beliefs in this country I suggest trying to burn that flag at Fort Bragg, or Fort Hood, or Fort Sill or any other military installation. Don't be a coward, if you want to burn it, burn it where it means the most, not where it means the least.

So many of you who are more liberal than I, have made statements regarding the flag as being nothing more than a piece of fabric. So why was it that Georgia, South Carolina, and Mississippi have taken such a beating for the flying of the Confederate flag or having it as part of thier state flag? Its just a piece of cloth. I am sorry, but those of you of the liberal persuasion who use that argument are hypocrites. You use it in support of the right to burn a flag, yet in the very next breath ignore when it comes to the Confederate flags. You can't have it both ways, it either means something or its a piece of fabric, it cannot be both.

Furthermore, if the flag is just a piece of fabric, then its burning has no meaning and therefore it is not an expressive act and can be legislated against and not protected under the first amendment. Once again, you can't have it both ways. Obviously the flag is more than just a piece of fabric.

dmk