There are instances in the United States of America that citizens expressed the need to limit the ban on disposing a flag. This is not a minor issue because the US flag is treated as not an ordinary thing but a national possession that must not be desecrated. There were court cases that are sited having flag desecration issues such as United States against Eichman, United States and Haggerty, and Texas vs. Johnson. These cases were disputes about disposing a flag in relation to freedom of speech under the First Amendment.
As for the case of Haggerty, the federal law became invalid about the desecration of the flag as an offensive free speech under the First Amendment of the Constitution. However, if the flag belongs to a government office such as the Post Office of Capitol Hill in Seattle, the person who desecrated the flag or burned it will be penalized. In the case mentioned, Haggerty stole a government possession, the flag, and burned it.
Generally speaking, burning a thing is a basic human act. The purpose of such act may be for disposing a thing, keeping oneself warm in a cold environment, making a fire to serve as light, for camping purposes, heat for cooking, and many more. The act of burning cannot immediately imply a message or to express freedom of speech. There are actually more ways to show your angst against the government such as directly communicating with politicians and community leaders. Burning the flag does not justify any discontent.Labels: American flag, custom flag, custom flag maker, custom flag. personalized flag
by:
The Flagman
