The constitution only protects the speaker from government interference. If I don’t like you message, I have the right to form my own protest, a counter protest if you will. If my protest is so much larger that it impedes your ability to get your message out…that the way she goes.
Right but in this instance, there's plenty of room for two protests. One groups protest was specifically aimed at eliminating the other guy's ability to protest. Can you do that?
No, I just want jackasses to take a little more pride and show a little more respect for what that flag stands for. I will never understand how anyone can have pride for this country and respect for the what that flag represents and have the “I burn the symbol of freedom because I am free to do so” mentality.
As long as you are not a state actor (i.e. a school, police, political subdivision) and you eliminate the other guy's ability without breaking any laws...absolutely. I should be clear here...even if you did so by breaking laws, for example you knocked the dude out or drug him away kicking and screaming...you still would only be guilty of assault and battery. No one could charge you with infringing on the guys right of free speech. To be even clearer…you don’t have the absolute right to free speech. Obscene speech, hate speech, fighting words, and commercial speech can all be regulated or suppressed. And the police can always interfere if it is for the safety of the speaker, hence why they interfered yesterday. Though I do not think he was in any real danger, at least I like to think that the only thing he had to fear was getting hit by a water balloon.
I agree with everything you say, except for one: I agree with people's right to burn. I agree that all free speech needs to be protected, even speech that most find repugnant. But, I'm not sure burning the flag is a sign of respect. The ability to burn the flag is to be respected for sure, not the act itself.
Then you my friend, are a gentleman and a scholar. Let me ask you this, how do you feel about Rick Perry threatening to secede from the States? How about these people right here? [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubzG1CFi8cs&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - "Sovereignty or Secession" Rally in Austin, Texas[/ame] [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbOoHqC2UxI"]YouTube - Texas Christian Conservatives Who "Hate America"[/ame]
I don’t agree with succession either…however Texas succeeding from the United State is a complex scenario. They were the only state that was an independent country before entering the union and from what I understand, and I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong; Texas withheld the right to succeed when they became a part of the country. Therefore, in theory they have a legal right to succeed from the union. BTW… the Republic of West Florida was an independent country too, but they became a part of Louisiana and then Louisiana became a state, hence why I say Texas was the only independent country to directly join the union. But to answer your question, I think those people right there are a little off and should be avoided. Much like one should avoid hippies who want to burn a flag to support their friend who went on a crime spree. ETA: I probably wouldn't avoid the hippie chick that was with Hass though... I found her attractive and would proably try to pick her up in a bar.
(sigh) Not once have I said that people don't have the freedom to burn a flag. I question the statement made in burning the flag. You are the one who brought "defense of the nation" into it. I'd like to hear what those on the front line of defense think. So you wish to follow the example of "dumb hippies" and Communists? I grant that you have that right. As I pointed out in my original post, there are many ways to express yourself without having to burn our nation's primary symbol. Taking this back to the LSU case yesterday, Haas said he wanted to support the guy who got arrested last week. He was arrested for stealing a flag, and then burning it without the proper permit. If he had been arrested for stealing and burning one of the BCS championship flags from Tiger Stadium, he would have faced the same charges, and Haas would have had no call to burn an American flag. Sorry, got a little off topic. To the point of your last statement, I'm well aware that flag burning is legal. I'm not suggesting a movement to make it so. But be aware, if someone exercises their right to burn a flag in my vicinity, I will exercise my right to free speech by throwing a bucket of water.
good hair perry is an idiot. did we learn nothing last time this crap was tried? these people need to be strapped to a chair and forced to watch "the civil war" by ken burns. btw, i have no idea how this relates to flag burning, so i'll just to back to the protester was an idiot for not even knowing why the guy he was protesting about got arrested. which makes him an idiot also
