Proclaim Your Freedom of Speech †Burn a Flag! -- Argumentative Persua

Proclaim Your Freedom of Speech Burn a Flag This flag, which we keep an eye on and under which we serve, is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a nation. It has no other character than that which we give it from generation to generation. The choices are ours (quoted in smith 87). This statement by Woodrow Wilson summarizes the debate over a proposed amendment to outlaw combustion of the American flag. Is this symbol of our nation too powerful to be defiled in our collective mind, or is its manifestation of values the reason for us to outlaw its desecration? We see many constitutional and non-constitutional reasons both for and against fugitive the amendment an analysis of the Constitution is vital to forming a valid opinion on this issue. In the past, the Supreme Court has rule that burning the flag is a form of free speech which may not be express by the government. One of the earliest decisions on this issue was in path v. sassy York (1969). A fter hearing about the murder of civil rights leader James Meredith, Sidney Street, a decorated veteran of World War II, destroy a flag he had been displaying at his home (Cohen 185), telling bystanders that if they let that happen to Meredith, we dont consume an American flag (Cohen 185). He was arrested, tried beforehand a jury, and convicted under the states statute prohibiting both the desecration of the flag and in public speaking contemptuous words about it. Streets attorney appealed to the Supreme Court, which ruled the sentence unconstitutional. The Courts opinion was based mainly upon Mr. Streets words it stated that his declarations were a form of protest which is protected by the First Amendment and that he did not provoke retaliation fro... ...mocracy. Boston, MA Allyn and Bacon, 1998. 4. H.J.RES.5. Online. doubting Thomas . October 29, 2000. 5. H.J.RES.33. Online. Thomas . October 29, 2000. 6. OBrien, Tim. The Great discriminate Flag Burning Decision Split the Court. ABC News OnLine. 1999. October 11, 2000. 7. S.931. Online. Thomas . October 29, 2000. 8. Smith, Whitney. The Flag Book of the United States. New York William Morrow and Company, 1970. 9. U.S. Supreme Court. Street v. New York. 21 April 1969. FindLaw. Online. . October 29, 2000. 10. Webb, Sandi. A Grand Old Flag? Does the U.S. really need to Prohibit Flag Burning? Online. kinsfolk 1995. Libertarian Party News . September 30, 2000. 11. Williams, Armstrong. The Flag Burning Amendment. New York Amsterdam News 8.28. October 1999. EbscoHost . October 29, 2000.