honors+history+posts+period+6

Caitlyn Steele loman 6 11/25/09

Burning of the Flag  During a 1984 Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas, Johnson played a part in a political march. During which he burned a U.S. flag which violated Texas law, and was fined 2,000 dollars and was put in jail. I believe that the government had the right to put him in jail, not just for violating the law but for committing such a rude crime. Johnson argued that the 1st amendment protected him and he should be let off freely. But the freedom of speech doesn’t protect him partially because he didn’t speak, and also because it states in one of the 5 docs, that the freedom of speech isn’t really about speech it’s the action that happens after the speech. Johnson didn’t just speak badly about the government but he also showed that he had no respect for those who live by what the flag stands for. Countless people die every day for the meaning of the flag and he goes and burns it and shows no regret. If he wasn’t found guilty for this crime it would show that the government was weak and if he can get away with burning a flag what else could he get away with. This outburst needed to be put out before it got to far, if he hadn’t been arrested think of what he could have done next. All in all the 1st amendment would not save him from jail because he technically broke that to. So I believe that the government made a good choice in sentencing him to jail.

//**good discussion CS...but give an intro and conclusion to round out your thoughts...it make for a more readable essay...and you have only sited 2 docs as far as I can tell...you needed 5...(see the home page)...thanks for posting here... loman**//

LeeAnne Shea 6th period Honors U.S History 11-25-09

__ Burning of the Flag __ The American flag has so much more meaning then just a piece of fabric we hang and solute. It is a very important part of our history it is a symbol of nationhood and unity (Concurring Opinion, Smith v. Goguen, 1974). Between the 50 brightly shining white stars and the 13 bold strips there is a sense of honor each American gets when looking at our nations flag. All the hard ships our nation has gone through to get to the place that we are today. As said in __The Flag Goes By__ 1900 “more than a flag is passing by”. So the question is - is wrongfully burning this article of our history appropriately covered by our rights as an American?

The first Amendment 1791 states that “congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble.” But I do not believe that burning the flag is considered speech, but is an action. The first amendment does not cover this action. An action that is extremely disrespectful to our nation and our veterans. It also violates the Texas law that states that desecrating a “venerable object” is against the law. I also believe that some one who would do something like this should be punished. Not for assembling or for speaking poorly about Ronald Reagan (Johnson testifies, 1984) but for breaking the Texas law. I feel that burning the American Flag is so offensive as to be outside the legitimate marketplace of ideas.

The burning of the American flag can convey many meaning (“Protestors Burning the American flag” 1990). The message I would take from it would be that this person hates the United States for one reason or another but feels so strongly about it that they need to go and burn our symbol. And for that reason I find that Johnson sentence of one year in prison and a $2,000 fine was a correct and just way of punishment. Devlyn Radcliff

The American flag represents the American spirit pride and devotion towards ones country and freedom from British rule. However burning the flag is voiding your __first__ amendment which protects the desecration of the United States flag as a form of national property which spikes controversy. You cannot burn or harm the flag in any shape or form. Next in __Texas vs. Johnson__ The court thought a flag is more then what it truly is, Its symbolizes all Americans and the flag is national property. Even though Johnson has freedom of speech he should not have burned the flag. When __9-11__ happened the firefighters raised a flag to help commemorate and help bond the country together. The flag helps us come through adversity and come together as one nation under god. Also people would burn the flag like in __document k__ the picture portrays at protest of patriotism and the right of freedom of speech waning every moment. __"Just gun smoke -- For a moment I thought somebody somewhere might be burning a flag"__ Congress tried to make flag burning a crime while still refusing to pass legislation limiting the purchase of guns. In March 2000, the Senate once more considered a constitutional amendment, previously endorsed by President Bush, that would have banned "desecration of the flag," but once more fell just short of the necessary two-thirds vote. The flag of America is a symbol of her spiritual heart, just as America herself is meant to be the heart of a greatest country on planet Earth

Zach Heb 6 HAPPY THANKSGIVING LOMAN!

Jonathon Cosman