A question about flag-burning

[benlehman]

Hey.

So, apparently, we're having another go at the flag-burning law.

This is sort of puzzling to me. I was always under the impression that the proper rules of respect for the American flag required, among other things, burning it if it ever was soiled (including touching the ground, right?) How does proper disposal of Old Glory fit into the new law? If my flag touches the ground, how can I dispose of it properly and legally?

Of course, proper flag display rules also rule out bumper stickers and flags that just hang out in front of your house day and night, so maybe actual respect for the symbol of the republic has gone the way of the dodo, anyway.

Comments

[chris-goodwin.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen the language of the current bill, but I imagine it probably specifies all of that stuff.

[benlehman.livejournal.com]

It is interesting to me that the flag rules cover a lot of the grossly disrespectful stuff that the modern right-wing does to the poor flag, like printing it in ads or on table napkins or on greeting cards, but it doesn't actually mention flag-burning *at all* except to recommend it as a respectful way to dispose of the flag.

It also seems to me that if your flag has been soiled by, say, a bunch of neo-feudalist autocrats without respect for human rights, human life, human faith, or human decency, that burning it would be a reasonable way to dispose of it. If you were to do so in public, well, it would just be setting an example for everyone else as to how to properly dispose of the flag.

yrs--
--Ben