Should American students be banned from flying or displaying the American flag in American(USA) schools?
362599
Sorry to relate this to you but your flag will not always be there, \nits already happened in the UK. \nsome local governments are refusing to fly the union jack, local councils have also started to ban Christmas lights and decorations. \nin some of the towns and villages across the UK. \nLocal governments are now Listening to the immigrant wishes rather than to the indigenous people. \nOnce it starts there will be no stopping it.  \nyou WILL one day lose the fight for your flag, \nand then, what's next.
428571
Screw 'em.  Why should you be afraid to display your own flag, in your own country, for whatever reason you choose?\n\nI don't know if the Mexicans who are breaking windows with the flag are legal or illegal; as far as that goes, I don't even know if they are in fact Mexican. I don't know if they were trying to make a political statement or if they just wanted to destroy something.  Furthermore, I don't care.  All of that is beside the point.  What I do know is that they are thugs, trying to intimidate people through force and violence, and jail is where they belong.\n\nSome of these answers scare the heck out of me.  Why should you display a Mexican flag, if you have no particular allegiance to Mexico?  Further, why should you give a good flying flip at a donut WHO does not like America overseas?  THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY.  You are an AMERICAN.  And the idea that you should have to be afraid to display YOUR flag in YOUR country for ANY reason is sickening.  Take pride, display your flag, and if somebody tries to destroy your property -- and this applies whether they are white, black, Mexican, Japanese, Arab, or from Mars -- do everything you can to make sure the slime winds up in jail (that's provided that you don't catch them in the act and happen to have a baseball bat or a .44 magnum handy).
841234
Ma'am, I agree with you. Many schools are limiting freedom, because it gives a school a "gang reputation". Honestly, they think that anything that speaks out against the school is 'gang-related'. I'm not saying that we should ignore possible gang and violence related activity, but something like wearing a wrist band isn't gonna kill someone. [but come on! for uniform?! Get over it! there are more inportant things in life than your clothes!] And is definitely not supposed to be punished by expulsion.  Of course if it violated a dress code then it could be punishable by a detention, but not expulsion from activities. \n            Also, I think that the politicians would pay more attention to young people if more young people showed more interest in politics and voting. \n            Plus, stuff like the protestrors getting arested, is still unknown in the American public, because the people take their rights for granted and dont' see the threats to them. They probably won't miss them until they're gone. They are just to busy with they're MTV and malls, to care about the community. What's gotta happen is that the power has got to go back to the people. Our schools teach the importance of staying away from drugs and violence and sex, but they don't say any words of encouragemetn about voting. Some do, but not enough. And that's another thing that has got to take place. I agree with you that we should do something about our speech rights being taken away. But as you can tell, protesting is not gonna get us anywhere. We've got to take the matter into our own hands. Like joining Congress, and law. I personally am considering joining politics.
868347
don't really know about american laws but in the uk i think it's legal so long as the student is above the age of consent but it's frowned upon!
787470
It is everyone's right NOT to recite the Pledge if they don't want to, or to omit the speaking of any words within it that they may happen not to agree with.\n\n     ALL schoolchildren should be advised of this.  And then if they ever are put into a position of being forced to do otherwise, they either should ask their parents to report the incident to the ACLU, or do so themselves, if they're old enough to know how.
1025502
I believe they should be completely banned.\n\nBut sadly in some cases, they are not.\n\nThis is because of those teachers who do not know how to control their students except by violent methods.
887059
i agree with you. unless maybe the person can't for a medical reason, etc. but other than that, yes. SHOW RESPECT FOR OUR COUNTRY! our brave soldiers are willing to go fight for america and risk their lives and some people in here are to lazy to get of their ass to pledge allegiance to the flag. i think its wrong. i will proudly stand for my country and do everything i can to support it.
1051629
Hte flag belongs to the American people and so does the constitution say, if someone insults the flag is insultting all the Americans.
1064157
As a Canadian, I will burn who's ever flag I want.  I have been involved with, and will continue to be involved with, the burning of the American flag, and the flag of any other country who's actions I disagree with, as an act of protest.  The burning of the American flag symbolizes the distruction of American freedom, and a proud end to your tradition of being "the home of the free".  Oh, and fyi, Americans regularly burn the flags of other countries.  Also, I support the burning of the Canadian flag (as a born Canadian, who's parents and grandparents are born Canadians)when this country gets up to things I don't agree with.  Flag burning is a sign of *strong* disagreement; it shouldn't be over-used, as that robs the act of all meaning.  But the jesture should not, and cannot, be disallowed.  I have not yet burned a Canadian flag, but as mr. Harpers government continues down the same path mr. Bush decided to follow, the day when that action will be warrented comes closer and closer.
1156274
The flag is the symbol of our COUNTRY ... not the successive governments ... consequently, if you desecrate the flag, you desecrate the country ... any American who desecrates the flag, spits on his country and on the people who spent their lives defending it ... well, if that's what they want to do, then that's what they want to do, in the name of "freedom of speech" .. personally, I think if anyone feels they have a need to express contempt for their country, all I can say is ... America is not for you ... get out of it ...
297549
Yes, they can say it would invoke controvery and therefore it shouldn't be allowed. Some schools have crosses and jewish stars banned, because it could start religious controversy. But shouldn't schools be teaching these kids to be more tolerant, instead of pretending these problems don't exist?
93606
No, I don't belive so, because as a free country, citicens should be able to do what they want, and protest however they wish, so long as it brings no physical harm to others. However, be it Austrailia, U.S.A. (my home), U.K., or any other free nation, it is truely sad for flags to be burned, and kind of counter productive, as they are using the freedoms of that country to burn the flag (irony?). If I were Austrailian, and saw somone burning an Austrailian flag, I would protest by raising mine higher.\n\nBottom Line...\nPeople should have the right to protest as they please, be it flag burners, or FLAG WAVERS!\n\nGreetings from the states!
210806
If this were true, it would be a scandal.  However, I doubt it is true.\n\nPlease could you support your assertion that "Local government in England are banning" the English flag with a reference to a media article, so I can follow this up?\n\nOne further minor point - if local government did ban the flying of the English flag, Tony Blair would hardly be the person responsible, since he is the Prime Minister and does not have a vote in local government decisions.\n\nAnother minor point - is it actually possible that local government (by which you presumably mean a district or county council) would have the power to pass a law like this?  They can't legislate against basic liberties.
673598
No.  You're showing your reverence for freedom of expression, which is a right the Founding Fathers wanted.  I can't see how one can be said to be bashing America by using American tactics.
1081828
Hell no. The flag symbolizes our freedom - including the freedom to burn it if we want. Will they ban using it on clothes? How about letting it hang outside your house until it's tattered and faded? What about all those made in China magnetic ones on the backs of cars that are filthy dirty?\n\nThe flag burning amendmant is just a way for republicans to placate their rightist followers without doing anything.
695740
The flag can be flown at half mast if someone dies.  It shouldn't be a problem.
671278
The same rules apply to all American flags. View regulations at : http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html