I believe it is wrong to burn the flag. On July 4, 1776, our founding fathers came together to overthrow the British from the colonies. They fought to be free. Free from unfair taxes and unfair rule. Hundreds of years later, people are stretching it when it comes to the term “Free”. Free means to have freedom of religion, freedom to travel or relocate, freedom to pursue whatever you want for your future, freedom of political views, freedom to hang with whoever you want to. Freedom to go wherever you want during a day. Flag burners protest that they are also “free” to burn the flag. They aren’t asking for freedom. They’re asking for libertarian freedom, which means freedom without restraints. It’s like telling a baby that they can play in the house without any restraints. When the baby finds the matches, and no one takes it away, trouble arises. When we take it away, disaster is avoided. If we let flag burning continue, what’s next? Murder? Kidnapping? Abortions allowed everywhere? It may seem a little extreme, but if people can take burning the flag out of “freedom of speech”, than anything could happen. If this country was the house I described, it would be a heap of rumble because of what happened within.

            Is it because the flag is made of cloth that makes it so dear to many people? Does it have to be colored? What is it about the flag that makes us want to save it so? Its nothing about the flag. It’s a symbol. But a symbol of something important. It’s a symbol of the American system, which protects and provides all sorts of “freedoms” to the people. They are ironically attacking the system that earned their freedom to attack it. Is there REALLY a reason why people do this? People who burn the flag are protesting against America, but none of them would leave because of their feelings. Sure, they’re happy to stay in free land and reap the benefits, while they spit in our founding father’s faces. That flag meant so much more to the early Americans, who gave their lives to see that a country was really free. None of them would even dream of burning the flag, a symbol of true freedom. People are so surrounded in comfort today. Their idea of freedom has been twisted. They are more free than African Americans were during the 1800’s. They are more free than the colonies in the 1700’s. They are more free than the churches in Europe, who were enraged by the restrictions on their religious freedom. The lifestyle we have today would be heaven for all of them. But human nature is selfish, and wants more and more. I believe in freedom, but not in getting everything that anybody ever wanted. If you don’t agree with one thing that’s happening in America, don’t burn the symbol that includes everything. If flag burners really had respect for America, they wouldn’t burn something like the flag, a piece of cloth or not.  

            If flag burners were smart enough, they would see that there is many better ways to get the attention they want. Marin Luther King made his point without harming anything, and he got positive attention. So did Gandhi. They were rewarded for their non-violence while protesting. Flag burners just mostly get negative attention, and nobody really pays attention to what they were trying to make a point of anyway.

            Should it be illegal? I think it should. Flag burners just promote more violence than is needed. Yes, they have freedom of speech, and yes it’s just a piece of cloth. But is burning a flag freedom of speech? No, its selfish people’s way of making their point across in a very negative, non-American way.