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Publicity or Insanity?

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dyinshadows:

--- Quote from: Sideways --- Isn't that a Federal crime?

Freedom of speech (the 1st Amendment) does not protect against flag-burning.

Could this loon finally have crossed the line?

Is he going to meet up with a big black dude named Bubba, and become someone's 'special friend'?
--- End quote ---


Nope.  The US Supreme Court decided it wasn't.  Texas v. Johnson (1989)


--- Quote from: Oyez's abstract of the case --- In a 5-to-4 decision, the Court held that Johnson's burning of a flag was protected expression under the First Amendment. The Court found that Johnson's actions fell into the category of expressive conduct and had a distinctively political nature. The fact that an audience takes offense to certain ideas or expression, the Court found, does not justify prohibitions of speech. The Court also held that state officials did not have the authority to designate symbols to be used to communicate only limited sets of messages, noting that "f there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the Government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable."
--- End quote ---


(Taken from here)

I believe Congress is currently considering a constitutional amendment to ban flag-burning.  However, until such time as one is passed, the Court has ruled that burning a flag is protected speech.

</dork>

Sideways:
But in watching some clips from the Daily Show with John Stewart, a week ago, they were doing a piece on how flag burning was now considered a crime.

I don't want to seem like I have my facts wrong, because those are the ONLY facts I have.  :P

So the ruling from 1989 *may* have recently been overturned.

=tells himself to research shit before posting about it=

Primate:
No, no. It was just that the House passed an admendment to the constitution making it illegal. They do that about once a year, but they're traditionally the crazier of the two. The Senate won't even bring the matter to vote, although the rhetorical support for the admendment in the Senate is over 40 senators. It would take the House and the Senate and the States to actually make it illegal.

Still, one should follow ones local burning ordinances to properly stay out of trouble.

zekterellium:
you guys need to chill. sean's a funny and opinionated guy, and i damn near agree with everything he has to say, except for maybe his stance on abortion. and it's not like he's just doing it, he explains exactly why and there is no fault in his logic at all. and so what if it is publicity? his webocmics great and i hope more people read it.

next you'll be saying he only had the baby so that one other person would visit his site.

Primate:

--- Quote from: zekterellium ---
next you'll be saying he only had the baby so that one other person would visit his site.
--- End quote ---


I'd almost be willing to try that, but even my adult relatives stay away in droves. Besides, I'd have to get the brat his own computer so he'd have a seperate IP address. :)

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