Should burning the Australian flag be made illegal?
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!
877227
Yes, it's illegal, and I've seen things on TV talking about how the authorities are starting to get tough on that sort of thing.\n\n.
270765
There should be an alcohol ban (as un-Australian as that is!) because it often fuels the violence.\n\nThe perpertrators tend to come from certain communities so some kind of  education program is good.\n\nThere should be a 2-strike policy and then ban them from all football games.  It is difficult, however, as sometimes men become involved in the fight when they are protecting themselves from other thugs.
203864
It should be illegal. I always thought flags had to be in good condition to be "flying".
1124561
It would really depend on what they charged you with, simple disturbing the peace like just marching would be just a fine. But if you over turn police cars and set them on fire then you would probably get jail time. So my advice is paint up a sign, most likely they would not bother you at all as you are just exercising your right to free speech.
1034428
No way. Even on the news they are saying a Queenslander did it to fire the maroons up, lol. \n\nBLUES all the way.
782128
Presidential term limits are legal because they are in the constitution.  The constitution is the top dog when it comes to law.  If congress passed a law saying that burning flags was illegal, then it would be in violation of the 1st amendment and the law would be struck down.  However, if congress gets an amendment to the constitution to outlaw burning flags and it is ratified then it would be against the law to burn flags.  The constitution will override any law (in theory that is, depends on the supreme court).
276197
Yes, Just because the Islamics throw a fit like a child in Walmart we should censor free speech?  NO!  I support boycotts(not that I participate in them myself) as an effective way of handling this issue but not riots, arson, and death threats.\n\nBut as a side note I do believe it may have been poor judgement but it does not warrant the hostility from the Arab nations.  As some of them are using it as a tool of hate to gain support of hating Western culture.\n\nAs for the law in Austria.  No one should tell anyone what to believe or not believe. But denying the Hallocaust may be grounds for insanity and maybe they should skip the jail cell and enter the crazy house.
1031184
NEVER!!!! And i think the idiots that did that to our flag,should have had the SAME THING done to them!!!!!!!!!!! I don't care what country they're from!! \n\n The flag is not just some piece of cloth!!!!  It's the flag of our country! A lot of people have fought and died for what that flag represents!!! The ILLEGALS that flew the mexican flag during the marches,and the IDIOTS who flew our flag upside down under the mexican flag ,well it's a wonder sombody didn't get SHOT for that stunt!!!!! \n\nAnd,IF i wanted to move to another country,i SURE AS HELL wouldn't be desecrating their flag!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would not DARE to march in their streets and DEMAND to be given "rights"!!!!!\n\nAnd,if i was STUPID enough to do something that crazy,then i would NOT blame the citizens of that country for hating me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1093743
Frankly I believe that would be a foolhardy idea to try. I'm no expert on Chinese law, but I do know that certain forms of protest are not legal, such as flag burning. China has come a great distance from the type of society it once was, but make no mistake, they are not a democratic one.\n\nAt best, you might be deported and at worst, arrested and held indefinately. Don't screw around in a foreign country
733190
Klan burning the cross. Frankly I don't care much anymore if someone burns the American flag. With the way I feel, I might give them a lighter.
1000097
One of the great things about the USA is our tolerance of dissent.  If people disapprove of something the US is doing, be it war or raising the age for social security, the people are free to protest, to clearly and loudly express their displeasure.  If they want to hang the prez in effigy, they are free to do so.  \nThe problem with the flag burning amendment is that it confuses the United States with the symbol of the United States.  The flag is only a symbol.  Factories produce them by the thousands and an attack on a symbol is itself symbolic.  Furthermore, the proposed laws would be impractical and unenforceable.  How would you distinguish between the protester that you want to stop and the careless person who simply doesn't show the respect for the symbol?\nAs for me, I have proudly served in the U.S. military and I like to think that I contributed to protecting the rights of all Americans, including those I despise.  Still, when it comes time to pledge allegiance to the flag, I stand silent.  I have and will again pledge my allegiance to the United States but I find it stupid and dangerous to pledge my allegiance to the flag of the United States.
108205
Definately. It is nearly completely banned in Australia. Soon the only place you will be able to smoke down here, will be in your own home with no children and non-smokers present and only if you have a purifier to clean the air before it escapes outside.
459353
It doesn't have to be burned if it touches the ground.  If a flag somehow touches the ground, it can be just picked up and set right.  If it has gotten dirty, it can be washed.\n\nThese things happen.  Burning the flag is the way to "retire" it after normal wear and tear makes it unseemly to display it.
924635
I agree that you shouldnt have to if you dont want to.  But to BAN it is absurd, so if you did go and say it would you get in trouble?  People who disagree with this should stand up and say it anyways, its protected by the first amendment.
314020
It depends on the school and why you were doing this. I live in the south and the mascot of my former HS is the Rebels. On the school sign and other things, there are rebel flags. So, at my school, no one would get in trouble for it, but it would probably be taken down.\n\n(By the way, they are building a new school and changing the mascot and such later this year)\n\nIf you were doing this as some type of racist thing, then it could be viewed as a hate crime. Since it is not really *hurting* anyone, I doubt you would get in that much trouble for it. However, if it is racially motivated, please reconsider doing this. Do you want to be in the same category as white supremacy groups like the KKK? This flag was never meant to be a racist symbol (in fact, the rebel flag is not even the primary confederate flag from the civil war). If you're doing it to possibly offend or even hurt someone, just don't do it.
921260
When exactly have liberals been burning the flag in say the last two decades? They haven't.  Personally, I don't care if you light one with the other.  They are symbols nothing more and nothing less.