Pro Flag Desecration Essays - Civil Disobedience, Flag Desecration

Flags are potent and provocative symbols and their desecration, through burning or destroying in other ways, can cause controversy and offense. Both the act of flag desecration and the legal implications of that act have been variously defined by governments around the world. In the United States, burning a flag as a way of registering protest against the government's actions or policies is legal, although it remains a polarizing issue. Proponents of free speech argue that burning the flag in public should be protected under the First Amendment as an exercise of an individual's civil liberties. Although free speech advocates recognize the potency of the flag's symbolism, they accept flag burning as an acceptable means to express dissatisfaction with government policies or actions, and to call attention to them. In essence, their view is that when the nation's ideals are desecrated through inept policies or unjust actions, desecrating the flag is an equivalent form of protest. Over the years, there have been numerous efforts to ban the burning of the American flag and other forms of desecration. Those who support a ban of flag desecration note that flag burning demonstrates a troubling decline in respect for the ideals and history that the flag represents. Further, this group states that it is offensive to members of the armed forces who risk and sometimes sacrifice their lives for those ideals. Therefore, opponents argue, it is not free expression that needs to be protected, but the ideals that the flag represents. Understanding the Discussion Civil Liberties: Freedoms which protect citizens from government interference. Civil liberties include the freedoms of speech, expression, and the press. Desecration: The violation of something considered sacred or hallowed. First Amendment: The First Amendment to the US Constitution reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." The First Amendment has been used as the legal framework for cases involving flag burning in the US. Symbol: A sign that represents an idea or concept. The US flag is a symbol, which represents different concepts for different people. For example, some may view the flag as a symbol of freedom, while others may see it as a symbol of oppression. History

search for excellence essays

search for excellence essays There are countless Greek inventors, scientists, and athletes, whose life history of intellectual or athletic excellence prior to becoming wealthy is itself proof of the possibility of gaining such excellence without necessarily being born wealthy. Example is Thales and Benjamin Franklin. Greeks showed that they were not only theater goers, but also invented many forms of theater still used today (such as, drama, comedy, and tragedy). Plays were used for education, as they still do today. They invited young people to adult events, where there were lots of opportunities for learning through emulation by the young. In such situations, adults usually acted uprightly in their capacity as role models.They also used statues of heroes as role models. Greeks used a informal educational system of expert teachers, who provided both an excellent education, and a model of excellence in learning. Democracy, itself a political invention of the ancient Greeks, in the sense of being consciously practiced, allows us today to have freedom of speech, without personal or political repercussions. This freedom, opens doors for putting to use our newly discovered abilities to think critically without fear of some punishment. Buildings also showed the excellence of he people. There buildings influenced agriculture in the west for centuries. Just as the Greek Olympics, our Olympics are still an enduring symbol of the best the world has to offer. We beleive in the Olympic Games, because we beleive in excellence. We honor the contestants of the games, because they are excellent often the most excellent in the world. They have formed excellence through continually improving their ablities. When we hire people, we want the best performers that we can afford. When we marry someone, we want the best person who will have us. Its only natural that we choose to seek excellence in what we do. The Olympic athletes who are...

The Right to Keep and Bear Arms by Quilici vs. Morton Grove Essay

The Right to Keep and Bear Arms by Quilici vs. Morton Grove - Essay Example S. Constitution and wanted the ordinance declared unconstitutional. Morton Grove's main argument is based on evidence1 which showed that prohibiting the possession of handguns within the Village will help make the community safer by reducing the number of deaths and accidents caused by handguns. In addition, Morton Grove claimed it had the right to resort to police power to guarantee peace and safety in the community, and that by passing Ordinance 81-11, the village is not violating any of the rights guaranteed by the Illinois Constitution2 The court took the side of Morton Grove and dismissed the case, arguing that it had the right to regulate the ownership and possession of guns and that the Ordinance did not violate the second amendment and the Illinois constitution (Quilici v. Morton Grove II para. 4 and III para. 5). The right to possess firearms is an emotional issue that continues to be argued in courts all over the country. The reason is that this issue reaches into concerns that are very human: the defense, protection, and preservation of life, and our search for security. People who push for the right to own guns may have valid reasons to believe that way. Perhaps, their lives have been threatened in the past.