Cross-Burning/Flag-Burning

In times of extreme national political upheaval and trial, some people resort to extreme behavioural symbols of protest. Two of these have been, and continue to be, flag-burning and cross-burning. There has been much public outrage over such behaviour, saying these two forms of political expression should be banned on the basis of the moral ideals the cross and the flag represent.

On this issue, there are two questions which must necessarily be asked: 1)to whom does the flag or cross belong, and 2)on whose property is the flag or cross being burned? It is a basic core value of American freedom, for any property-owner to dispose of his or her property as they see fit. Under no circumstance, should the burning of a flag or cross paid for with public tax-payers' money be allowed to be burned with impunity, without strong legal response. Not because this behaviour strikes great fear into the hearts of some people, and great moral disgust into the hearts of others. No, this is destruction of public property, which should never be tolerated under any circumstance, regardless of what the form of public property may or may not represent. However, in the case of private property, the act should be permitted if 1)the owners of the cross or flag give their consent to its being burned, and 2)if the owners of the property on which the cross or flag is being burned also give their consent to this action. Actions and behaviours under the law should be permitted so long as all parties involved therein agree to them voluntarily. It should be recognized, in turn, that in a truly free society, people will always and inevitably say and do things which rub other people the wrong way, and rattle their cages.

Thomas Jefferson was correct on-spot in his statement that "timid men prefer the calm of tyranny to the boisterous sea of liberty." The American people would do well, to remember that a liberty once lost will never be re-gained without violent confrontation and conflict, with very tragic consequences. Thomas Jefferson also said, "From time to time, the tree of liberty must be refreshed with the blood of tyrants and patriots. It is its natural manure."

-Lawrence K. Marsh