Bellringer for 10/27

What is the purpose of a national flag? What kinds of things (feelings, thoughts, memories,

etc.) do you associate with the American flag?

Do you believe that American citizens should have

the right to burn the flag? Why or why not?

The Flag Code

PROPER FLAG ETIQUETTE AND USE

The American Flag

Flag DayJune 14th It should only be raised and displayed from sunrise

to sunset unless it is illuminated

The flag should only be displayed during good

weather unless it is made of an all-weather material

How and Where Should the Flag Be Displayed?

In a procession: Marching

right or front and center of a line of flags On Election Day: In or near every polling place In a church or public auditorium: If on stage, on the speakers right. If on the floor, on the audiences right. If displayed vertically, the union is to be on the left

Different Procedures
Flags of two or more

countries must be:

The same size On separate poles At the same height

When the flag is

displayed at half staff, it must be raised all the way to the top and then lowered.

When removing the flag, it must be raised back up and then down

Disrespecting the American Flag

FIVE examples Wearing it as clothing Allowing it to touch the

ground Using it as a decoration or advertisement Displaying a badly worndown flag Pinning the flag back

Respecting the American Flag

When the national anthem

is played and there is no flag face the singer or band performing the music You should salute (stand at attention, place your right hand over your heart, remove your hat) the flag when it is raised or lowered, during the National Anthem or Pledge, and when it passes by during a procession

Final Facts about the American Flag

The only time the flag is

flown upside down is as a signal of DIRE distress

Worn-down flags should

be properly disposed of and replaced with new ones

Texas v. Johnson (1989)

Gregory Johnson had participated at a protest

outside the 1984 Republican National Convention A fellow protestor had grabbed an American flag and handed it to Johnson, who then lit it on fire He was arrested, and the case made it up to the Supreme Court 5-4 ruling in favor of Mr. Johnsons right to the freedom of expression

Justice Kennedys Opinion

The hard fact is that sometimes we must make decisions we do not

like. We make them because they are right, right in the sense that the law and the Constitution, as we see them, compel the result. And so great is our commitment to the process that, except in the rare case, we do not pause to express distaste for the result, perhaps for fear of undermining a valued principle that dictates the decision. This is one of those rare cases. Though symbols often are what we ourselves make of them, the flag is constant in expressing beliefs Americans share, beliefs in law and peace and that freedom which sustains the human spirit. The case here today forces recognition of the costs to which those beliefs commit us. It is poignant but fundamental that the flag protects those who hold it in contempt.

Chief Justice Rehnquists Dissent

The American flag, then, throughout more than 200

years of our history, has come to be the visible symbol embodying our Nation. It does not represent the views of any particular political party or philosophy. The flag is not simply another "idea" or "point of view" competing for recognition in the marketplace of ideas. Millions of Americans regard it with an almost mystical reverence regardless of what sort of social, political, or philosophical beliefs they may have. I cannot agree that the First Amendment invalidates the Act of Congress, and the laws of 48 of the 50 States, which make criminal the public burning of the flag.

What Do You Think?

Should American citizens such as Mr. Johnson have the right to burn

the American flag? Keep in mind that this is YOUR OPINION. There is no right or wrong answer. Option 1: Take about 5-10 minutes to write a paragraph detailing your opinion on the matter. Make sure to include an introductory sentence that details whether or not you believe we have this right. In addition, include at least THREE pieces of evidence or personal beliefs to back up your opinion. These can come from your response in the bellringer or things you learned during the course of the lecture. Option 2: You are Mr. Johnson. You are protesting the actions of President Reagan outside of a building that he is speaking at. A fellow protester comes up to you and hands you an American flag. Would you or would you not burn the flag in protest? Why or why not? Make sure to include THREE pieces of evidence or personal beliefs from the class period.

What Do You Think?

American citizens SHOULD have this right
American citizens SHOULD NOT have this right