To the editor: So many individuals nonetheless can not perceive that expression that they discover essentially the most offensive is protected by the first Modification. Racist speech is protected. Pornography is protected. So is the burning or different types of destroying an American flag that’s the protester’s personal property (“Trump orders may goal ‘cashless bail’ cities from D.C. to L.A.,” Aug. 25).
If the flag being purposely destroyed is nobody else’s property, and if there isn’t any bodily assault on one other individual, all that’s taking place is that the sensibilities of others are being grievously offended. The mere offensiveness of a type of expression, no matter how psychologically wounding it’s and whatever the outrage it causes, can not by itself be a foundation for government-imposed punishment. Conservatives, who declare to worth the precise textual content of a constitutional provision together with the unique intent of the authors, can not level to something within the Invoice of Rights that offers particular safety to the flag.
Edward Tabash, Los Angeles
This author is a constitutional lawyer.
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To the editor: President Trump is at it once more. He doesn’t appear to grasp the nice American experiment devised by our forefathers. The flag is an emblem of freedom and democracy and represents an thought. You may burn all of the flags you need, however you may’t kill an thought. He simply doesn’t get it.
Dave Simon, North Hollywood
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To the editor: Respect for the flag is vital, so I hope Trump will encourage his MAGA military to learn and abide by the USA Flag Code. There are many flag wavers in my space and mainly none of them comply with the directions within the flag code. They both don’t have a clue of what the code prescribes, or they merely don’t care. Trump ought to deal with the whole lot of correct flag protocol, not simply make up guidelines that resonate along with his base.
Steve Grimm, Lengthy Seashore
