Flagburning - Burning the United States Flag, or any flag for that matter, is not unpatriotic. A person doesn't give their patriotism to a piece of cloth. A flag may inspire patriotism, but if it is damaged in some way, there are plenty more. The flag is a symbol for a community of people, that is all it is. Burning a flag has no impact on another's civil liberties, and that is what this country is about. The patriotism is not with the flag, but with the others in the community. So, just like everything else, I don't practice, but it affects my liberties not at all, and I support someone's right to use such a tactic to give voice to their opinions.

This is not what politicians and religious extremists want us to think about though, and that is why it is treated with such disdain. A flag can be detrimental to society when it is used to inspire passion in the masses to a certain end that can be harmful to that society. I'm talking about the objectives those doing the rallying would prefer. Sure, it isn't always like this, but when it is it's a curse on the very people whose patriotism is inspired. When someone burns a flag, the message is not a rejection of the community, or of loyalty to the community. It is a rejection of the subversive aspirations of those perverting the genuine nature of the symbol.