Do you agree that the first amendment protects the right to desecrate the American flag?

I understand the Supreme Court's ruling on it, but understanding doesn't equal agreeing with it.

The flag is a symbol of our freedom and it is held most dear to those who have volunteered to fight to protect it. Anyone who has done that will cringe at the mere thought of someone desecrating the flag. It's all perspective. I had this conversation with a friend who is also a veteran and she said to me "The flag is a piece of cloth... that's all. Someone burning that doesn't take away the pride I had in defending it".... brought a new perspective for me; but it still makes me sick.

No, but yes. Personally, I find it very offensive. Constitutionally I understand why it is legal. Passing a law to make it illegal would never pass through the SCOTUS.

Yes, it must. Doesn't mean we have to like it, but our system depends on these freedoms, even when taken to the extreme expression of flag burning,. Ironically, burning is also the proper way to retire and dispose of a flag out of service.

No. It's not 'freedom of speech'. That flag represents our entire country, good or bad. I love my country in all it's greatness and it's faults. It's not perfect and wasn't mean to be. We have Amendments to our Constitution. Intelligent people can show disdain for the government, similar body, or issue without doing this.
There are countless soldiers who have spent parts of their life, even entire lives, or losing it to protect our way of life. So people can peacefully and violently protest. To protect the people who love and hate us. We do so much even though there is often a negative stigma attached to military and Veterans. They insult the countless family and loved ones of our soldiers when they do this.
I can guarantee without our military, another country will take us over. In some countries we are hated and I'm sure they'd like nothing more to end our country and take it over. True enemies may seem like friends b/c they will never tell you their true intentions. It's very sad b/c the people on this planet are not united.

No I do not agree the 1st amendment protects this right or ever should. The flag represents the foundation of our constitutional rights. You destroy the foundation, you destroy the rights it claims to give. When I went to school, I was taught the red in the stripes represent the blood shed to found our country, the white the rightness or purity of our cause. I do not believe you will find this in many other countries-where the desecration of our national symbol that purchased our freedom is a protected form of expression...but only in America. If there was ever a cause for a constitutional amendment-restoring the sacredness to our flag would be one reason to amend the constitution!

I do not agree with folks that want to burn the flag, even though they might have the right to do so. I also will never associate with fools.

I believe that it's controversial even to regard flag burning as an example of free speech. For starters, the law can't label and protect a limitless variety of conduct as "speech" whenever the person engaged in such conduct intends to express an idea. Only reckless or accidental acts are not intended by that person to have a certain effect. Second, the purpose of free speech protection is the advancement of knowledge or truth. Free speech allows the value and credibility of different ideas to be publicly discussed, rejected, accepted or further developed, but flag burning doesn't contribute to any dialogue or exchange of ideas. It's the opposite of rationality and cogent debate.

It's the law. I agree with it. Desecrating the flag is free speech.

I don't like it, but it is more important to defend the constitution than to defend the flag.

I would have to agree with this statement. I think those who don't have any idea of what it means to have the freedoms they have because of those who have some and all should be made to serve at least some time in the service.

Yes...the First Amendment does protect that right. It's disgusting that someone would want to burn our Flag. However, people are free to do things that we think are disgusting. I am also free to let them know that I disagree with what they are doing.