Whether we agree or not, we have rights

The American flag. To some, it’s nothing more than a scrap of cloth dyed in a particular fashion; to others, a representation of our country and its great accomplishments, struggles, and ability to overcome. In recent years, people have burned flags as a method of protest; it has leaped back into headlines due to President-elect Donald Trump’s tweet divulging his personal stance against flag burning. It reads, “Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag – if they do, there must be consequences – perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!”
Personally speaking, my knee-jerk reaction when I see protestors burning the flag is resentment. I have numerous close friends and family who have fought, and died, for this country. I have been raised to respect the flag and what it stands for; however, it is during times such as these that I have to remind myself to take a step back and recognize that the protestors in question are practicing their rights granted to them by the Constitution. Flag burning has been recognized to be a perfectly legal form of protest by the Supreme Court, and while I personally may not agree with their methods, it’s another demonstration of the freedom we are given to exercise.
In other countries, such displays would result in immediate execution, torture, or arrest; we live in a country where we have the opportunity to express ourselves and our personal perspectives through most any medium. And while I may be momentarily scorned by the idea of someone burning a flag, I also recognize that the soldiers I aforementioned fought for this fundamental right. It is due to their sacrifice and duty that we can engage in these sorts of gatherings and discussions.
Regarding President-elect Trump’s tweet… I obviously disagree with his sentiments. I understand where they are rooted from, but everyone has the right to exercise his or her voice. However, operating in that same line of thinking, he has that same right of expression.
He may express his voice just as much as any other American… and therein lies the beautiful double-edged sword that is our Constitutional system. The freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion, and so on does not only allow for one paradigm, it encourages any and all perspectives. So before we all take to the streets burning flags or condemning flag burners, let’s take a moment to appreciate the all-encompassing freedom that we truly enjoy.