Freedom of Speech

I am all about some free speech. And as much as folks might dislike the act, I think the Supreme Court is probably correct that one's ability to burn the American Flag in greivous protest of the government is fundamentally protected speech under the First Amendment.

But I have to say that if that is the case, the freedom of others to comment on such acts should also be protected. And so, if like this young man you choose to burn a flag IN FRONT OF AND BELONGING TO A VFW POST, you deserve the consequences of exercising your right to free speech. Even if one of the consequences is the time-honored punishment of pillory. Hey, at least the kid had three options:

The young man was given three choices: get turned over to the police, go one-on-one in a fight with a seasoned war veteran, or be duct-taped to a flagpole for six hours with a sign around his neck identifying his alleged crime: flag burning.

It was the third option that would still have the small town buzzing a week after a 21-year-old was hunted down and forced to endure a public humiliation with its roots dating to the Middle Ages. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1938 were incensed enough to tie up the man last Sunday after they accused him of setting the flag in front of their building on fire

Bravo and Semper Fi, You Old Magnificient VFW Bastards! Full story here.