Brian Mapes
Random thoughts from my insignificant mind

I Support Flag Burning

No seriously, I support flag burning. Take a deep breath. OK, ready? Yes, I said I support flag burning. I generally don’t support the platform of flag burners but I do support their right to burn it.

I respect the flag of the United States of America. It has great meaning. It stands for the American Dream. It stands for the blood, sweat, and tears of our soldiers. It stands for the greatest country in the world. I could go on and on, but what it stands for most of all is freedom.

Isn’t freedom what makes our country great? Freedom that the government won’t restrict our speech. Freedom to vote for our leaders. Freedom to choose our own religion. America is defined by the rights of our citizens, not by the restrictions opposed upon them.

We are free to speak any words we want until they infringe on the freedom of others. We are free to own guns (with some regulations) and free to use those guns until they put the safety of others at risk. Your liberty to swing your fist ends where my nose begins.

Now whose liberty is being infringed by flag desecration? I understand that it may be offensive, but get over it. We should not be making laws because of your feelings.

Think of it this way, the same laws that give you the right to wave that flag without restrictions is the same laws that give protesters the right to burn it. Allowing you to do what you want with the flag without allowing them to do what they want with it is totalitarian. China, Cuba, Iran, and North Korea ban flag desecration. Let’s not use them as a model for limiting freedom.

As the old saying goes, “I don’t agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”


My name is Brian Mapes. I'm a father, husband, Phillies fan, Eagles fan, comic book lover, software engineer, technology lover, wannabe artist, and former MacRumors mod. These are my random thoughts.