# Flag burning..what constitutes a "flag"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 25, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-burning-what-constitutes-a-flag/309767 "2005-06-25T03:09:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Gene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@Soylent\_Gene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Gene)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-burning-what-constitutes-a-flag/309767/1 "2005-06-25T03:09:48Z")
Question for the pro-constitutional flag burning amendment crowd (or anyone else)- where do you draw the line on what a flag is? Is a napkin with a US flag design unburnable? What if I draw a crude stars and stripes in crayon on a blank piece of white paper? What if my newspaper has a Fourth of July ad that includes a small US flag? Can I crinkle up the paper to start a campfire without going to jail? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-burning-what-constitutes-a-flag/309767/2 "2005-06-25T03:45:31Z")
You can still eat a flag cake and Bush will not complain: [![](http://www.theodora.com/flags/burning/bush_eat_cake_010330_turkish_daily_news.jpg) ](http://www.theodora.com/flags/burning/bush_eat_cake_010330_turkish_daily_news.jpg) But I am curious on the future legality of this: [http://www.orlandospfx.com/pyro.htm](http://www.orlandospfx.com/pyro.htm) That company offers a flag to burn that is made of fireworks! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-burning-what-constitutes-a-flag/309767/3 "2005-06-25T03:54:20Z")
I have no answers, but I will take this opportunity to ask a question of my own. Would the law only apply to the current flag? Could I be arrested for burning a 48-star flag? ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-burning-what-constitutes-a-flag/309767/4 "2005-06-25T05:09:57Z")
How bout [pictures of flags](http://fafblog.blogspot.com/2005/06/sweat-not-on-my-old-rugged-flag-well.html)? Or pictures of pictures of flags? I always find it kind of amusing that Abbie Hoffman was arrested in Washington in the 1960s because he wore a shirt resembling an American flag. Now it seems to be the patriot-apparal-of-choice… [http://www.nypress.com/18/23/news&columns/paulkrassner2.cfm](http://www.nypress.com/18/23/news&columns/paulkrassner2.cfm) In all seriousness, I think the law before Congress stipulates that it is burning a flag in political protest. So incidental or other burnings wouldn’t be punishable. Not that I’m an advocate for the law or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-burning-what-constitutes-a-flag/309767/5 "2005-06-25T07:02:15Z")
> [@Soylent Gene](#): > > Is a napkin with a US flag design unburnable? Last time this Amendment was on the table a Democratic member of the house asked the same question while he had the floor. He had several items that bore the image of the American flag including plates, napkins, and other items. “Would it be against the law to blow your nose on these napkins? Flouting the Constitution is nothing to sneeze at.” I got a giggle out of it. Marc ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2005, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flag-burning-what-constitutes-a-flag/309767/6 "2005-06-25T12:59:12Z")
“YOU! In that American flag halter top! _ **GIVE** _ me that!” Not original but always makes me laugh.