# Traitor **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 13, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traitor/207113 "2003-10-13T03:56:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DuhCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@DuhCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DuhCow)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traitor/207113/1 "2003-10-13T03:56:59Z")
if i step on an american flag, am i traitor? do you have to burn the flag to be considered one? is there any actual defining lines dealing with this? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traitor/207113/2 "2003-10-13T04:00:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DuhCow \* > \*\*if i step on an american flag, am i traitor? \*\* Simple GQ answer: No. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traitor/207113/3 "2003-10-13T04:01:07Z")
**traitor** : 1 : one who betrays another’s trust or is false to an obligation or duty 2 : one who commits treason **treason** : 1 : the betrayal of a trust 2 : the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign’s family ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traitor/207113/4 "2003-10-13T04:02:28Z")
Lol Bill, I looked that up and that’s _almost_ exactly what I posted. Would have been a weird double post. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traitor/207113/5 "2003-10-13T04:14:21Z")
Burning the flag is still a legal expression of protest under the First Amendment. Therfore, doing so can’t make you a traitor either. ---
**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traitor/207113/6 "2003-10-13T04:20:09Z")
Article III, Section 3 of the US Constitution states: > [@](#): > > Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. This was written in by the Founding Fathers because they were well aware of the propensity of kings to cry “treason!” when anyone did something the king didn’t like. ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traitor/207113/7 "2003-10-13T07:50:26Z")
You have the right to desecrate the flag. Others have the right to call you an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![KenGr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecc23a/32.png) [@KenGr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KenGr)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traitor/207113/8 "2003-10-13T07:57:30Z")
There has been a lot of discussion of this recently, probably due to Ann Coulter’s book regarding treason. The words traitor and treason are used very loosely in general conversation. However, there is a very clear definition for the offense of treason. Traitor, as noted has more than one definition and is somewhat in the eyes of the beholder, so Ann probably would have been on solid ground with “traitor” but the “treason” charge is a little flakey. (Not that it’s hurt book sales any.) Relative to burning the flag, I think you could be legitimately called a traitor (but not charged with treason). However, I’m in agreement with Peanuthead that we can find some much more creative things to call you. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/traitor/207113/9 "2003-10-13T14:26:47Z")
Then there’s always Ben Franklin’s definition of treason, as quoted in _1776_: “Treason is a charge invented by winners as an excuse for hanging the losers.”