g8trz2003 Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 We discussed different cases involving freedom of speech in my Poli Sci class today and yesterday. One that stood out for me was crossburning. Do yall think it is protected under the 1st Ammendment. The Supreme Court decided in the case (I think it was a guy in VA) that states could ban crossburning if it was intended to be intimidating. I think the case won 6-3, but 4 of the 6 who voted to ban it also said that it is alright to burn a cross and if you can prove it was not for intimidation. Now, as for how I feel. I feel cross-burning, the KKK, lynchmobs, etc. are wrong. But, I do feel that if a guy wants to burn a cross IN HIS OWN yard, then he can if he wants. I dont think it is necessarily intimidating if it is in his own yard. If anything, it will keep people from comin around his house. Thats just what I think. I'm interested to hear what others have to say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minus Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 Usually normal people wouldn't attempt to burn a cross in their backyard unless he has other motives like being part of a hate group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g8trz2003 Posted September 16, 2003 Author Share Posted September 16, 2003 hate groups such as the KKK are allowed as long as no violence is occuring. A lot depends on one's definition of intimidation. Is some racist Klansman burning a cross in his front yard really threatening anyone directly? What if he held a banner on his house that said "I HATE YOU!"? But, like I said, it depends on the court's definition of intimidation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest marlins02 Posted September 16, 2003 Share Posted September 16, 2003 Furman, if someone lived next to you and every day he would sit on his porch looking towards your house holding a shotgun or standing in front of your house just staring at your house with a gun, would you want to find a way to get him to stop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g8trz2003 Posted September 16, 2003 Author Share Posted September 16, 2003 i havent found too many people using burning crosses as a deadly weapon. You tell me what the threat is: (a)Shotgun or (b)Burning cross stuck into the ground. The threat is the weapon. If some guy comes up to you and says (in a nasty mean voice for good effect), "I'm gonna shoot you with my shotgun tonite if you come by my house", you'd be pretty darn scared. But if some guy comes up to you and says (in a nasty voice still), "I'm gonna stick a burning cross in my yard tonite!", then you'd be like "ok, don't catch the house on fire." (Ok, maybe not those thoughts exactly, but you would be a lot more frightened by the gun than the cross.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g8trz2003 Posted September 18, 2003 Author Share Posted September 18, 2003 Crossburning is NOT a hate crime! Should someone go to jail? Is it a felony to express (IN A NONVIOLENT WAY) your hate towards someone or someones? Burning your own cross on your own yard is not defacing of property. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Das Texan Posted September 18, 2003 Share Posted September 18, 2003 its a touchy subject.... cross burning is one of those things that is generally considered wrong and unjust. granted if you burn the cross on your own propery what harm are you doing.... what if you burn a flag on said property? is that also not an expression of speech? its a touchy subject.....you can also look at burning of crosses from a public viewpoint... a) what message does this send to the public..... b) just because you are doing something on your propery does not make it right....can i shoot a trespasser on my land? in olden days I could...today...its much more cloudier c) in some cities there are laws against burning anything on your property without a permit d) its environmentall destructive (you know I had to get that one in) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Juanky Posted September 18, 2003 Share Posted September 18, 2003 d) its environmentall destructive (you know I had to get that one in) See, up until that one, you had me interested. That just made me forget everything you said before and autoatically disagree with you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Das Texan Posted September 18, 2003 Share Posted September 18, 2003 but that last one is true though.... not only are you destroying the wood of the cross....but you are spewing the toxins from the burning of hte cross into the air.... one point should not be reason to disagree with a person....you disagree with them on a point...albeit a throw away point....intelligible people understand this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Juanky Posted September 18, 2003 Share Posted September 18, 2003 I was joking Das, hence the face at the end of the post. Um, what does fire do to the enviroment that is that bad? If fire was an ozone killer than we wouldn't have one period because fire has been around almost as long as we have if not longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g8trz2003 Posted September 18, 2003 Author Share Posted September 18, 2003 Das, destroying dead wood that has been nailed into the shape of a cross? I dont think you'll find even PETA protesting that. And, when has burning stuff been a big problem anyway? Granted, if there are city permits against burning things in ur yard, you cant do it. But from a freedom of speech standpoint..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Das Texan Posted September 18, 2003 Share Posted September 18, 2003 i am being cynical. sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Reb Posted September 18, 2003 Share Posted September 18, 2003 Cross-burning. Look at the history of cross-burning. Its been long associated with hate groups, especially with the Ku Klux Klan. Is it right or wrong? I guess you could argue that cross-burning on one's front yard is ok, but there is still imitidation behind that event. I am reminded of the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, although I need to do a little more research on this act before making a definitive statement on this matter. I think you have to treat cross-burning in its historical construct. Its long been considered a hate crime and an act of intimidation. It should be treated as unlawful in any setting, except possibly within the confines of a religious group during their own private ceremonies, but even then this is fuzzy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g8trz2003 Posted September 18, 2003 Author Share Posted September 18, 2003 its a form of intimidation if you are putting it in someone else's yard...but keeping it in your own yard is not intimidation. It's like putting up a "Stay Away" sign or something. People just know not be around the dude with a burning cross in his yard. Is cross-burning wrong? Yes? I think some people are thinking on a moral level whether it's right or wrong. I'm talking about in regards to freedom of speech and if it should be protected. Some, i get the feeling, think it should be banned just because it is associated with the KKK, when in fact the KKK is definitely legal, and has legal Klan rallies, and even showed up at Augusta National for the Masters. Everything they SAY they do is legal....of course the lynchings and vandalization etc arent...but they don't admit to that. It is definitely legal in this country to hate someone or some group, and you are allowed to express your hatred in a non-violent way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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