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Burn, Baby, Burn

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The Senate is considering an amendment that would ban flag burning, a move that some argue is a slap in the face of the First Amendment. Does it upset your constitution?









Georgette Johnson

Age: 20

Resides: Virginia

Occupation: Model

Should we be allowed to burn the flag? It should be allowed. Expression is expression, any way you cut it. That’s what the flag is about.

The issue you’re most passionate about?
If anything, I’d have to say women’s rights.

Is social protest on the rise or fall? Compared to the ’60s and ’70s, it’s way on the fall.












Wanda Lopez

Age: 40s

Resides: Jersey City

Occupation: Social services

Should we be allowed to burn the flag?
I don’t think it should be allowed. It’s about
respect. A lot of people died for that.

The issue you’re most passionate about?
Elderly abuse.

Is social protest on the rise or fall?
Definitely on the rise. The racial issues— people are protesting more.









Robin Rad

Age: 34

Resides: East Village

Occupation:
TV production

Should we be allowed to burn the flag? Freedom of speech, whether you like it or not, means everything. I can appreciate the symbol, but it’s only fabric.

The issue you’re most passionate about? Freedom of choice for women.

Is social protest on the rise or fall? It’s on the rise in the neighborhood where I live because of Giuliani.










Artmus Young

Age: 32

Resides: Bushwick, Brooklyn

Occupation: Distributor

Should we be allowed to burn the flag? It’s a double-edged sword.
I know it’s freedom of expression, but then you don’t want to not feel like a patriot. It shouldn’t be allowed. You’re disrespecting the country.

The issue you’re most passionate about? Education. It’s really not working.

Is social protest on the rise or fall? On the rise. We’ve been having a lot more issues lately with the shooting of Diallo and Kosovo. It’s good.










Steve Jarski

Age: 33

Resides: Westwood, New Jersey

Occupation: Electrical contractor

Should we be allowed to burn the flag? I don’t think it should be allowed. I agree with freedom of speech, but there are limits.

The issue you’re most passionate about? Freedom of choice. Pro-choice on abortion.

Is social protest on the rise or fall? I’d say it’s on the rise. There are more controversial issues now, more racial tensions. There’s more people protesting this stuff, and it’s bad for society as a whole. Every little thing becomes a racial issue.














Vernon Lucas

Age: 30

Resides: Englewood

Occupation:
Electrical design

Should we be allowed to burn the flag? Public flag burning should not be allowed. What you do in your own home is your business, but to do that in public and incite people— it’s like burning a cross.

The issue you’re most passionate about?
I feel so passionate about so many things.

Is social protest on the rise or fall? It’s less.
A lot of things these days are turned inside out. Like Diallo— I’m not against Sharpton, but maybe he goes a little too far using it as
a political catalyst.









Katharina Bosse

Age: 30

Resides: East Village

Occupation: Photographer

Should we be allowed to burn the flag? I think it should be allowed. But that’s a very juvenile way of expressing one’s opinion. To me, something like the swastika or KKK signs is more offensive.

The issue you’re most passionate about? Poverty. For such a rich country this is embarrassing.

Is social protest on the rise or fall? It’s very low. The American Dream tells people that they
are responsible for their own happiness and they are therefore responsible for their own unhappiness.














Laura Cutrone

Age: 36

Resides: Long Beach

Occupation: Bookkeeper

Should we be allowed to burn the flag?
It shouldn’t be allowed. If you’re in this country, you should respect the flag. There are other ways. Use an effigy of the president. Burn that.

The issue you’re most passionate about? Human rights in all countries.

Is social protest on the rise or fall? When I was younger, I think it was more prevalent.