:angel:To properly evaluate this case which stands before the Supreme Court guised as an expression of speech, but not of hatred, we have to carefully examine the First Amendment, the symbolism behind the cross, and the significance of its burning to hate groups.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution states,

:teach: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

In the Amendment, it clearly states that congress shall not “abridge the freedom of speech” of the citizens of the United States. But, is burning a cross an act of speech, or is it an symbolic expression of hatred meant to both intimidate, and terrorize a target minority group, namely African Americans? Usually, most cultures define speech as the faculty or act of expressing or describing thoughts, feelings, or perceptions by the articulation of words. However, in the burning of a cross, nothing has been spoken, or uttered by the individuals purposely igniting the flames of hatred. :flamet:

When we examine the symbolism behind the cross, we find the core of our Judeo Christian belief system. The cross for most Christians represents, redemption, selflessness, struggle and salvation from sin. Indeed, many of Christianity’s deeply held virtues can be found in the symbol of the cross, and in the cross, the very core of Christ’s moral teachings can be found: A selfless love for his God and humanity. :heart:

Burning the cross, the hate group symbolically destroys all allegiance to our Judeo Christian system of morality and its tenants, which require its practitioners to “Love their neighbors as themselves.” As I see it, this creates a group that is completely amoral, and symbolically frees that group to pursue its racist ends in any amoral fashion that it chooses. Thus, lynching young black males, raping black females, burning churches, and terrorizing black communities or families becomes viewed as an acceptable practice in order to achieve the group’s end of maintaining control over the target group by instilling fear in its members. :grin:

da answer is .......NO !

due to the inherent threat of violence associated with Cross-burning I believe that it is not protected speech. If there was not the threat of violence and intimidation associated with Cross burning, I feel that the right to burn a cross(no matter how despicable) is protected speech. Symbolism is FREE SPEECH...would the raised fist of the BLACK PANTHERS not be considered free speech? Or the wearing of the PALESTINIAN FLAG buttom be considered free speech?
The Klan and those of its ilk consider themselves Christian...a very ignorant view of Christianity, but Christian none the less. They somehow Feel that GOD is a WHITE MAN therefore those not white are not equal therefore they (other than white) are not the KLANS neighbors so the tenat "LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF" does not apply.

fact remain NO!
burning of a cross is sinful to human kind upon da eyes of GOD
no one know his color or creed he came in the form of a burnning
bush...

:angel:To properly evaluate this case which stands before the Supreme Court guised as an expression of speech, but not of hatred, we have to carefully examine the First Amendment, the symbolism behind the cross, and the significance of its burning to hate groups.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution states,

:teach: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

In the Amendment, it clearly states that congress shall not “abridge the freedom of speech” of the citizens of the United States. But, is burning a cross an act of speech, or is it an symbolic expression of hatred meant to both intimidate, and terrorize a target minority group, namely African Americans? Usually, most cultures define speech as the faculty or act of expressing or describing thoughts, feelings, or perceptions by the articulation of words. However, in the burning of a cross, nothing has been spoken, or uttered by the individuals purposely igniting the flames of hatred. :flamet:

When we examine the symbolism behind the cross, we find the core of our Judeo Christian belief system. The cross for most Christians represents, redemption, selflessness, struggle and salvation from sin. Indeed, many of Christianity’s deeply held virtues can be found in the symbol of the cross, and in the cross, the very core of Christ’s moral teachings can be found: A selfless love for his God and humanity. :heart:

Burning the cross, the hate group symbolically destroys all allegiance to our Judeo Christian system of morality and its tenants, which require its practitioners to “Love their neighbors as themselves.” As I see it, this creates a group that is completely amoral, and symbolically frees that group to pursue its racist ends in any amoral fashion that it chooses. Thus, lynching young black males, raping black females, burning churches, and terrorizing black communities or families becomes viewed as an acceptable practice in order to achieve the group’s end of maintaining control over the target group by instilling fear in its members. :grin:


why not, till this day they still burn US!!!!!!!!