Majority Opinion
Gregory Lee Johnson was found ______________.
Innocent/ Not guilty
Did Allen (the author of this newspaper article) agree with the Supreme Court's decision?
Yes!
What rights does the 1st Amendment give us? (You must name ALL of them to get this correct)
Freedom of speech, religion, press, protest
"The American flag is a cherished symbol of our national aspirations"
The flag is valuable and a symbol of the American dream
According to the Supreme Court, why was Johnson found not guilty?
Protection under the 1st Amendment
How does Allen feel about the American flag?
He feels reverence/respect/ passionate/ he values the flag
What is the American Flag a symbol for?
"It is, thus, no surprise that the First Amendment is where it is in the Bill of Rights, for it is first in importance"
The 1st Amendment is first for a reason; it is the most important right out of all of them.
The government may urge people to respect the flag, but it may not ______________________.
Punish them/ Force them/ Make them respect the flag.
Based on this article, what does the flag stand for?
Freedom of expression, no matter how distasteful (You can have any opinion you want, no matter how many people disagree or don't like it)
It was an explanation why Johnson was found innocent under the 1st Amendment.
"The ultimate irony would have been to punish views expressed by burning the flag that stands for the right to those expressions"
It would have been problematic to punish someone for burning the flag because the flag stands for freedom of expression
Because people were outraged by the burning of it. If there was no reaction, they wouldn't care.
Why does the author compare China to the United States?
To emphasize the fact that America has a lot of freedoms
What is a quick summary of the newspaper article from Monday, "Flag Stands for Tolerance"
The author agrees with the court's decision, and that we have the right to our opinions no matter what
"We decline, therefore, to create for the flag an exception to the joust of principles protected by the First Amendment"
We will not make an exception with what the 1st Amendment stands for in this case. Johnson is protected still by the 1st Amendment
How will the flag be a stronger symbol of freedom if the U.S. government does not punish those who think differently from it?
If the government does not punish those who think differently, then the flag will continue to stand for our freedom of expression, protest, etc.
Why would punishing Johnson for burning the flag be ironic or problematic?
Because this decision would be opposite of what the flag stands for: the 1st Amendment and all of our freedoms.
What is the main message that both of these texts are trying to convey?
That Johnson is innocent; we have the right to our opinions regardless of how many people do not like it; in this country we have freedom of expression; We should have discussions with others, not punish them for their different opinions; etc.
"Our decision is a reaffirmation of the principles of freedom and inclusiveness that the flag best reflects, and of the conviction that our toleration of criticism such as Johnson's is a sign and source of our strength"
The Supreme Court's decision best reflects everything that the flag stands for, which is tolerating others' opinions, freedom, and inclusiveness.