All citations to the essays must look like this (Curtis, 1: page or Curtis, 2: page) and this
(Blaisdell, page). In other words, do not cite individual authors like this (Kant, page) or like
this (Thoreau, page). Follow this formula for other sources as well.
Question 1:
In a soccer match in the United States between the United States and Nirgistan (a made-up
country), just before the game was to begin, a group of Americans unfurled an American flag
and set it on fire. They chanted, Down with the USA. At the same time, two groups unfurled
Nirgistan flags. One group, a pro-communist group, burned the Nirgistan flag and accused
Nirgistan of being a fascist country. The other group, a pro-government group, burned the
Nirgistan flag that had a communist hammer and sickle on it. They accused the communists of
attempting to overthrow the Republic of Nirgistan.
None of the flag burners were arrested. In the United States, it is legal under the First
Amendment to burn the US flag and other countries’ flags. The Supreme Court once held that
burning the American flag was “symbolic speech,” and therefore protected by the First
Amendment.
Polls show, however, that a slim majority of Americans do not support the burning of the flag.
Indeed, over 35 countries, including liberal democracies in Europe and other places, ban the
burning of their own flag. And in many countries, it is illegal to burn another country’s flag.
As we have seen all semester, liberalism favors both tolerance and equality, but tolerance and
equality often conflict. Supporters of flag burning argue that liberalism promotes core liberal
values, such as freedom of speech and thought, individual rights, and tolerance for different
opinions. Equality in this instance means treating all forms of speech equally, including setting
fire to a flag. Supporters also argue that a nation cannot remain committed to liberalism and the
protection of rights, equality, and tolerance if the government regulates what can and cannot be
said or expressed.
Opponents argue that flag burning disrespects one’s country, its values, and beliefs. A flag is a
symbol of a nation’s ideals and history. Thus, flag burning destroys what unites a people. Indeed,
burning one’s country’s flag and allowing people to burn other countries’ flags represents a
failure to respect cultural differences. Opponents further assert that a nation must be able to
defend itself against its illiberal opponents, that is, those who hate their own country. They
therefore argue that the Supreme Court’s opinion on flag burning interferes with one of
liberalism’s most cherished values, tolerance of cultural differences.
Relying on John Stuart Mill and at least three other authors assigned in the syllabus* in Curtis’s
two volumes, compare and contrast the two opposing positions on flag burning and take a
position on the question of tolerance and equality as problems of justice.
* Use only the assigned readings that we covered in class.
Use The Great Political Theories by Michael Curtis (Both volume 1 and 2)
