<P> In the British armed forces, it is usual for flag - bearers to lower flags and standards, even Queen's and Regimental Colours, so that they are draped on the ground, as part of a Royal Salute or during the two - minute silence on Remembrance Sunday . This mark of respect, known as vailing, is not considered to be a desecration of the colours . </P> <P> The flag of the United States is sometimes burned in protest of the policies of the American government, both within the country and abroad . The United States Supreme Court in Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989), and reaffirmed in U.S. v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990), has ruled that due to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, it is unconstitutional for a government (whether federal, state, or municipality) to prohibit the desecration of a flag, due to its status as "symbolic speech ." However, content - neutral restrictions may still be imposed to regulate the time, place, and manner of such expression . And if the flag that was burned was someone else's property (as it was in the Johnson case, as Johnson had stolen the flag from a Texas bank's flagpole), they could be charged with petty larceny (a flag usually sells at retail for less than USD 20), or with destruction of private property, or possibly both . </P> <P> There have been several proposed Flag Desecration Amendments to the Constitution of the United States which would allow Congress to enact laws to prohibit flag desecration: </P> <Ul> <Li> Douglas Applegate (Ohio) in 1991 </Li> <Li> Robert Dornan (California) in 1991 </Li> <Li> Bill Emerson (Missouri) in 1991, 1993, 1995 </Li> <Li> Randy Cunningham (California) in 1999, 2001, 2003, </Li> <Li> Jo Ann Emerson (Missouri) in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 </Li> <Li> John P. Hammerschmidt (Arkansas), 1991 </Li> <Li> Orrin Hatch (Utah) in 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2013 </Li> <Li> Joseph M. McDade (Pennsylvania) in 1989, 1995, 1996 </Li> <Li> Clarence E. Miller (Ohio) in 1991 </Li> <Li> John Murtha (Pennsylvania) in 2007 </Li> <Li> Ron Paul (Texas) in 1997 </Li> <Li> Gerald B.H. Solomon (New York) in 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997 </Li> <Li> Floyd Spence (South Carolina) in 1991 </Li> <Li> Andrew Jacobs Jr . (Indiana) in 1995 </Li> <Li> David Vitter (Louisiana) in 2009 </Li> <Li> Spencer Bachus (Alabama) in 2013 </Li> </Ul>

Is it bad to write on the american flag