Burning the Flag: The Great 1989-1990 American Flag Desecration Controversy [Paperback]

Robert Justin Goldstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 1997

In 1989, a political fire storm erupted after the United States Supreme Court declared that dissidents had the constitutional right under the First Amendment to burn the flag. This work, based on research in legal, congressional and journalistic sources, discusses this controversy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In 1989 a political fire storm erupted after the U. S. Supreme Court declared dissidents had the constitutional right under the First Amendment to burn the American flag. The constitutional amendment proposed by George Bush forbidding flag desecration was defeated after months of bitter debate on Capitol Hill. Congress did pass the Flag Protection Act of 1989 only to have it declared invalid by the Supreme Court in 1990. Burning The Flag: The Great 1989-1990 American Flag Desecration Controversy brings together the disciplines of law, journalism, political science, and history to explain and place the development of the controversy in its full context as it is based on extensive research in legal, congressional, and journalistic sources, and on exclusive interviews with nearly 100 of the key players in the dispute (including the flag burners, judges, lawyers and lobbyists on both sides). Readable and accessible, Burning The Flag is perfect for the non-specialist general reader to obtain an insightful perspective on a contemporary political issue, the constitutional tension between the branches of federal government, and the workings of the legislative process in coming to grips with a controversial national issue. --Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 453 pages
• Publisher: Kent State Univ Pr (November 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873385985
• ISBN-13: 978-0873385985
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,080,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very specialized, not for general interest, April 14, 2005

By 

Matt Hetling "Matt" (Bethel, ME USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burning the Flag: The Great 1989-1990 American Flag Desecration Controversy (Paperback)

Boy, talk about a specialized academic work targeted towards the general public!

This book appears as if it has been geared towards the general reader, but a quick thumb-through will show you that this is a book that will only be of interest to those with an intense interest in the specific issue of the meaning behind the American Flag.

The first seventy pages are devoted to a history of the American Flag (as pertains to the specific issue of the legal status of desecration), and the remaining 230 or so pages focus intensely on the titular controversy of 1989-1990.

I'm all for history books, but I was disappointed that this book didn't have a more broad focus. The casual reader who is interested in the flag doesnt' want to read solely about a single controversy, no matter how huge it was. An author who was in tune with the public's interest would have been better served telling the story of the American flag, and the 1989 debate would have been a single, albeit important, episode in the flag's history.

Despite this criticism, if you are indeed interested in the specific issue of flag desecration, this is very well-researched tome that has spared no effort to document the complete picture.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting read, and I bought it for research..., July 15, 2011

By 

Lindsey - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burning the Flag: The Great 1989-1990 American Flag Desecration Controversy (Paperback)

Great book. I originally purchased it while writing a paper about the 'Dread' Scott Tyler flag burning case for a Free Speech class at my college, and I expected to use it only as a reference. But it is not only a great resource, but is wonderfully written and incredibly interesting!