Second, I think most Americans, and virtually all veterans, would agree that showing such disrespect for our flag is contemptable and unAmerican in and of itself.
Virtually all, however, is not all. Personally I think there is something uniquely American about burning a flag. I don't know that I'd ever feel the need to do so myself, but I can certainly support the rights of others to do so. I can even support the burning of the flag itself, if the statement made is merely an assertion of the right to do so (and I have heard of such instances). EDIT: Noting, of course, that I am a combat veteran.
The point you have missed is this: what I and many others are objectiing to in these cases is the use of taxpayer money to help fund these projects. Forcing anyone to help pay for this garbage under color of law is an infringement on their first amendment rights.
Where in that story did you see that taxpayer money was used to fund it? Or are you looking at another source that I'm not? I didn't see any allusion to federal or state funding, and as such I guess I made the assumption that the student provided the materials on her own.
Of course, you originally said this:
Any and all Federal and State funding for a school like this, one that tolerates desecration of the American flag, should be ended.
Such a disgraceful act certainly falls within the realm of protected speech as per the first amendment, but there is no requirement that the American taxpayer should have to fund this garbage.
So it's the mere idea that the school would
tolerate it, not that the desecration itself is being funded by taxpayers. How much did it cost the taxpayers for the school to
tolerate this display?
I suspect it was a very
round number, if you know what I mean.
Also, I suspect that state funding for a school like the
University of Maine (yeah, this isn't some private art college) isn't exactly going to get pulled, if you know what I mean. And I'm not seeing how it's reasonable to pull federal funding, for as long as you're still taxing that state's citizens for that service. But I think my opinion of the "federal funding bat" is well documented on this forum.
EDIT: Well, it
is an art school...but it's still part of the UM university system.