Why do we allow this?...

I agree that the burning of any nation's flag is an offensive act and I think it should be banned and stopped in this country. This all comes under the pathetic, weak minded, and grovelling rules of the EU and the Human Rights Act where extremist "protesters" are allowed to commit such acts. Should we burn flags of other nations, where flag burning of disliked nations including ours, is endemic and politically encouraged we would be facing another rash of protests within our country to say we shouldn't do such a thing!!

But having said that, don't forget the part -time furniture salesman/Preacher in the USA who was publicly threatening to burn the Koran. There are such"like minded" people in all countries who's only intellectual response to another country's policies is to burn their flag and threaten death to all. No wonder we haven't been contacted by life outside earth, if there is any, when we're so limited in our thinking as to commit such childish acts.

 

Actually, I'm not so sure that the UK is so "multicultural", Pete. Well, at least not an integrated multicultural system sense. Before the world got "smaller" due to ease of travel, cultures only mixed due to war or trade. Now people are travelling from their own countries to other more economically and perhaps politically democratic attractive countries.
Unfortunately when they get there it isn't as rosy as they pictured and I think that is one of the reasons they cling on to their cultures so tightly as a form of protection, and there's a wall then already up because those people not in that particular culture are "different". A fear builds up and festers that those "different" people will some how harm their culture and therein the people themselves, it might not be a fear that is reasonable or true but it is a fear that causes chasms, distrust, more fear, and that leads to violence from both sides.

In reality in the UK we have areas that are only one culture predominant, drawing people together as a form of protection and exacerbating the problem. It's happened over the centuries in many countries, people fighting over their different cultures because they're in fear of something different. It's a primitive fear man has had even before he started to walk upright and it has helped him survive over the eons, but now with the weapons at his disposal it might lead to his destruction.

Any person, of any creed, colour, religion or belief is welcome in my house so long as they, or their beliefs, don't harm or offend anyone, and by my definition of house I also include my country. Burning flags of other countries, threatening harm or violence to other people because their God is the only one that must be recognised on pain of death or harm, wanting Religious Governments to control the country is offensive, dangerous and downright dark ages medieval. The British should know, because over the centuries we have said and done precisely that, and we've learnt bloodily and painfully that the only thing that happens is pain and blood.

We are not a "multi-cultural country until those cultures and people that wish to come into the UK can integrate with the British Culture, respecting it's laws and beliefs and learning to live with them. Until then we are merely a country with cultures existing uneasily and sometimes hostilely next to each other. Our dithering and weak Politicians are bowing to the EU which is, unfortunately, bent on undermining the world famous, respected and liked [otherwise why do people flock here with their dreams] standards of democracy and fairness that exist in this country.