While most people toast champagne and kiss loved ones at midnight, Gerard Butler decided to ring in the New Year with a gesture that said, “This is Sparta!”, but with one finger instead of a sword. Yes, the Scottish heartthrob and gladiator of gruff charm was spotted...

The middle finger, often referred to as “flipping the bird”—is one of the most universally recognized gestures of contempt. But beyond its crude simplicity lies a fascinating legal question: Is this provocative hand signal protected under the First Amendment. The...