Flag burning amendment would erode our freedoms [You won't be able to burn the flag!]

If this amendment is fully ratified, activist courts will use this amendment as LEGAL PRECEDENT to criminalize "hate speech". Burning the UN flag could then be interpreted as "illegal hate speech". Burning a rainbow flag could also be interpreted as "illegal hate speech against LGBTs".

Bottom line : The flag-burning amendment basically repeals the "freedom of speech" clause in the First Amendment.

Ask yourself a question. What do you cherish more? The flag, or freedom? I cherish the flag, but I cherish freedom more.

41 posted on 06/14/2006 5:54:18 PM PDT by bigdcaldavis (Xandros : In a world without fences, who needs Gates?)

IMHO, this flag amendment will actually CODIFY hate crimes laws into federal law.

42 posted on 06/14/2006 5:56:25 PM PDT by bigdcaldavis (Xandros : In a world without fences, who needs Gates?)

Would you have a problem if you say something anti-homosexual and then some activist judge uses this amendment as legal precedent to put you in prison for hate speech?

43 posted on 06/14/2006 5:57:46 PM PDT by bigdcaldavis (Xandros : In a world without fences, who needs Gates?)

To: bigdcaldavis

IMHO, this flag amendment will actually CODIFY hate crimes laws into federal law.

Bingo. Think of what Hillary would do with this as a precedent.

44 posted on 06/14/2006 6:00:30 PM PDT by ThinkDifferent

To: ThinkDifferent

I can think of some groups which would be shut down by Hitlery... Center for Consumer Freedom. Their anti-PeTA stances and open ridiculing of PeTA will be declared "anti-vegetarian/anti-vegan/anti-ARA hate speech". consumerfreedom.com would be shut down and given to PeTA, InfoWars. Alex Jones' and Paul Joseph Watson's anti-globalism stances will be declared "anti-globalist hate speech". Jones and Watson will both be sentenced to "25 to life". InfoWars will be shut down and given to either Fox News or CNN. FreeRepublic. Anti-liberal and anti-globalist speech will be declared illegal hate speech. freerepublic.com will be shut down and given to DU. (I know I will be flamed for that.) Of course with that precedent, the FCC would be forced to add hate speech to its definition of indecent content. No more 700 Club. No more TBN. No more Sunday morning local worship programs. No more Rush. No more Hannity. No more O'Reilly. No more Alex Jones. No more Pastor Butch Paugh. No more Lou Dobbs. (Seriously, I think that it's inevitable for CNN to fire Lou Dobbs for his anti-illegal immigration stances.) And then somebody will have to regulate speech on the internet...say hello to the FCC extending broadcast decency regulations to the internet. Of course I would probably run afoul of hate speech laws if I said something like "People who use Windows aredumb! Get smart and get Linux!" This flag amendment will give rise to Orwellian "thought police" and thoughtcrime.

45 posted on 06/14/2006 6:13:45 PM PDT by bigdcaldavis (Xandros : In a world without fences, who needs Gates?)

To: bigdcaldavis

We already have hate laws on the books. Your point is moot.

46 posted on 06/14/2006 8:16:03 PM PDT by John Lenin (The RAT party is still Stuck on Stupid)

Hate laws already punish crimes motivated by hate, but the courts have constantly ruled that punishing people for merely using hate speech violates the First Amendment. This flag amendment basically nullifies the First Amendment's protection of freedom of speech. So really, my point is not moot.

Like it or not, this flag amendment will be used to criminalize the mere use of hate speech.

47 posted on 06/15/2006 9:05:39 AM PDT by bigdcaldavis (Xandros : In a world without fences, who needs Gates?)

To: bigdcaldavis

There won't be enough votes for a constitutional amendment. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

48 posted on 06/15/2006 4:42:12 PM PDT by John Lenin (The RAT party is still Stuck on Stupid)

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