Tamsey (Free Republic .... Partisan Pajama People) :Without reverence for America and her Flag, then the Constitution and Bill of Rights are just a bunch of words on paper. The Flag isn't just a chunk of material that falls within the First Amendment, it is inherent to what GIVES us the First Amendment. I support an Amendment against Flag burning.
Until the Executive Order of June 24, 1912, neither the order of the stars nor the proportions of the flag was prescribed.
So I guess, up until then, the first amendment wasn't applicable?!? I'm pretty sure the Declaration of Independence clearly states the source of our freedoms.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
Nope, I don't think so
You're quoting Jefferson who was quoting John Locke. Locke felt that it is the state that is formed to protect our liberty and in enjoying that necessary security we have to give up a small measure of our "perfect freedom". Per Locke, the state is needed to protect our "life, liberty and property" from the "corruption and viciousness of degenerate men". The state can't survive unless we give up some of our "perfect freedom" to give it power to do so.
I consider patriotism to be part of what the state needs to survive and a minimal respect for the Flag is inherent to that.