Veterans notes see that the American Flag is protected

The Moberly Monitor_index ^ | Nov 04 | David Shafer - Kevin Bartholmey

[BellStar]

News

Veterans notes

Last week we showed you the strong words American Legion National Commander, Tom Cadmus, had for Congress and their inaction during this session. Now Commander Cadmus has additional strong words for the leadership of the U.S. Senate on both sides of the aisle.

As most citizens know The American Legion has been working to see that the American Flag is protected from desecration by enactment of a constitutional amendment. All 50 states have voted to ask Congress for a chance to vote on a constitutional amendment to protect the flag. Public opinion polls taken yearly have shown that 80 percent of all Americans want their flag protected. Congress, especially the U.S. Senate has not responded to the peple's wishes and Commander Cadmus has had enough.

Commander Cadmus urged Senators Frist and Daschle to "heed the voice of the people" and bring SJR 4, the flag protection amendment, to a vote in the last session of the 108th Congress.

Since our Founders signed the Declaration of Independence, Americans have stood strong for family values, allegiance to our country and the symbol of our nation's greatness, the United States Flag," Cadmus said. "On November 2, voters across America sent a resounding signal to those who lead us in Washington: Do not ever forget that we are a people who cherish values - ignore them at your own risk."

"In poll after poll over the past decade, nearly 80 percent of the American people have consistently indicated they support a constitutional amendment to return their right to protect Old Glory from physical acts of desecration. With all 50 state legislatures calling for Congress to pass the measure and send it to them for debate and ratification, Cadmus asked the Senate to "heed the message" of America and finish the job in the 108th by passing SJR 4.

"On behalf of the 2.7 million members of the American Legion, I ask the U.S. Senate to begin the next four years by listening to your constituents, cast aside partnership and pass this measure when you return on November 15," Cadmus said. "It doesn't cost taxpayers a dime but sends the much needed message to citizens that Congress is truly listening and doing the work expected of them by their employers - the American people.

Cadmus said he is proud of Legionnaires for actively working in their communities across the country to turn out record numbers of voters. He estimates that nearly 90 percent of the four million-member American Legion family, including the American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion, voted Tuesday.

This information has been presented by The American Legion, Department of Missouri, David Shafer, Commander in conjunction with your local Bazan-Bailey American Legion Post 6, Kevin Bartholmey, Commander.

[BellStar]

More Flag Stuff Bump!

[BellStar]

More on flg.

[paudio]

Public opinion polls taken yearly have shown that 80 percent of all Americans want their flag protected.

I know where to find the 20% people. Just go to the DU discussion boards, we can easily find many of them use a picture of up-side-down American flag.

[Captain794]

Posting claims that are not true doesn't help us or harm the dems.

Basically, the flag has to earn respect on its own merits. If people respect it then they will treat it with respect. Passing laws to make desecration of the flag a federal offense won't make people respect the flag any more or less.

Anyway, claims that dems don't respect the flag are baseless and almost always based on unsubstantiated hearsay.
One thing about this proposed legislation that bothers me is the question of what constitutes desecration. If I fly a flag from my car antenna and it gets muddy and ragged, does that count as desecration? Strikes me that this could turn out to be a two edged sword. Anyone who inadvertantly "desecrates the flag" could be open to a federal charge, even if the so called desecration is obviously accidental or unintentional. I think, in this case, congressional inaction is the correct response.
Cap.

[BellStar]

"the flag has to earn respect"

Captain794 Since Nov 14, 2004

Your not from around here are you?

[topher]

Commander Cadmus urged Senators Frist and Daschle to "heed the voice of the people"

Is this chap Daschle the outgoing Senate minority leader? Why address a lame duck -- especially one that John Kerry might use for Target Practice in Ohio...

Sorry, I could not resist the jab two prominent figures in the last election. These two turkeys have caused me too much trouble... Mumbling and grumbling aloud

[Pappey]

This is one of those 'can't win' discussions, because most folks aren't willing to listen to opposing points of view. If you're willing to listen, here is my take on this:

The American flag is a symbol, and nothing more. It's a piece of clothe ... burn it, tear it, throw it away ... I don't really care ... it's not the clothe that matters ... it's what the clothe stands for that matters.

I raised the American flag on fire base Davis in panama in 1989. It wasn't the flag that made us proud, it was the ability to raise it and fly it that made us proud. I still have that flag, but the flag itself doesn't hold any value, it's what that flag stands for that holds value to me.

I flew an American from my antenna in Desert Storm. It made me proud. I still have it ... it's dirty and oil fire smoke stained ... just like me ... it's worn ... ain't new anymore. I don't keep it for it, I keep it as a reminder of where I went, what I did, and maybe someday somebody will find it and wonder ... wonder why it is stained.

I disagree with the American Legion, the VFW, and anyone else who says the flag should not be desecrated. I say this: I didn't defend a flag, I didn't didn't fight for a flag ... a piece of clothe. I fought for and I stood for a an idea ... for a belief. I fought for and defended, to bone cold DMZ of S. Korea, to the tropics of Panama, to Germany, to the deserts of Southwest Asia ... I defended the idea of freedom ... freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to a free press, the right to assemble peaceable and speak my mind ... without fear of repression or retaliation.

I say this ... anybody ... any nation ... especially Americans ... if you want to burn the flag, of any nation, especially the Americans flag ... then you burn it, stomp on it, spit on it, raise it high into the sky, salute it, wave, or just ignore it ... cause you know what ...

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO ... AND I AM DAMN PROUD OF THAT!

That's what I'm proud of, and nobody can burn that. That's what they had a valley forge, that's what they had in the Ardennes, that's what they had a Guadalcanal and Bouganville, that's what they had in the Chosen reservoir, and IA Drang valley, and that's what we have now. That's what we have in Afghanistan, Iraq, and 130 other countries where we have troops deployed. We have freedom. We have a belief that people should be free, and that's what makes my me proud to be American, not the flag itself, but what it stands for.

Any law, act, amendment to stop any one from speaking their mind, whether or not it involves a flag, would serve only to cheapen the ideals our flag represents, and that would be a sad day for America.

So ... long winded huh? If you took the time to read this, I thank you.

[mtbopfuyn]

What a sad state of affairs when this is debated over and over.

[BellStar]

"Speaking" their mind is fine but I never could figure out how to orate fire or flags!

[sgtbono2002]

Anyone who can stand Idly by and watch as some young punk who doesnt know squat about being an American spit on and burn an American flag isnt an American in my book.

What we really need is amnesty for anyone who goes to the defense of the flag by draggin the despoiler down the street by his hair and teaching him how real Americans feel.

[Pappey]

That's what the Nazis did in Germany, and Japanese did in the Pacific, and the Khemer Rouge, and the Chinese in Korea.

You disagree with the national opinion, and you get marked as a traitor and a 'punk', beaten, thrown in jail.

I can see that, agree with the status quo, or else.

Is that where we're headed?

[sgtbono2002]

Ahhhh the old Nazi ploy. Nice try.

I love it when people who wish to protect our flag are called Nazi's

Well Pappey call me what you like I am an American and I dont agree with desecrating my country's flag ,you see I feel you have every right in this world to disagree with me verbally or to march or do whatever else you care toas long as it isnt violent. You dont have a right to destroy my country's flag, Not in this country anyway, If you wish to spit on and descrate that flag go to another country and do it, And STAY there.

[DBeers]

"Posting claims that are not true doesn't help us or harm the dems."

-so what? Who is 'us'? Are you one of 'us'? Is the purpose to help 'us' and or hurt dems? I would suspect transference -get it looked into...

[Pappey]

I was OK with your opinion until you got to the part about
"draggin' the despoiler down the street by his hair and teaching him how real Americans feel."

Does that sound like freedom? Does that sound like freedom of expression?

I didn't call you a Nazi, I equated your oppressive, judgmental attitude to that of the Nazis, Khmer Rouge, and others.

An interesting point here, is that I have never stated that I agree with the practice of burning a flag, or cross, or book for the purposes of making a statement. I've never marched, and probably never will. I'm am saying though that every American citizen has the constitutional right to do so, if they are so motivated.

There are many things in this country, and the world, that I don't agree with, but I try to always be conscious of a person's rights.

As to whether or not I should stay in this country or leave, that is my choice, not yours. My choice to stay or leave is made under my terms and not yours. I am an American, born and raised, bona fide, card-carryin', gun-totin', votin', tax-payin', redneck American.

I have an American flag flying in my yard as we speak. I have a service flag in my window for my son, and I have a army footlocker in my basement filled with reminders of people, places, and events ... some should probably be forgotten, but I keep the reminders, hoping some day they will be understood.

Don't waste your words attacking me or my loyalty toward this country I choose as mine ... I am not an enemy of the United States; I am a loyal American citizen. I'm a veteran of two shootin' wars and couple of uprisings. I have defended and will continue to defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I'm not your enemy, and hope that I never am.

[SoDak]

I totally agree with you. Sooner or later, the 80% will get this legislation passed and the 20% whose use for and belief in the constitution only extends to an opportunity to attack their country can lump it. I'm getting so used to having the GOP and conservatives in general equated with Nazism, the word itself has lost it's power.

[TheSaurus]

Hey asshole ... men have died for that "symbol" you scoff at.

You may not care if someone desecrates our national colors, but nobody better try it if I'm around. Amendment or no amendment, I'll beat the snot out of anyone who tries.

Go peddle your bullshit on the demunderground site with the rest of the US haters.

[Pappey]

If 80% of the population believes in this and it forces this through as a constitutional amendment, I'll tell ya I told ya so when we can no longer challenge our government's decision, because any challenge to the government is seen as an attack on the American way of life.

Again, my patriotism is being challenged because I disagree. I am not attacking my country ... I am defending it.

[redrock]

"It is the soldier, not the agitator, who has given us the freedom to protest.

It is the soldier who salutes the flag, serves beneath the flag, whose coffin is draped by the flag, who gives that protester the freedom to abuse and burn that flag."
Zell Miller--Speech at the Republican Convention

I agree with Zell.

Protestors have the right to burn the flag.

redrock

[Pappey]

Now I'm an asshole and a US hater. You haven't given me any reason to agree with or respect your opinion, other than you'll whip me good for what I think.

Do you believe women should be home and farefoot as well?

[SoDak]

because any challenge to the government is seen as an attack on the American way of life

Did I say I was against someone challenging the government? The flag is NOT the government, and burning one IS an attack on the American way of life, not the government. The government may fly the flag on it's buildings, but that flag is we, the people.