Flag Protection: New Poll Shows Over 80 Percent of Americans Support It

US Newswire ^ | 6/20/05

[Woman on Caroline Street]

Commandment No. 1

"Thou shalt not have any other gods than thy one TRUE GOD"

Can someone say "idolotry"?

[Sacajaweau]

I'd opt for English as the National Language before this. Only because it would be hard to enforce...just like the rules for displaying are never enforced. Besides, the proper way to dispose of a flag is via burning (I believe)...so one could do it under the guise of....And it would have to ultimately tied to a hate crime.

[Codeflier]

Flag protection again! Don't we have more important things to worry about. This type of legislation wouldn't really solve anything. Just another way for government to intrude in our lives.

[TheOtherOne]

Do not amend the Consitution for some lame PR stunt.

It is a joke that Congress thinks they needs to amend the Consitution to protect the Flag.

[so_real]

Rather than make (non-disposal) flag-burning illegal, how about giving flag-burners a one-way ticket to the country of their choice? After all, the flag is symbolic of the Pledge of Allegiance. Once allegiance is gone, so goes citizenship. If we can't deport them elsewhere, what say we set aside a state for them to enjoy where they can burn flags to their heart's content, but without the benefits of citizenship? Works for me.

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible, With Liberty and Justice for all.

[TheOtherOne]

After all, the flag is symbolic of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Really?

[TheOtherOne]

Yup. Welcome to FR.

[gdani]

How many of the 80% have worn American flags flying on the outside of their cars where they are constantly snowed & rained on?

[NJ_gent]

"When you have a Congress full of jokers, is it a surprise they waste legislative time on jokes?"

Congress has too much time on its hands. Time to pass a Constitutional Amendment that ALL laws passed by Congress expire every 10 years. I think they'll find that so much of their free time is tied up in keeping good laws that they won't have time for this type of sillyness on our dime.

[KevinDavis]

I hate it when people burn Old Glory, however, I don't think it should be against the law to burn the flag. It opens a whole can of worms. Free Speech is free speech.

[TheOtherOne]

Letting idiots burn the flag is the easiest way to spot them!

I would never burn one, and I would lose respect for anyone who did. That being said, it is against everything America stands for to force people to salute/respect/honor a flag against their will.

[glorgau]

I think that flag protection should only be passed if a rider including desecration of the koran and Bible are added. Otherwise it would be an incomplete expression of an idea.

[so_real]

After all, the flag is symbolic of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Really?

You dispute this?

[BikerNYC]

Besides, the proper way to dispose of a flag is via burning (I believe)...

Good point. It is both proper and improper to burn a flag.

[highball]

I do.

The flag is symbolic of our great land, not the pledge itself (that would be circular - a pledge to a symbol of the pledge?).

It is legal to criticize this great land, as well it should be. That includes burning a flag. I don't like the idea of flag-burning, but the law does not exist to enshrine my own personal taste.

[TheOtherOne]

"After all, the flag is symbolic of the Pledge of Allegiance."

You dispute this?



Yes, I dispute this. I will humor you and explain.

You logic is circular at best. The flag is symbolic of our nation, The United States of America, not the pledge which was written after the flag was adopted.

Further, the line from the Pledge that you quote says "The Flag". . . "the Republic for which it stands"...get it, it stand for the Republic. Also, how is the Flag going to by symbolic of a Pledge that is about that Flag? Just thinking about it is making me dizzy.

[highball]

beat you. ;)

As far as "80 Percent of Americans Support (a flag-burning amendment)," do we still need to remind anyone that this is a republic, not a mob-rule democracy?