Posted on 06/20/2005 10:35:24 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
A newly released independent poll confirms that the vast majority of Americans want the U.S. Flag protected from acts of desecration.
The random poll of 1,004 adults nation-wide was conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation June 16-19. In responding to the question how important do you think it is to make flag desecration against the law, 81 percent said it was somewhat to extremely important. Another 75 percent said they wanted Congress to pass a flag protection constitutional amendment.
The poll echoes numerous others conducted since a 1989 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturned five previous courts and made flag desecration legal. Poll after poll indicated that between 75 percent and 80 percent of the public support legal protection of Old Glory from physical acts of desecration.
"I'm delighted but not surprised that this poll again confirms what we already know," said Thomas P. Cadmus, national commander of The American Legion. "When asked a straight forward question, most Americans will give you a straight answer -- protect Old Glory."
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on HJR- 10, the flag protection amendment this week.
Only 28 percent of those surveyed said they would be likely to vote for someone who is opposed to protecting the U.S. Flag.
Complete poll results are available online at http://www.legion.org.
"The people have spoken again loud and clear," Cadmus said. "I urge Members of Congress to heed the voices of the people and the call of all 50 state legislatures. Pass the flag protection amendment now."
The poll has a 3 percent margin of error.
First rule of politics: When you see an 80% issue stand next to it, smile and wave.
Now in some places, Berkeley and Boston come to mind, you shouldn't have any problem at all. You problem there is that you might have too many people crowded around with their pants down, helping you out.
But in Texas, it might be problem for you. Not because of a criminal statute, but because other people are more likely to have a different opinion and just as strong of a desire to express it.
Please pay attention.
And I would be in favor of arresting those veterans, if they acted like thugs. None of the veterans I know would do such things.
More importantly it may indirectly cause even more public harm as it emboldens enemies foreign and domestic and demoralizes our armed forces.
Repressing free speech is, in the long term, much more dangerous to our Republic than the actions of a few moronic commie flag-burners.
Why just flag burning?
Now you are singling out a type of speech--content based regulation, and that's certainly strikes at the core of the First Amendment.
If you don't like flag burning, walk away. Grow up.
"I'm not willing to molest the Constitution just to show a bunch of foreigners that their protests bother me."
Your view is very strange, indeed. It's clear that we just don't agree. The American flag should be regarded as sacred, in a way, and we have the support to pass the amendment, let's do it. If you want to defend flag-burners, then be my guest. But I for one support this amendment.
What next? Illegal to speak out against leaders during times of foreign police actions?
Veterans should be allowed to act like thugs?
You got that right. A number of members of my immediate family are current or former military, and none of them support such an amendment.
Or better yet, he can make a giant sign, saying whatever he wants about the flag burner. Does he fear that his ideas cannot compete with a flag burner?
"You know it, I know it. You're just trying to rationalize in order to make yourself feel better about banning speech."
Your views are also very odd and it marvels me that someone would fight so hard for people to be able to desecrate our flag. But I guess some people just don't think things through.
Let's pass the amendment . . .
Veterans understand what they are fighting and dying for. Government repression of free speech is something our veterans fight against.
Yeah, I guess not. Have you figured out how burning a flag isn't speech yet? Once you think that through, let me know.
I don't think this is taking away free speech from Americans.
You do realize that this ammendment, even if it passed, would not outlaw flag burning in those foriegn countries that bothers you so much.
The only people this affect is Americans or others on American soil.
Right. Mob rule.
Thanks, but no thanks. I love freedom too much to subject it to the whim of a group of people on the street.
Hey, some people are antiquated enough to actually care about the values of this nation instead of fighting solely for their own petty preferences.
I'm not surprised that you don't recognize it - it seems a lost cause these days.
You really think that mob violence should be used to punish speech we don't like?
Really?
The national flag is not in the Constitution. There is some question of what the flag actually is in appearance and which version is oficially in use.
The American way is to roll up your sleeves and defend what needs defending.
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