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.
Brilliant comic.
What's the difference between Durbin's statements and doing the same?
Durbin's statements were far more damaging to the country than some hippie stoner burning a flag.
You are absolutely correct. Problem is, is that it is also considered assault and battery. Give it a whirl.
That's not a problem if we write an exception in the law to allow the use of reasonable force to prevent the public desecration of the flag. We already have similar exceptions in defenses to criminal and civil assault where the assailant is acting to protect a third person.
The way I see it, when a flag burner makes his symbolic speech in public, and government stands in the background to punish a person who disagrees with that message and wishes to employ reasonable force to make his own point, then government has taken sides with the flag burner and forced everyone else to tacitly agree with HIS speech. That isn't fair.
Let's just take it out of the realm of public protection. You're free to desecrate the flag in public, and a veteran is free to punch you in the nose if you try.
Even steven.
Absent a real fire, yelling "Fire" does not constitute Constitutionally-protected speech. It is closer to action, such as starting a real fire in the theatre.
The other 20% were either liberals or illegals.
How are they different?
Creating a flag for the ships was probably the most urgent thought for the flag. I always check my "old ship" steel engravings for the flag and count the stars if I can. Pretty important at the time....
So you think that an Amendment banning flag burning will somehow make a difference to the morons overseas who burn an American flag? Who shall enfore your silly law in Iran?
I'm not willing to molest the Constitution just to show a bunch of foreigners that their protests bother me.
So then, in your world, does a third veteran have the right to beat up a veteran attacking a person buring a flag? Might as well make it a free-for-all, right? A free speech riot?
I also look forward to the debate; it is going to be a marvelous opportunity for all Americans to once again explore the meaning of Old Glory's symbolism.
Everyone could use a reminder.
"And to the Republic, for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Do you also support cross burning?
Nice try, but force against a person is not speech. That's perhaps a subtle difference?
This law is "just in case" a whole bunch of folks wanna burn the flag.
You can't spell "Republican Majority" without "Stupid Waste of Time".
That's right.
If you damage the property of others, then a person is of course liable for that, but as far as the message goes? 100% protected.
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