Stupid. Let them burn the flag in public for all to see.
Brings back memories of the 60's when protestors burned flags, draft cards, and bras.
If burning the flag is free speech, so is my kicking the crap out of anyone who is doing it. Hey, I'm just expressing my views. What about my rights?
The only way to write a law or an amendment or a regulation to cover every possible desecration or folkway violation regarding the flag is to write one that makes the European constitution look like an abbreviation.
The last refuge of scoundrels. So can you pick out the scoundrels finding safe harbor amongst those who genuinely respect the flag?
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 25, 2005
Mr. CUNNINGHAM (for himself, Mr. MURTHA, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. BASS, Mr. BOEHLERT, Mr. BUYER, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. FERGUSON, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr. GOODE, Mr. HEFLEY, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. ISSA, Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut, Mr. KENNEDY of Minnesota, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. PITTS, Mr. RAMSTAD, Mr. ROGERS of Michigan, Mr. SIMMONS, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina, Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi, Mr. WAMP, Mr. WICKER, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. MCCAUL of Texas, Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. HUNTER, Mrs. CUBIN, Mr. KNOLLENBERG, Mr. MOLLOHAN, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. WOLF, Mr. OTTER, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin, Mrs. MCCARTHY, Mr. GIBBONS, Mr. HASTINGS of Washington, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. TERRY, and Mr. BRADLEY of New Hampshire) introduced the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
June 14, 2005
Additional sponsors: Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky, Mr. FORBES, Mrs. KELLY, Mrs. NORTHUP, Mr. BAKER, Mr. SHUSTER, Mr. POMEROY, Mr. HOSTETTLER, Mr. YOUNG of Florida, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. RAHALL, Mrs. MUSGRAVE, Mr. PICKERING, Mr. REYNOLDS, Mr. HAYES, Mr. LINDER, Mr. CULBERSON, Mr. EVERETT, Mr. PETERSON of Minnesota, Mr. HYDE, Mr. MURPHY, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. ROTHMAN, Mr. PORTER, Mr. KUHL of New York, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr. BOSWELL, Mr. RYAN of Wisconsin, Mr. PLATTS, Mr. LATHAM, Mr. NEY, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. KING of New York, Ms. HERSETH, Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania, Mr. SIMPSON, Mr. LAHOOD, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. WALDEN of Oregon, Mr. REHBERG, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. CARDOZA, Mr. JENKINS, Mr. GORDON, Mr. GRAVES, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BOUSTANY, Mr. HAYWORTH, Mr. FORTENBERRY, Mr. PUTNAM, Mr. KANJORSKI, Mr. ISTOOK, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. OXLEY, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. WELDON of Florida, Mr. SULLIVAN, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. SODREL, Mr. REYES, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mrs. DRAKE, Mr. FOLEY, Mr. PENCE, Mr. NUSSLE, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. GOODLATTE, Mr. RENZI, Mr. WHITFIELD, Mr. CARTER, Mr. NORWOOD, Mr. CANNON, Mr. PRICE of Georgia, Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. NEUGEBAUER, Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. THORNBERRY, Mr. MCHENRY, Mr. KLINE, Mr. COBLE, Mr. ROGERS of Alabama, Mr. BOREN, Mr. SHERWOOD, Mrs. EMERSON, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. OSBORNE, Mr. HERGER, Mr. TIBERI, Mr. BISHOP of Utah, Mr. MORAN of Kansas, Mr. JINDAL, Mr. ROSS, Mr. SKELTON, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. DEAL of Georgia, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. CANTOR, Mr. BACA, Mr. BOEHNER, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky, Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. RYUN of Kansas, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. LOBIONDO, Mr. STRICKLAND, Mr. BEAUPREZ, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. FOSSELLA, Mrs. WILSON of New Mexico, Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania, Mr. GUTKNECHT, Ms. HART, Mr. BOYD, Mr. HENSARLING, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. CHOCOLA, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. BROWN of South Carolina, Mr. FEENEY, Mr. COSTELLO, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. BARTON of Texas, Mr. MCCRERY, Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California, Mrs. BONO, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. COLE of Oklahoma, Mrs. MILLER of Michigan, Mr. BERRY, Ms. GRANGER, Mr. WELLER, Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. SAXTON, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina, Mr. MANZULLO, and Mr. HOBSON
First, not only is such an amendment unconstitutional (as the document stands now), but it's completely impossible to enforce and would serve as nothing more than feel-good, pseudo-patriotic nonsense. The triumph of emotion over logic.
Second, what would count as a flag? Does it have to be cloth, or would large pictures drawn in crayon be covered? Do poster-sized glossy pictures of flags count? Could I be jailed for burning a tie or shirt with a big flag on it? What about those little flags on toothpicks that are in some desserts and drink; I guess it's 30 days for igniting a stack of those. What if the particular flag I am burning only has 12 stripes and 49 stars....is it official?
And why only flags? Shouldn't we also protect other symbols of America? The Statue of Liberty, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence. I'll still be free to burn those, even though the sentiment is the same as burning a flag.
And you have no problem with such a law. Do me a favor. Take a stab at writing this law so that it isn't completely ridiculous.
Let me add a few comments. Kid Rock's flag poncho at the Super Bowl -- would he be arrested in the future? People wearing American flag shirts that have holes in them from use -- toss them in jail? This is a feel-good law that is unenforcable and will immediately (and rightfully) be struck down by the SCOTUS. With all the stuff the GOP needs to focus on right now, this is a rabbit trail we can't afford to waste time on.
This is an idiotic waste of time. Dean panders to blacks via the Ohio poll claim and now Republicans pander to conservatives with this crap. They treat us like we're stupid fools out here. Hello? Is anyone in Congress doing a friggin thing except allowing dem filibusters and saluting the flag. Like we have some flag burning crisis that has to be urgently dealt with? Gimme a break. The fact we are strong enough to allow this non-event to theoretically take place is one characteristic that used to make this a great nation.
Flag burning has already been declared to be First Amendment-protected speech.
Just declare flag-burner burning to have the same "Freedom of Expression" protection.
Yeah, everything else is fine as we whistle past the graveyard, so why not waste time and taxpayer money on crap like this?
Flag burners... well that's reall easy, I just wrap my flag around their head and then exercise my "rights" and my "lefts" until the flag has fallen to the ground. According to proper flag etiquette it should then be burned. I would do so immediately.
Given any trial, testimony would have to support the fact I was striking out at an emblem with first amendment rights. O.K., they might fine me for my lefts.... but I'll take my chances.
On the other hand if Rats feel the need to burn the flag I hope it gets a lot of coverage..should help convey their true character.
How about American flag burning permits? Make them buy a costly city permit to express their “freedom of speech”. Of course there would also be a expensive fine to burn an American flag with out a permit… just a thought.
This is stupid.
No one can adequately define what a flag is and what a flag isn't.
Seems like most of what our flag stands for is disappearing in a hurry anyway.