Posted on 05/26/2006 11:17:46 PM PDT by freedom44
The Great Immigration debate of ‘06 has inadvertently put one of our most stringent debates of the Vietnam era back on the table: flag burning and the mistreatment of the American flag.
The anti-war, hate-America crowd argues that burning the United States flag is merely free speech, showing how violently someone disagrees with something this nation is doing. When New York’s twin towers collapsed on 9-11 and 3,000 of our brightest and best were slaughtered, we saw gleeful flag burning in some middle-East cities, but we also saw anti-war and hate-America activists burn the American flag again here at home. For the liberal, anti-war people among us, burning Old Glory may seem simply like free speech, but for many of us, the Stars and Stripes are the symbol of this great nation of ours, and it is NOT just a piece of cloth to be tinkered with lightly. We fervently believe it is wrong to mis-handle it ... let alone desecrate it.
Too many men (and women) have died fighting under that flag. Surveys show 75 percent of Americans favor a Constitutional Amendment to ban flag burning or desecration. All 50 state legislatures have now passed resolutions urging some action to make desecration of the United States flag illegal. The American Legion has stood on behalf of a ban on flag burning since the 1960’s when it became popular in Hippie circles. It has been blocked year after year by a handful of Washington legislators. It seems to melt is high time we all say to Congress: bring it to a vote. It is time this measure was passed.
Unfortunately, I agree. And Jerry Solomon, who wanted this, was one of my dad's best friends.
Doesn't speech mean anything? I mean I can't go up to someone and say "I'm going to straight up murder your ass" without getting in trouble.
What I'm trying to say is that if people want to burn the flag let them. There should be consequences though. Consequences such as revoking their citizenship. If someone wants to burn the flag, don't let them vote, hold a government job, or get any federal aid for at least 4 years. Then they get an opportunity to apply for citizenship.
"What I'm trying to say is that if people want to burn the flag let them. There should be consequences though. Consequences such as revoking their citizenship. If someone wants to burn the flag, don't let them vote, hold a government job, or get any federal aid for at least 4 years. Then they get an opportunity to apply for citizenship."
Put the bong down, and head to bead. It will be better in the morning...
1. The proposed amendment is because there is very little that can be done legally if someone is burning the flag. So, no amendment, no laws.
2. Revoke citizenship... jeez. This is sarcasm, right?
As much as I think that many forms of speech shouldn't be protected, I'd rather err on the side of broad bounderies than to have some overzealous cop pull me over because my car has a red, white and blue paint scheme.
I prefer the "consequence"sugested in the folk tales from
the Civil War. When an American President while hastely
beating retreat from Washington purportedly told a seargent
left behind to gaurd the vacated WhiteHouse to "Shoot"
anybody who tried to haul down our flag.Probably an urban myth but I do like the consequences-ought be applied to any
Hate America firster. Desecration of the flag is NOT speech.
the oligarchy of despots got it wrong when they protected the freaking disafected Communist from Texas justice.
I think this is absolutely the most worthless, feel-good, patronizing ploy a crippled legislature can use to mask their impotence. It’s like a shinny medallion they’ve been holding it in their back pockets to distract the reactionaries in case of emergency right before elections. “We’ll they fumbled on school choice, borders, social security, energy, education, but ooooooow… shinny flag burning amendment…. Yes, I luv my congressmen….”
No thank you. If someone loses their mind to risk politically irrelevancy by burning a flag, let them. Our First Amendment rights give us the power to crush their ideas. Bring it on!
Actually, I was just pissed off. It almost brings tears to my eyes when I think of Americans dissing their own country.
I hate to say it but when I hear the star spangle banner or any other patriotic song I get all teary eyed and feel a great sense of pride. If I ever see someone burning a flag where I live I will excersize my right to kick their ass.
The men and women who died did so protecting the right to burn the flag.
It saddens me to see that there are Americans who are constitutionally unaware or misinformed. It saddens me to realize that there are Americans who can be persuaded into using the Constitution to grant congress an additional power to prohibit the people.
Consider all aspects of a flag-burning event. First of all, they cannot burn my flag or your flag without existing consequences in law against destroying the property of another. Second, they cannot burn their flag in a public place without consequences in law against creating a public hazard. Thirdly, virtually all states already have a law against desecration of the flag.
I want to know that people who do not burn their nation’s flag do not burn it because they do not want to burn it and not because it is unlawful to do so. I also want those who do want to burn their nation’s flag to do so out in the open where I can observe it and without fear of breaking a law.
I can only respectfully ask that you consider my observations in light of the Constitution’s purpose, which is solely about government and not about prohibiting the people.
You are illinformed on this point. The states laws against desecration were thrown out by the SCOTUS.
I will be honored to emolate a postage stamp flag that I have paid for, in front of Senator Feinstein. She can have me arrested, bear witness against me, and have me convicted. Maybe I'll get to know Wenyi Wang while I'm in the joint.
When you have to arrest someone for their classless acts, you should bone up on verbal retorts instead. See a big unilluminated flag at night or a prominent flag that is tattered? Be your own flag amendment and use your precious freedom of speech to convince the keeper's of those flags to straighten up and fly right.
The anti-war, hate-America crowd argues that burning the United States flag is merely free speech,"
Unfortunately, I agree. And Jerry Solomon, who wanted this, was one of my dad's best friends.
I think amendments should only be used for extreme measures and lately we have been "changing" the constitution like crazy or at least we want too. I think we need to really think about changing the constitution before we actually do it. I think it is a noble cause, but freedom of speech is far too important. Why not just make a general law that you can't destruct a flag. Easy. Done. Next issue. lol. I know it is not that easy...
It would be a change in the principle behind the Constitution. Rather than a limitation on government, it would be a prohibition against the subjects. Of course, such an amendment would promote objects to be of more importance than the ideas they may stand for; maybe that's what proponents seek.
I believe you are right. Ideas are ephemeral; the protection of ideas requires thought, study, discourse, and a resolute will. Flags are objects; the protection of objects requires a law. Guess which one the legislature finds easier to protect?
*** DING DING DING *** No more calls; we have a winner!
Rather than wasting time and human emotion on silly populist ideas like flag buring amendments, why don't we do something that will have real impact like buiding a wall from San Diego to Brownsville and amending the 14th Amendment to eliminate anchor babies.
IMO, while flag burning is despicable, the banning of it is more despicalbe, it's nothing more than political correctness from our side of the ledger...nothing more than thought control, nothing more than legislating that conservatives can not be offended. It's not consistent with what we're supposed to be about - individual freedom and personal liberty. Not that those two things are valued by much of anyone today.
That said I do not support an amendment, though I am willing to risk jail to stop a flag burning.
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