Flag burning the next distraction

Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | 6/13/06 | Jay Bookman

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Only 26 percent of Americans believe that their country is headed in the right direction, according to an Associated Press poll released last week. But surely brighter days are coming, thanks to the farsighted leadership of the U.S. Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), one of the leading candidates for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008, apparently believes that what our country really needs at this moment in its history — the thing that's gonna pull us out of our national funk and set us straight again — is an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that bans flag burning.

So within two weeks, Frist will insist that the Senate set aside business he considers less important so it can turn its attention to the crucial question of flag burning.

There are two ways to interpret Frist's insistence on taking up yet another proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution, to join other critically important amendments such as those guaranteeing the freedoms of speech and religion.

One is that Frist sincerely believes that once it is against the law to burn flags in this country, the war in Iraq will begin to wind down, the price of gasoline will drop, health insurance will become available and affordable to all, scientists will discover that global warming isn't really a problem after all, our national debt will begin to shrink and illegal immigrants will stop flowing across our borders.

Or, Frist believes that pushing the amendment will somehow boost his political career and that of his fellow Republicans.

If so, he may be right. Despite all the problems we face and the growing realization among many Americans that it is time to get serious and start fixing what is wrong with our country — despite all that, maybe it is still possible to distract the American people with issues that are designed to anger and inflame us while not resolving a darn thing.

Maybe ... or maybe not.

[Oshkalaboomboom]

Typical of the MSM to assume that conservatives are to stupid to figure out when they are being tossed a bone

[dirtbiker]

Typical of the MSM to assume that conservatives are to stupid to figure out when they are being tossed a bone

And yet, they lament the free-falling circulation and viewer ship numbers for their drivel.....and can't seem to be able to figure out why.....

[mmercier]

your right to burn the flag equals my right to punch you in the face.

a mere assault case.

big sheit.

no need for a concon.

[goldstategop]

Liberals oppose traditional marriage and the flag. They have yet to come out against apple pie.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[Einigkeit_Recht_Freiheit]

Typical of the MSM to assume that conservatives are to stupid to figure out when they are being tossed a bone

I can't wait to see the number of Freepers who insist that this is an issue vital to the future of the United States at this point in history.

[DB]

This conservative does not support a flag burning amendment.

I think burning my own flag is freedom of speech. I think burning someone else's flag is arson.

We honor our flag because of what it stands for, not by force of law.

[Bahbah]

Typical of the MSM to assume that conservatives are to stupid to figure out when they are being tossed a bone

Which is a mistake they make frequently, of course, but how to explain Frist. Does he think enough people will buy into this foolishness to give him some kind of a boost. I am absolutely unable to discern what in the world he is thinking in proposing this.

[goldstategop]

The point is the Supreme Court struck down state laws that protected the flag. It gave states no choice in the matter. And as with Roe its turned less into a question of what the law should say about the flag than about values.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[monocle]

Apple pie comes after soft drinks.

[RedBeaconNY]

And no diet or sugar free crap either.

[goldstategop]

Like with the marriage amendment its not going to pass a Senate dominated by Democrats and RINOs. The American people simply want the right to decide for themselves what do about marriage and the flag, not unelected judges. That's the exactly the point here. This is a perennial issue only because judges have denied the people the right to decide about what's appropriate to protect the flag and a few judges have scuppered constitutional amendments to protect marriage because they believe their elite opinion is superior to that of the people. Because they disregard us, is why these issues remain very much alive in people's minds. Contrary to what liberals think, its the values stupid.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[goldstategop]

They've banned soft drinks. Now we're waiting for them to give the coup d'grace to the last remaining American institution.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[libertylover]

I think burning my own flag is freedom of speech.

I disagree with you here. The flag is a symbol of our country and to burn the flag is to symbolically say, "We should burn this place to the ground and start over because it's not worth saving."

I think it's the equivalent of inciting a riot or yelling "Fire!" in a theater that is not burning.

[Caesar Soze]

I disagree with your post. DB's post is symbolic of freedom of speech, and by disagreeing with it, you are disagreeing with freedom of speech. Since your post disagrees with freedom of speech, there should be a federal Constitutional amendment preventing you from posting.

See how stupid it is to legislate symbols instead of reality?

[RedBeaconNY]

So what if I have a tattered, torn and otherwise worn out flag that came into my posession through no fault of my own? How should I dispose of it? Or am I to let it sit in my closet in neglect to fade into obscurity? Which is the greater evil?

Know this; when I was asked to burn that flag, my heart stopped beating. The suggestion itself pained me that much. But sometimes, it does have to be done.

[RedBeaconNY]

So what if I have a tattered, torn and otherwise worn out flag that came into my posession through no fault of my own? How should I dispose of it? Or am I to let it sit in my closet in neglect to fade into obscurity? Which is the greater evil?

Know this; when I was asked to burn that flag, my heart stopped beating. The suggestion itself pained me that much. But sometimes, it does have to be done.

[Past Your Eyes]

"Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), one of the leading candidates for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008..."

ROFLMAO!!

[Bahbah]

Thanks for at least putting some meat on the bones of the issue.

[leadpenny]

Bookman?

What's the library cop doing writing for the AJC?

[StonyBurk]

Desecration of Our flag was not protected as speech until a
corrupted and divided Court sided with a disaffected
Communist who led his pack of animals and petty vandals
in chanting The Red The white The blue we spit on you"
as they burned a stolen American flag at a Republican
convention in Texas.Texas Law ,then said it was a criminal
act. The State upeheld the Law the oligarchy of despots
said such an odious act was somehow protected speech.
A vitale concern at this time-It should have been so for
the past 17 years.