Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Call for Flag Amendment Unanimous Among the States
US Newswire ^ | 01.11.01 | US Newswire

Posted on 01/11/2002 7:51:13 AM PST by callisto

To: National Desk
Contact: Mary Kay Rutledge of the Citizens Flag Alliance,
317-630-1384; Web site: http://www.cfa-inc.org/

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- After years of political hardball, a determined group of Vermont legislators stepped to the plate Thursday and hit a home run for flag protection.

JRS 9, a joint resolution calling for an amendment to the United States Constitution that would allow Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag, passed both chambers of the Vermont state legislature. The measure urges Congress to explore "all avenues available, which may include a constitutional amendment" to protect the U.S. flag from physical desecration.

With this action Vermont becomes the 50th state to formally call on Congress, by resolution, to propose a flag amendment and send it to the states for ratification.

"We deeply admire the courage of Vermonters for having labored over a decade to finally win this day," said Major General Patrick H. Brady, chairman of the Board of the Citizens Flag Alliance, a coalition of more than 140 organizations that have championed flag protection since 1994. "Their success is attributable to their persistence in doing what is right, the same persistence that will move the flag amendment off Capitol Hill and back to state legislatures where, once and for all, the people will have the final say on legal protection for their flag."

Brady said that he hoped Congress hears the voice of the people in Vermont and across the Nation. "With the level of patriotism what it is today, it is inconceivable to me that the Senate will continue to thwart the will of the people. There are few issues today that enjoy the degree of support of the flag amendment. There is no other issue on Capitol Hill that has the endorsement of 80 percent of the American people, an overwhelming majority in both the U.S. House and Senate, and 100 percent of the state legislatures."

The issue has traveled the nation. It has been debated in every chamber of every state's legislature, every one of which has moved favorably in their call for the amendment, noted Brady. "Every state's legislature has taken the matter through a similar winding process of introductions, cosponsorship, hearings, debates, and votes. And everyone has come to the same conclusion: The people of the United States deserve the right to decide if they want to protect Old Glory."

With passage of the flag protection amendment (HJ Res. 36) in the House of Representatives last July, Brady offered, "it's time for the Senate to listen to the people and approve the proposed flag amendment. Then, let's hear from the people across America as the amendment is debated in ratification."

------ Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady (USA-Ret.) is the chairman of the Indianapolis-based Citizens Flag Alliance (CFA). The CFA is a broad-based national coalition of 142 organizations committed to seeking passage of a constitutional amendment which would return to the American people the right to protect their flag. Brady was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service in the Vietnam War during which time he rescued over 5,000 casualties of war.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-53 next last
To: kickme
Yeah, the flag is a symbol of our country, not our god.

So there should be a law banning the burning of the Bible? ;-)
21 posted on 01/11/2002 10:27:54 AM PST by abandon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: callisto
return to the American people the right to protect their flag

Sounds noble doesn't it.

Why would a Constitutional amendment be required to return a right? Returning a right to the American people implies that the American people had the right and then lost it. However, there should be no need of an amendment to return the right because they never was an amendment to remove the right.

The framers of the Constitution granted the newly established government specific enumerated powers, and no others. The power to prohibit citizens from anything is not among those specific enumerated powers, hence the need for an amendment. Has Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady (USA-Ret.) ever pondered why the Constitution didn’t grant the government that power? If he had given it some thought he would have come to realize that the Constitution is not about the people, it is solely about government.

What does Brady think the 5,000 casualties he rescued were fighting for? One of the things was the freedom to have the right to take the decision to burn the nations flag or not burn the nations without interference by the government. I have no fondness for those whom feel the need to burn their flag but by ballot or force, I will protect their right to do so.

22 posted on 01/11/2002 10:41:02 AM PST by MosesKnows
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #23 Removed by Moderator

To: MosesKnows
What I find interesting is that Vermont is the 50th and last state to pass the resolution especially when their good senator is the turncoat that gave the democrazies the majority in the senate. Hmnnnn!
24 posted on 01/11/2002 11:11:40 AM PST by lilylangtree
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: callisto
Libertarian freeper logic:

1) Burn, desecrate, remove, steal, or destroy the confederate flag = EVIL, ANTI-SOUTHERN, ANTI-AMERICAN, HATE CRIME. Only "Marxists" would allow it. In ALL cases, it MUST be stopped IMMEDIATELY!

2) Burn, desecrate, remove, steal, or destroy the American flag = Freedom of speech. Must be allowed and completely tolerated. Anyone, who tries to in any way interfere with this "right" is "ruining" the constitution.

And they still believe these beliefs make them "patriots", even after Sept. 11th.

Sad.

25 posted on 01/11/2002 11:14:54 AM PST by BillyBoy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: D Joyce
I never said that I wanted anyone to amend anythng. Did I give that impression? I'm rather fond of the Constitution the way it stands. I merely posted the article as an FYI, and as luck had it I managed to learn some new things and acquire some very interesting information from Publius with his link above.
26 posted on 01/11/2002 11:15:42 AM PST by callisto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: JustAnAmerican
"While I may vehemently disagree with what you have to say, I will defend to the death your right to say it."

- Voltaire

27 posted on 01/11/2002 11:19:07 AM PST by Wyatt's Torch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: D Joyce
I forgot to add in my response that I would never trust a Socialist to amend the Constitution, let alone abide by what they changed. Socialists see the Constitution as a "living" document, one that should change as society does. I believe the Founders of our nation knew what they were doing when they chose the words they did. IMHO, they were intelligent men who could see the immenent dangers that lay ahead for our nation if we strayed too far from the goals our nation set out.
28 posted on 01/11/2002 11:21:29 AM PST by callisto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: BillyBoy
1) Burn, desecrate, remove, steal, or destroy the confederate flag = EVIL, ANTI-SOUTHERN, ANTI-AMERICAN, HATE CRIME. Only "Marxists" would allow it. In ALL cases, it MUST be stopped IMMEDIATELY!

2) Burn, desecrate, remove, steal, or destroy the American flag = Freedom of speech. Must be allowed and completely tolerated. Anyone, who tries to in any way interfere with this "right" is "ruining" the constitution.


Guess I'm not a libertarian. I believe that a person should have the right to burn any flag that they own provided that they do so within the limits of laws regarding public burning. I also believe that if a person steals a flag from a private citizen or government property then they should be charged as though they stole any other object. If they destroy a stolen flag, then vandalism charges could also be filed.

This should apply to a US flag, a Confederate flag, a Gay Pride Flag, a UN Flag or a plaid tablecloth. Does this make me un-American?
29 posted on 01/11/2002 11:23:06 AM PST by Dimensio
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: callisto
Do not further amend the Constitution.
30 posted on 01/11/2002 11:26:29 AM PST by RightWhale
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #31 Removed by Moderator

To: BillyBoy
Sorry to disappoint you but I think both flags should be treated the same: I personally think its wrong to burn either of them while at the same time knowing that laws against doing so are 1st Amendment violations.

BTW, the definition of patriotism hasn't changed since 9-11. However, many people are now confusing it with nationalism.

32 posted on 01/11/2002 11:32:09 AM PST by freeeee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Patriot76
From what I've learned today, this is really a lame attempt to sound patriotic since a resolution will have NO effect on amending the Constitution. Publius explained that what they have to have to try to amend it would be for the states to call for a resolution demanding "A Convention for Proposing Amendments...as Part of This Constitution".
33 posted on 01/11/2002 11:32:49 AM PST by callisto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: JustAnAmerican
JustAnAmerican said: "I personally would never, ever be tempted to burn the American flag, there is no greater disrespect to this nation and the people who fought and died for the freedoms you enjoy now, then to Desecrate the Flag, by any means. While I am sure it means very little to you, you (sir/Madam) just lost any respect I could ever feel for you."

I was taught that burning a flag was the proper way to dispose of it. Will next week's amendment be a prohibition against dissolving a flag in acid? And following that, a prohibition against bleaching the cloth and unraveling the threads? And following that, a prohibition against ...

My allegiance is to the Constitution and to the FreeRepublic for which it is law. Not to a flag.

34 posted on 01/11/2002 11:34:26 AM PST by William Tell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

Comment #35 Removed by Moderator

To: BillyBoy
Libertarian freeper logic

Where in the world did that come from? I've never heard of any libertarian or freeper who has ever argued that it is both wrong to burn the Confederate flag and okay to burn the American flag. And no one has every supported the "stealing" of any flag.

A person has the right to burn whatever flag he or she wishes, assuming the flag belongs to that person. It may be a disgusting or hateful or unpatriotic thing to do, and other people may choose to take strenuous measures short of force to discourage or prevent it, but that does not mean it should be illegal. If you can't understand that, then you don't understand the principles that our country was founded upon.

36 posted on 01/11/2002 11:37:18 AM PST by dpwiener
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: callisto
How about instead of protecting the flag, they work on protecting the constitution?
37 posted on 01/11/2002 11:40:15 AM PST by NC_Libertarian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NC_Libertarian
We could only be so lucky!
38 posted on 01/11/2002 11:43:18 AM PST by callisto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: JustAnAmerican
Well said. Anybody who thinks intelligent dissent is expressed by destroying our country's flag is scum, IMO.
39 posted on 01/11/2002 11:45:41 AM PST by golfGodd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: JustAnAmerican
Freedom is more important then the flag. When the flag no longer represents a free country, then it is just so much cloth. Our heroes fight and bleed and die for freedom, not cloth.
40 posted on 01/11/2002 11:46:16 AM PST by NC_Libertarian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-53 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson