This flag amendment stunt isn’t funny anymore

June 14, 2006

I’m fully aware of the game. Every Congress, the House approves a [tag]constitution[/tag]al [tag]amendment[/tag] to [tag]ban[/tag] [tag]flag burning[/tag], the Senate comes close, Republicans enjoy a little [tag]demagoguery[/tag], and the issue goes away. It’s happened every other year for 14 years now, and the whole charade has become rather predictable.

There’s reason to worry, however, that this year might be different.

The Senate is one vote away from passing a constitutional amendment that would ban desecration of the U.S. [tag]flag[/tag], the closest that amendment supporters have been to passage.

The American Legion, which supports the amendment, and the American Civil Liberties Union, which opposes it, both say there are 66 votes to pass it.

Whether advocates can find the 67th vote to send the flag amendment to the states for ratification remains unclear. A Senate vote is set for the week of June 26.

In other words, this silly little game might actually pass this year. The United States has done quite well for itself without ever undercutting the First Amendment, but if proponents of this nonsense can find literally just one more vote, we’ll be well on our way to the first-ever constitutional exception to Americans’ free speech. For that matter, every current amendment limits the power of the government, not the freedoms of individuals (the one exception was the 18th — prohibition — and that was repealed). This one would do the opposite.

If this amendment actually gets ratified, the political world would not change dramatically. The concern, however, is about principle: the nation may write into constitutional stone an exception to the First Amendment, offering a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. Orrin Hatch, the measure’s chief sponsor, believes flag “desecration” is offensive, but if we pass amendments to ban everything Hatch finds distasteful, we’ll have very little time for anything else.

At this point, only one vote will dictate the outcome. If they get 66 senators, we’ll get to play this game against next year. If they get 67, we’ll be poised to join Cuba, China, and Iran as the only countries on earth to ban flag desecration. Stay tuned.

Ironic and sad if “the home of the free” needs to pass a Constitutional amendment to prevent desecration of its flag by Americans (has there been more than one flag burning since the Vietnam War?). I’d have thought that all those GOP women draping their unsightly blubber in all that flag clothing would have desecrated it enough already.

HAPPY FLAG DAY!

  • if this passes and becomes an amendment, I’ll open a flag shop that sells flags that are very close, but not exactly the US flag.
    maybe 51 stars or something.
    look for me on ebay!

  • I accuse you, CB, of not demonstrating enough respect and idoltry toward a piece of cloth with some colored stripes and pretty stars on it.

    And on Flag Day, no less!

    Next thing you know, you will be claiming that it is more important to preserve the Bill of Rights than Ol’ Glory. But, I ask you, can you wave the Bill of Rights, proudly and with a slightly glazed look in your eye, at your local parade? The answer is, yes, you can, but there is no way that anyone could read the words, and that is why the flag is much more important than a bunch of musty old words and confusing old ideas about rights and freedoms.

    I can’t believe how much of a commie terrorist sympathizer you are.

  • Where is the list of the 66? More importantly where is the list of the 34? Time to make some calls and write some letters! This is silly and has to stop.

  • Strangely enough, I just finished a letter to John Warner of Virginia. Perhaps it won’t arrive on time for him to read it, but I really want him to know he is about to become an idolator and join the ranks of Iran, China and Cuba.

    This is just so dumb.

  • Two surprising people that I’m pretty sure are on the list of 34: Robert Bennett and Mitch McConnell.

    And the reason? Get this: because they don’t think we should pass laws for things that aren’t actually problems. Funny logic there, isn’t it?

  • Isn’t “desecration” a somewhat subjective term?

    Is a flag sewn onto a shirt “desecration?” What if it’s an iron-on flag & it gets all faded & starts peeling off? What if the flag-shirt gets thrown in with the white clothes & gets bleached?

    If this actually passes, what’s the enforcement angle on it? If one of the local jingos has their plastic car-flag fall off & onto the road, can I report them for flag desecration?

  • Isn’t “desecration” a somewhat subjective term?

    I agree. Once, I saw an occupied flag banana hammock. It is an image which will forever be burned into my mind.

    That is desecration at it’s worst.

  • Once again, the right can’t understand the difference between the symbol and the substance.

    The symbol of the country is just that — a symbol. Granted, those can be powerful, but when it comes down to it, it really is just fleeting.

    The substance of our country consists of the rights we all hold dear — the freedom from government intrusion, the right to protest, and (of course) the right to free speech.

    Time and again they seem much, much more interested in protecting the symbolic, while letting the substance of what makes us what we are slip away …

  • If one of the local jingos has their plastic car-flag fall off & onto the road, can I report them for flag desecration?

    If this abomination does pass, then I really hope we can report these incidents.

  • IF I were to burn a flag, it wouldn’t be to dishonor those who sacrificed to give us our freedom (a common theme among opponents), it would be to symbolize the CURRENT actions of our government that are dishonoring past patriots of this country.

    Accuracy note: The comment ” to join Cuba, China, and Iran as the only countries” is an inaccurate representation of the article originally quoted. If you follow the link through ThinkProgress to the Library of Congress, you’ll see that is says those countries ‘set the tone’ and mentions Haiti and Iraq. Other articles I found mention there are many countries with desecration laws.

  • Just out of curiosity—how in blazes name do they expect to enforce this stupid thing? A GPS chip with a heat-sensor stitched into the halyard-seam of each and every flag produced? I’m telling you all right now that, if this becomes “the law of the land,” flag-burning is going to rank right up there with underage drinking, bawdy sex parties a la Girls Gone Wild videotapes, and pledge-week revelry.

    Look for Flag Burning—at a fraternity house near you!!!

    On a side note: Could we use this “offensive” mentality to pass an Anti-Republican’t Amendment? Maybe an Anti-Fundie Amendment?

  • Please! Not that one again.

    The military itself burns flags that are no longer fit to use. In fact, according to military procedures, the only proper way of disposing of a flag that is worn out is to burn it. Google it up. Throw it back into the face of the morons in Congress who seem to have nothing better to do.

    It is also about time that we remind these clowns that We, the People, are paying for their salaries, their fat pensions, and the free medical care — for life — that they enjoy.

    These pieces of shit have no trouble depriving the average American from affordable health care, while they will have free health care for themselves and their family for life! Paid by the taxpayer of course!

  • Congress is now debating a resolution to amend the Constitution prohibiting desecration of our flag. The House of Representatives has just approved it and the motion now goes before the Senate, which is expected to approve it by a narrow margin.

    Good.

    I am wholeheartedly in favor of a Constitutional amendment banning desecration of the great Stars ‘n Stripes. Before presenting the motion to the States for ratification, the new amendment should be strongly worded so that the flag receives its proper respect and must, without reservation, include the following provisions:

    1) The right to display The Flag freely shall be limited to the federal government.

    2) Display of The Flag shall be restricted to federal land and federal buildings.

    3) Possession of The Flag by persons other than those within the federal government or in the direct employ of the federal government shall be strictly prohibited.

    4) Sales and distribution of The Flag, its image, or any facsimile thereof shall be solely the responsibility of the federal government. Commercial or non-commercial sales and/or distribution of The Flag, its image, or any facsimile thereof by any private or state institution, company, entity, or individual shall be strictly prohibited.

    5) Display and usage of The Flag, its image, or any facsimile thereof for any occasion and/or use shall be strictly prohibited except as stated in number 1) above.

    6) The Flag shall be referred to only as “The Flag of the United States of America”. Any other reference to The Flag (including well-known designations such as “Old Glory”, “Stars ‘n Stripes”, “Bars and Stars”, et. al) shall be strictly prohibited.

    7) Oral reference to The Flag by persons or institutions outside the federal government shall be limited to normal conversation, hereby defined as non-amplified and non-disseminated conversation between no more than three (3) persons at any one time. Oral reference to The Flag shall not exceed more than two (2) references per hour per gathering as prescribed by number 6) above.

    8) Oral and written references to The Flag in recorded and broadcast media, whether digital, analog, or by other freely disseminated means, shall be strictly prohibited.

    9) The Flag shall not be deified, venerated, exalted, or used to further idolatry. This applies to any individual, group, commercial/non commercial enterprise, organization, gathering, media, or any other entity outside the federal government.

    10) Any display, use, sale, or expression regarding The Flag not expressly authorized by this document shall be strictly prohibited.

    This should just about do it. No more tacky lawn displays, stupid lapel pins, inane pledges, and cheap TV graphics. No more flag-waving media pundits, infuriating bumper stickers, and ugly coffee cups (Made in China). No more wasted time before ball games. In short, no more disrespect to the sacred symbol of our beloved Homeland.

    But until such time that these protections to The Flag are fully in place, I will do with the flag pretty much damn well as I please. Whether its wrapping myself in it or using it to train puppies, it’s my flag as much as yours.

    As it always should be.

  • I’m amazed at the amount of people who fear this resolution getting passed. How do you think your lives will change with this en force? So, people are disallowed from desecrating the flag. Does this really inhibit free speech? Please, someone show me…what the hell does burning the flag do to promote free speech???

    It’s just an idea; if only an attempt to try to bind the country together with at least ONE sacred symboll. If we can’t have at least ONE symbol that is ubiquitous, can we even call ourselves a country? There’s a terror over the word “God” on currency; there’s a terror over holding sacred something symbolic of our patriotism. Why do people feel so compelled to destroy their own national pride? Don’t dismiss it as silly; study your history; even RECENT history (Kosovo); if we can’t figure out a way to represent ourselves as a whole nation-yes, under God…I fear this country has seen its best days.

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