With Iraq on the verge of civil war, the Veep rattling his chains at Iran, half of New Orleans sitting in rotting debris, our healthcare system collapsing and Antarctica melting, the Republicans who run Congress have just announced plans to bring the “Flag Protection Amendment” to a vote this summer.
It is the second wedge issue campaign they have announced for the election season. Earlier, we learned they will vote on the gay marriage amendment this summer as well.
If things were going well, would they really need two wedge issues?
Here is the email from Dr. Frist, which was forwarded to me by an unnamed source:
Just a quick note to let you know that the Senate will debate the “Flag Protection Amendment” in the end of June. If it passes — and I will do everything in my power to see that it does — this constitutional amendment will give one of our Nation’s proudest and most treasured symbols the protection it deserves.
Polls have shown that roughly 80 percent of the American people want to vote on the right to protect the flag. In addition, all 50 state legislatures have passed resolutions asking Congress to pass an amendment — to be sent back to the states for debate and ratification.
Clearly, the American people have spoken. It’s time for the Senate to listen.
Battles have culminated in the raising of that flag. Countless U.S. soldiers have – using their last breaths – labored on the battlefield to hoist that flag. And desecrating it is an insult to their memory, and their sacrifice.
That flag represents all that we are — all that we stand for. Freedom. Liberty. It represents so much to so many. And I believe we have a moral obligation to rise as a body and declare that it is wrong to burn the flag of the United States of America.
Robert~
Very eloquently put. It would seem that you and I are not from similar view points. It may be only a mater of semantics. I could imagine that you would have enjoyed the debates I had with some of my friends over a nice glass of Merlot this evening.
I still feel that the debate over the purposed amendment is quite trivial in relation to other current world events, but that is just my opinion.
Rick~
I am a former 67Y. That is a Cobra Crew Chief to the civilians. I am fully aware of the proper disposal of the American flag. If you have one that needs to be disposed of your local American Legion can assist you. I am sure there are provisions made in the purposed amendment for the proper disposal of the flag; Even though I doubt the amendment would pass. It is just fluff that some politicians have put out there to rile up the public.
The snow is falling and the wind is howling. ‘Tis late and I yearn for slumber.
Good night =-)
this is hilarious considering how many american flags are made in china, as a veteran i should care about this, why? my service to country was for the ideals and principles of freedom, not some silly piece of cloth. if these guys are really going to be this ignorant then I vote for a constitutional amendment to protect the rights of flag burners everywhere…oh wait, that’s the free speech portion of the constitution…sorry.
Voodoo – Tell me again why it’s the Democrats’ fault that Dr. Frist and the Republicans are bringing up this amendment? A casual observer might think Frist would have other priorities, but all he seems to be doing right now is helping President Bush sell our ports to Ay-rabs and this bogus flag burning amendment.
This is all I have to say. When fascism comes it will be wrapped in the American flag.
“Peacedog, or should I say dad, you know better. ;-)”
Voodoo,
I seriously doubt you’re from any litter of mine;)
What about burning a near-replica of the American flag?
What about flying the American flag atop a hill of dung?
What about letting the flag touch the ground on purpose?
Would it be a felony to draw a cartoon which
desecrates the flag?
When do we start protecting the Bible and the Cross?
This is a very serious issue, a federal law would follow that could be arbitrarily enforced, which would
carry very heavy penalties. It is a subjective thing,
the determination of whether a person has desecrated
a flag. The gentleman talked about disposing a flag,
if you dispose a flag you could be playing with the
rest of your life, because someone might say the
flag didnt need to be disposed or that you disposed
it wrong.
I take issue with saying this is a trivial issue,
that is nothing more than a fraudulently disuised
argument, and you talk about wasting time.
Everyone send this off to the black hole of your representatives, just for fun.
Wasn’t the flag burning law the brain child of criminal Duke Cunningham,in the months before his fall? Who will be the new standard barer for it? Frist? Seems like it”s only trotted out and dusted off when the skita is hitting the air condtioning
KingCranky is right on the money – this bill would codify “Thought Crime”, and therefore is of utmost concern to all Americans who value free speech. Voodoo is similarly correct about one matter: its not just a Republican thing. Everyone concerned with this issue should be aware that Hillary Clinton explicitly supports this proto-fascist legislation.
Concerned progressives cannot allow the Democratic party to limit our political choices in the way they seem intent on doing – putting up candidates who counter Republican/fascist wedge issues by adopting the right-wing platform! Tell the DNC that you have no use for the Repuiblican mimicry of Hillary.
Madison~
I don’t recall saying it was the Democrats fault. If that is what you perceived I said, then I apologize.
My point is that both parties are making and issue out of this as if we don’t already have enough or even more serious issue to deal with. The Republicans bait and the Democrats fall for it. It is a game and I am but a spectator watching in amusement.
Peacedog~
What is funny is how often I see a parent and their child with totally opposite political views. I see a lot of disappointed parents. ;-)
Orion~
It is illegal to deface U.S. Currency. How many people have you seen arrested for doing such a thing? I don’t think you will be doing any time with Bubba for burning a flag.
Expand the Flag Burning amendment to include foreigners desecrating the US flag.
Give the NSA/CIA something to do…monitor foreign news for mob scenes of US flags being burned.
Then build a data base of those individuals, pressure foreign countries to prosecute those individuals, or else no aid, weapons, from the US and of course include US Constitution violators in the no-fly, no entry visa data base.
Apparently to the Wingnuts the flag is at least as sacred as any publication that insults the Islamic faith is to muslims.
“Apparently to the Wingnuts the flag is at least as sacred as any publication that insults the Islamic faith is to muslims.”
sorry for the typos, I mean to say that the flag is held as sacred by the wingnuts as the Quran and any statements concerning the Islamic faith is to muslims.
“What is funny is how often I see a parent and their child with totally opposite political views. I see a lot of disappointed parents. ;-)”
-Voodoo
What is sad is how often children merely parrot their parents’ political views, even to the point of wasting any opportunity to think for themselves and rise above the petty biases and hypocrisies they suckled as children. While you value obediency and conformity, I value dissent and rebellion. Parents aren’t the only ones dissappointed…
Vote Repulican: Save the flag! Burn the Constitution!
Peacedog~
I figured you would have understood what I was saying. Did you not catch what I said about you possibly being my father?
He and I have very different political views.
The other thing that I thought you would have picked up on was the fact I am saying both sides are bad. I refuse to follow either side like a lemming.
I never said I value obedience and conformity. You might not realize this but by saying you value dissent and rebellion you are acting like the rest of your group which would be considered conformity. But that is ok if you like to be different like everyone else.
Hasn’t anybody heard of Title 4, United States Code, Chapter 1? There’s a whole body of law about the flag. It’s called The Flag Code! We don’t need no stinking amendment.
Voodoo,
I acknowledged the confusion for your father bit with my “litter” comment. Forgive me for assuming you valued obedience and conformity. I thought you were being sympathetic to “dissappointed parents.” I should’ve realized you weren’t really commenting here to make any kind of a stand for an issue or a point. My bad.
Regardless of what biases you may have against rebellion and dissent, I have held those qualities near and dear to my heart ever since I was old enough to read about Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and our other forefathers and their acts of defiance.
Which “group” is it you refer to as mine? And if I am so much “like everyone else,” how come the people I vote for rarely even come close to winning?
Peacedog~
Your “group” would be the group that is against the “Man”
It’s the same people that will always root for the underdog no matter what the reason. It doesn’t matter if they are in the right or wrong; just as long as they are the underdog so your group can be the poor minority.
Group Motto: “Look at us. We’re the victim”
As for the reason why your candidates “rarely even come close to winning”, well, I guess it is either poor choices or you just refuse to do anything that the rest of us want.
I can imagine that your school records show that you never participated in group activities unless you were holding a sign protesting something. At least your school probably had good cafeteria food for fear of another rally.
Vooodoo,
Like I said, you value obedience and conformity. Your ridiculous assumptions about my academic career are just more evidence of your desire to troll while not making a stand for any principle or ideal.
The bottom line is that an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to ban the burning of the American flag isn’t just “bad cafeteria food,” it is bad constitutional law. Most of the other posts here from other people document this fact quite well.
It’s both ironic and sad that you don’t like to hear anyone complain unless it’s you complaining about the complaining. It also makes you look ridiculous.