Congress just rolled out the most recent version of its failed software, Flag Preservation 17.0 to mixed reviews. I disagree with the effort, though I agree with the core motivation.
First and foremost, I disagree with using the Constitution to micromanage the country. We've got 25 net amendments already out of 27, with the 20th century experiment on alcohol prohibition via constitutional fiat serving as an object lesson against legislating morality.
Secondly - and this seems to be beyond the grasp of many - it'll do more harm than good. Why? I'll tell you why.
The buttflakes who burn the flag as free speech are not just trying to make a statement, they're provoking for a predictable response to fuel their argument and call attention to themselves. The Flag is a convenient prop for their theatrics. If the Flag becomes off-limits, two things are quite certain: 1) they'll burn it anyway; and 2) they'll find something else to burn instead - like maybe the Bible, the Presidential Seal, or the Constitution itself.
Besides, what's the penalty going to be, thirty days in the hole? Electro-shock therapy? A number of those who protest that way have going to jail as part of the overall mix, so if disturbing the peace, trespassing or inciting a riot are on their "A" list, why would they shy away from Flag-burning?
If anything, placing the Flag off-limits to protesters will only enhance the shock value when they do desecrate it. Even if it's a felony with all the resulting loss of rights and privileges, it's playing into their hands.
What I find rather amusing, in a tired, cynical sort of way, is the howling on the Left about restricting freedom of speech and over-wrought patriotic Flag-love on the Right. These are the same idiotic nutbags who tell us that picking up Al Kayda's K0ran with your ungloved left hand is the Mother of all Insults - which is, in fact, an act forbidden to members of our Armed Forces.
To paraphrase my friend Murphy, burning the Flag doesn't prove you're unAmerican, but it does prove you're a jerk. A better solution to jerkism might be to find a way to diminish the force of a protester's argument when they resort to it.
Using the "N-Word" is free speech, but there are consequences. Not only is the utterer at personal risk of physical violence (punishable by law), they are also at risk of social sanction directly proportionate to their social position. To those who say the Flag is just a piece of cloth, I ask if the "N-Word" is just phonics?
No legal prohibitions on burning or otherwise desecrating Holy Books (so long as they are the desecrator's property). Tell you what, go out and burn the Bible in your protest and you'll probably get a knot on your head from somebody who lands in jail on assault and battery. Go burn a K0ran (or drop it to the ground from your left hand) and you'll stand a good chance on your way to the Pearly Gates of seeing Al Kayda pullin' his clothes off in anticipation of getting jiggy with 72 of paradise's finest.
If we're gonna spend time amending the Constitution, let's spend it wisely by giving the President the line-item veto and putting limits on the terms of Federal Judges (12-15 years ought to be plenty), or maybe even modifying the current doctrine of eminent domain to return the full rights to private property owners that the Supreme Court just gave to the State in Kelo v. City of New London.
"...howling on the Left about restricting freedom of speech."
It's not just the left. I'm howling too.
Flag burning offends me and makes me extremely angry, but I'd still fight and die to protect their right to do it. Freedom of speech is great; freedom of speech that doesn't anger or offend anyone- that's not really freedom at all.
I'm not really a fan of slippery slope arguments, but one may be appropriate here. I'd caution the people who support this ammendment to be reeeeeeeeal dang careful what they wish for.
Posted by: dave | Saturday, June 25, 2005 at 01:49 PM
Buttflakes is most likely the funniest thing I've read lately.
Posted by: Corey | Saturday, June 25, 2005 at 08:33 PM
The most difficult things to protect, and likewise make the easiest targets are symbols and traditions.
If you wish to hold onto valued traditions, you are considered closedminded in the face of progressive thinkers.
If you wish to protect symbols, you are considered to be just plain stupid.
I believe that traditions and symbols make the country great, especially when one considers how young our experimental country is.
Our greatest "tradition" is that we honor the constitution. I believe that you have the right to desecrate our most valuable symbols and traditions as a matter of free speech. I also believe that I have the right to make a character assessment on those who do such things. Perhaps it is because I'm a military veteran that I hold on to these traditions so tightly. I think it is also because I was willing to go fight for them that I am willing to let others do what they will with them.
After all, the oath I swore at my enlistment bound me to "support and defend the constitution". When the bullets start flying, perhaps I'll save a flag-burner's butt. More likely that I won't. The constitution, I'll defend to the end of my days.
Posted by: Murphy | Monday, June 27, 2005 at 09:41 AM
I Googled "buttflakes" because I don't feel like working.
Posted by: rockynoggin | Monday, June 27, 2005 at 10:25 AM
Term limits for every office. I think our forefathers would be aghast to see what we've done with their perfect plan. Sad.
Flag burning pisses me off. I think their punishment should be to live the rest of their lives in a third world country.
Posted by: GrumpyBunny | Tuesday, June 28, 2005 at 09:58 AM
What, no memorial to Piglet?
Posted by: CC | Tuesday, June 28, 2005 at 02:47 PM
"I think our forefathers would be aghast to see what we've done with their perfect plan"
Which part of their plan was more perfect: slavery, or only allowing rich, white, land-owning men to vote?
Flag burning pisses me off.
Pisses me off too. Lots of things piss me off. I don't want to amend the Constitution to prohibit them.
Posted by: dave | Wednesday, June 29, 2005 at 09:22 AM
A lot can be said in favor of only land-owners voting. But first, let us ammend the Constitution to keep people like dave from expressing bone-headed opinions.
Posted by: CC | Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 02:21 PM
A lot can be said in favor of only land-owners voting.
And you want to limit MY boneheaded opinions???
Posted by: dave | Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 04:03 PM
I could be in favor of landowner voting restrictions on property tax elections. What right does some schmuck who pays no property tax have in voting a tax on me?
Also, if your house falls below the homestead exemption the same principle applies. This is how you run a tax base out of town.
Who wouldn't vote for a new tax that bears no personal burdon? Let the other guy pay, right?
Posted by: Murphy | Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 04:26 PM
Yes, in those limited instances you probably have a point.
Posted by: dave | Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 05:48 PM
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