Flag Burning Amendment
Senator Feinstein,
I was appalled to discover that you are one of just five Democrats that supports the passing of the flag burning amendment.
This amendment would be an obvious misuse of the Constitution. In addition, it’s completely unnecessary since the incidents of flag burning are so few. And of course, this is a clear free-speech right. That’s why the supporters of this bill are having to go to these lengths, because the Supreme Court held that people have the right to do this. This amendment would be taking away rights, not granting them.
You don’t have to want to burn the flag yourself to understand that it is absurd to pass a Constitutional amendment allowing states to force their citizens not to.
Please reconsider your stance on this issue.
-Nick
Sparky Said,
June 20, 2005 @ 16:47
I agree with you.
But your RSS is broken!
Nick Said,
June 27, 2005 @ 17:26
Oi! I will spend some time this week and try to figure that out. Thanks for the (repeated) heads up.
andy Said,
July 21, 2005 @ 22:26
I have personally never understood flag burning (outside of the ceremonial sense). Then again, I have rarely ever valued a flag as anything other than a ceremonial piece of cloth. Hmmm... that’s probably inappropriate of me to say.
One thing to say (and I apologize if I get mildly preachy) is that for some people, the flag is extremely important and to willfully destroy it like that means more than just free speech. It means more than just “this is my opinion on something.” Some people go as far as to say that it constitutes treason. The immediate image is that by destroying a symbol of the nation, you intend for wholesale destruction to follow. I know, a little extreme. But, given that I live and work with these people, I can tell you that it is a very serious idea to some of them.
Now, you also say that the Supreme Court gave the thumbs up for flag burning. I’ll agree, they did. But if there is anything we have seen in the past four years is that that which was makes no difference now. Terrorism and patriotism have overtaken common sense to the extreme. Things can get pushed along the ol’ Congressional row without even a thought just because we suffered an attack on our soil. Even things that do not even seem related to airplanes crashing into buildings.
I suppose it boils down to the question of how much freedom will you sacrifice to feel safe. And how much bullshit will the other guy try to tack on while you’re not looking?