Unless there is a rich lobby behind this, it will go nowhere. Our legislators are nothing if not consistent. If it doesn't pack their arses with cash, they won't do it.
Posted by phidipides at June 29, 2005 06:37 PMThanks Marie...I'm trying to remember which republicon was trying to deflect our attention with this non-event several years ago....let's see now..we can't light up a joint or the flag.....but Iraqis at checkpoints...that's a go!
Posted by Goyo at June 29, 2005 06:49 PMWasn't it Bush senior that tried this same stunt?
Posted by Judith at June 29, 2005 07:26 PMJudith -- yes, Poppy pushed for it - squandered political capital on it and it only added to the perception that he was a clueless wimp with nothing better to do than a flag burning amendment.
Posted by Marie at June 29, 2005 07:32 PMHaving been born in the United States, Served honorably for 20+ years in it's military, I am here to say, that during the 5 years I spent in Nam, I never once thought of the flag... I don't fly one from my antenna, nor my home... I have none in my house, and now that I am a French National, I have more feeling for the flag of the country that honored me with citizenship than I ever did as an american... Color me jaded, angry or whatever. I now have more freedom and liberty than I ever did in being an american.. I am respected for having served in the US military by the French and reviled for having served in the very same military by those who never served.
Thank you France for honoring me! As far as America, keep on eatin' those "freedom Fries and freedom toast, cause you sure as hell are no longer free....
Just this old chief's 2 cents
Posted by Ken Jackson at June 29, 2005 08:23 PMWhat is IWR? (as in "They flubben the IWR...")
Posted by Clueless at June 29, 2005 11:31 PMOops. I meant "flubbed".
Posted by Clueless and tired at June 29, 2005 11:33 PMWhat a great post, Marie. I've been mourning for weeks on how our elected officials have such little regard for the Constitution and you've put my feelings into words. When did it become unAmerican to think that our constitution is worth protecting?
Posted by Mary at June 29, 2005 11:51 PMMarie, the apples really doesn't fall that far from the tree. LOL
Posted by Judith at June 30, 2005 01:15 AMWhat is IWR?
Iraq War Resolution.
Posted by at June 30, 2005 05:55 AMcause you sure as hell are no longer free....
I thought it was just me who noticed we were no longer free. At that point I thought I was paranoid. Now that you mention it also, I'm starting to think a consensus is forming.
Less tongue in cheek: Thanks for your service, and I perfectly understand getting another citizenship. The neo-cons blather on about what we have, and have yet to realize they're discussing what we lost. Hey, but we have more people incarcerated per capita than any other nation on earth. That's something to cheer about.
Posted by phidipides at June 30, 2005 08:07 AMIf you have to force people to respect the flag, then the respect has already been lost. Respect is something that is earned. Showing respect is something you do of your own free will because you want to do it. It is not something that can be forced upon you by a constitutional amendment, nor should it be.
Posted by Steve at June 30, 2005 08:58 AMI am a student and always have a literature review or similar project due. I rarely allow myself to sacrifice valuable research and writing time to explore the blogs. But today is different. To my surprise, our right to protest by flag burning is threatened. I decided it was time to research flag burning.
I thought perhaps I'd missed the fact that flag burning was a problem. If I get no other news, I at least read the opinion/editorial pages everyday to keep up. It seems like it's just been a few days since I heard flag burning was an issue again. What happened? Was the proposal kept secret up until it was presented for a vote? How did it get this far? Out of about 30 websites, I've only found a couple in support of making burning of the flag illegal. These merely state the typical rationale, "If you don't support us, you are against us, and the country."
I assume this is another right wing attempt to create more if/then statements: If you are against this amendment then you are against the flag. If you are against the flag then you are against this country.
Others are: If you are a democrat then you are against god, family values...therefore, you must be against this country.
If you support same sex marriage then you defy god, are against family values...therefore, you must be against this country.
If you don't support George Bush then you must be against this country.
I'm a bleeding heart liberal and I love my country, mostly because I'm proud of my right to burn a flag (as long as I don't break other laws in the process). I appreciate this right even though I would never burn a flag. I can't even own a flag because I'm afraid I'll leave it out after sunset or not fold it correctly. Oh yea, I snobbishly proclaim that I don't need a flag on my car to prove my patriotism. But the true reason that I never buy flags is that I'm afraid of disrespecting them. I know this fear must have been ingrained very early along with the knowledge of my right to freedom of speech. The respect that I have for our flag is based upon my freedom to burn one.
Posted by at July 2, 2005 02:01 AMI'm not liberial or conservitive, I'm American! Desecration of the flag does not only apply to burning, if you look at the flag code wearing the flag as an artice of clothing,against the flag code,reproduction of the flag on paper products and discarded, agaisnt the flag code George Bush signing his autograph on hand held flags of his supporters at a convention, against the flag code... etc. This goes on every day!Congress has said this promotes patriotism and unity. Desecration is ok if it supports patriotism.The supreme cort has said"Our form of Government and constitution invite disagreement" This amendment if passed and ratified will desecrate the contitution which in turn will desecrate the flag but rememeber desecration is fine as long as it promotes patriotism. In effect forced patriotism! You need to write those sound bite patriots in congress and tell them its the constitution that gives the flag meaning, not the other way around!The miliary takes an oath to protect the constitution against all enimies foreign and domestic, domestic being the key word of late!
Posted by JIM at August 11, 2005 02:34 PM