Proud to be an American

[tevarin]

The US Senate rejected a proposed amendment to the constitution which would authorize congress to ban flag burning. It's disturbing that the vote was so close, but a good feeling to know that the American flag still stands for liberty and freedom of speech for individuals, rather than mere idolatrous veneration of a piece of cloth.

Comments

Flag burning

[tboneblue]

The thought of burning a flag deeply bothers me. It's probably just because both of my parents were in the military. Kind of like I think everyone should stand up and shut up when the Star-Spangled Banner plays.
But I can see the points on both sides of the argument, and I don't think it should be a consitutional amendment. Freedom of speech trumps not burning the flag. At the same time, I don't think that burning a flag is the best form of protest. Fire is dangerous. I would probably slap the protesters with some sort of misdemeanor pyromania charge.
And what message exactly are you trying to convey by burning the flag? If it weren't endangered, would you maim or kill an eagle in protest? I guess it's a big attention-getter, which is the point of protest.
To me, there are just things that you shouldn't do, and you should know what those are. Much like throwing red paint on people leaving furriers in protest of the fur industry. To me, that's just rude. And as a symbol of our country, not what's wrong with it today but also of

[vrimj]

I idolized William Kunsler in high school so I am not neutral on this one either.

I would not burn a flag*, but that does not mean I should be allowed to use the foce of law to stop other from doing so. Manners are enforced by social conventions such as ostracism, they should not ever be given force of law.

* exception to dispose of a tattered flag, as per protocal, also int he care case of the cremation of remains in a flag draped coffin.