Flag Burning

On June 23, 2005, the United States House of Representatives approved a constitutional amendment that would give Congress the power to ban the desecration (flag burning) of the American flag. Fortunately, on June 27, 2006, that amendment failed to pass in the U.S. Senate by one vote. Incredibly, so many of our representatives in Congress do not understand freedom of speech. One vote saved our country from legalized prohibition of our freedom of speech. 

Now, before I go any further about flag burning, I want to make myself clear: I despise any American who desecrates the American flag (in any way) in protest or anger for any reason. Such an action by Americans angers me! However, we must not let our emotions override logic, common sense, or the United States Constitution. However, flag burners beware! Your right to burn our flag does not stop our patriotic obligation to kick your derriere.   

Our Constitution should not protect us from actions or words that insult or anger us! If that were true, I would invoke that Constitutional protection to silence Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Karine Jean-Pierre, Chris Matthews, Rachael Maddow, Jon Stewart, CNN, NBC, ABC, CBS, and all the other leftist political pundits because of their idiotic discourse often infuriates me. Oh, how can I leave out the morons on "The View." None of them are worthy of airtime.

However, I would fight anyone who denies those above their right to freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is one of America's most cherished rights and key to our nation's growth and success.

The First Amendment protection is not limited to "pure speech," i.e., books, newspapers, or other avenues of "pure speech." Symbolic speech or "nonverbal expression," such as flag burning, is also a form of free speech. The very act of burning the American flag is a clear demonstration of one's right to freedom of speech. To prohibit such action would violate Amendment 1 of our Constitution. 

As much as I hate to admit it, although his motive is suspect, I agree with Democrat Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York when he said, "If the flag needs protection at all, it needs protection from members of Congress who value the symbol more than the freedoms that the flag represents." I could not have said that better! Mr. Nadler, well said!

The Supreme Court has written that freedom is "the matrix, the indispensable condition of nearly every other form of freedom." As defined by the Supreme Court, freedom would undoubtedly extend to citizens the right to burn Old Glory.

I noticed the Stars and Stripes flying above a post office a few years ago. It was faded and torn. Perhaps Congress should pass a law requiring the U.S. Post Office and state and federal agencies to ensure they fly a flag in good repair. To fly Old Glory, torn and faded, is an insult to our heritage and worse than burning our flag in protest.