Desecrating the spirit of liberty

[BlackVelvet04]

< snip >

The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that freedom of expression remains under the protection of the First Amendment. Consequently, the enforcers of patriotic fervor would, for the first time in American history, impose on the Constitution the restriction of a sacred right under the nation's democratic traditions and ideals.

In effect, those champions of constitutionally enforced censorship propose an un-American course. They value the symbol more than "the republic for which it stands."

They seem to forget that the oath that public officials take, and the one taken by the men and women who enlist in the armed forces, obliges them to defend not the flag but the Constitution and laws of the United States.

< snip >

When the Senate convenes Monday to consider the proposed amendment to "protect" the flag, the distinguished senators should weigh the consequences of joining the only countries in the world that, as a matter of law, punish desecration of their flags: China, North Korea and Cuba.

For the full article: http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/denton/wb/wb/xp-71020

This is a great op ed piece.

[Philosoraptor]

1. China, North Korea and Cuba. Burn one there & see what happens.

Aren't they the axis of evil doers? Or am I thinking of Batman?

[tanyev]

2. Totalitarianism is on the march!

[tocqueville]

3. I'm sorry, but you are completely wrong about countries...

what I know of it's forbidden a least in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and in Sweden a man has been recently arrested for burning the national flag (there isn't any law against that in Sweden, but he was arrested for disturbing the peace and anyway created outrage). In Germany it's forbidden to burn other nations flags. In France it's forbidden to boo the national anthem... etc... I think I could find plenty of similar laws in other democratic countries.

So there are plenty of democracies that doesn't allow the desecration of national symbols - but still have 1st amendment-like statements in their constitutions. The idea behind that is that flag burning isn't a really mean of expression in a democratic country but more a provocation, which causes outrage of the majority. In that case the majority has the right to decide that that the burning is not "expression" but offense.

This shows that freedom of expression isn't AUTOMATICALLY related to the desecration of national symbols. Freedom of expression isn't absolute and as all other freedoms collides with other needs, for example secrecy in matter of defense, all the "protections" around sex (which in the US are extreme compared to other western countries) and of course with everything around hate speech, libel, slander etc...

Which means that the US, if passing an amendment about flag desecretion, will be in company with most western democracies and not only China.

[checkmate1947]

4. Burning the Flag!!!

is not an act that should be taken lightly, or done to make a statement, or in protest, ask yourself this question? "am I so un-educated that I have to burn something to express my feelings?,, an by the way I am Democrat and a liberal.

[Avalux]

5. You're right, it isn't.

That's why if the amendment passes, I just may find myself in front of city hall, burning the flag. And by the way, I won't do it to express my feelings, I will do it to honor the Constitution, which is all but an artifact in these times.

I MOURN FOR MY COUNTRY.