I remember reading some mathematical theory I studied long ago that, eventually, parallel lines intersect in the space and time continuuum.
So it now goes with me and both the People for The American Way (gagggh!) and the American Civil Liberties Union.
The issue is a bill that amends the Constitution that allows Congress to pass legislation prohibiting the "desecration of the American flag."
This bill is in play because Congress feels they must go around the Supreme Court's interpretation of the burning of the American Flag as a protected form of free speech. As it stands now, the bill is 3 votes short of gaining it's requisite two-thirds majority to pass the U.S. Senate; it has already passed the House overwhelmingly. If it passes the Senate, it must then be ratified by 38 states in order to remain an amendment.
I think this amendment is the most useless application of the powers of Congress I've witnessed in my 10 years of cognizant observation of them. The concept of passing a constitutional amendment that dictates how people should feel about a SYMBOL of a country smacks incredibly like totalitarianism. I imagine Adolf Hitler had such laws in place as well during his reign with regards to the Swastika.
It is a very, very poor exercise of Congress to clutter-up the Constitution with this type of amendment. I can only assume that once Congress achieves the 2/3 majority required in the Senate for this that the very next amendment proposed will entail requirement that every public school in America start each day with some type of prayer every morning. The allocation of such prayer will be based on the percentage of the American population that reflects that type of religion (e.g., if Christianity is practiced by 85% of the population, then 85% of the school year's prayers shall be of a Christian nature).
Once the "ridiculous" threshold is compromised in passing an amendment that prevents an act that merely offends people, what next for the politically-correct Right? Does Senator Rick Santorum have something like this on his back burner:
"Whereas the only need for sexual intercourse between humans is for the reproduction of the species; and
"Whereas the only copulation that can occur to produce human offspring is that between a male and a female; and
"Whereas all other forms of sexual gratification, including the use of other orifices of either the male or female cannot lead to the production of any human offspring...Therefore,
"The U.S. Constitution shall be amended as follows:
"Congress shall be allowed to pass legislation that prohibits any sexual act that cannot result in the production of human offpsring, even if they are with consenting adults. Congress shall have the power to monitor the population of these United States in any way it so desires to ensure proper enforcement of these laws."
Really, folks, all kidding aside, frankly, I WANT to know who the kooks are that will burn our American Flag. Yes, it's disgusting and makes our blood boil...and, it makes the rest of us go out and buy and erect 100+ flags to replace the one some kook burned. Burning a flag elicits an emotional response, which is exactly what the concept of free speech allows us all to experience.
I don't recall Timothy McVeigh burning an American Flag. Sure wish he had done so as a way to express his hatred for the American government. Eric Rudolph didn't express his views by burning an American Flag...again, it would have been better if he had.
And, by the way, for those of you who are pushing for this amendment, do you really want to rely on Congress to make the correct judgement on these laws? If I burn a history book that has a full-color photograph of the American Flag in it, am I guilty of desecration? If I throw away a nylon flag that is stained and ugly without first following federal law on the proper disposal of my own property that I purchased and now wish to replace with a newer and shinier one, should I be prosecuted and sentenced like someone who just murdered my neighbor?
To raise a symbol to the status of being a person, or even an idol (Hello? Anyone remember something called the Ten Commandments?), in this country is so unbelievably wrong-headed, I just cannot fathom anyone seriously considering it. Yet, every Republican in the House and Senate has signed onto this legislation, either as a co-sponsor or as a vote. Are you people out of your minds???
The American Flag is only a symbol of this Republic; it is not the Republic itself. Don't dumb-down the U.S. Constitution with an amendment that only invites even worse amendments down the road. Just think of what might happen if the Left regains control of Congress and/or the Presidency. Gee, wonder what amendments they'd like to pass?
NOTE: For more interesting discussion on this topic, I invite you to read the discussion thread on the Free Republic Website.
| Bill Simon - Thinking Outside The Box Bill Simon is the creator, editor, and publisher of The Political Vine. He has been a Republican since 1990 and been active in Republican politics since 1996. Professionally, Bill runs a political research services firm called Political Intelligence, Inc. and has another venture called ID Builders that helps political and business clients promote and market themselves using effective and innovative promotional products. He is single and lives with his adopted 90 lb. Yellow Lab named Brewster. |