The "I Hate America" movement

I read a disturbing article today. Since the Strib doesn't have free archives (after a few weeks), and it was short, I pasted it below.

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House moves to ban desecration of flag

Associated Press June 23, 2005

WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday approved a constitutional amendment
that would give Congress the power to ban desecration of the American flag, a measure that for the first time stands a chance of passing the Senate as well.

By a 286-130 vote, House members approved the amendment — as they have six times before — after a debate over whether such a ban would uphold or run afoul of the Constitution's free-speech protections. The measure now advances to the Senate, where activists on both sides say it stands the best chance of passage in its 16-year history.

If the amendment wins two-thirds majorities in each chamber, it moves to the states for ratification.

With the exception of Rep. Collin Peterson, the four Democrats in the House delegation voted against the amendment; the four Republicans voted for it.

Supporters said the measure reflected patriotism that deepened after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and they accused detractors of being out of touch with public sentiment.

"Ask the men and women who stood on top of the (World) Trade Center,'' said Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham, R-Calif. "Ask them and they will tell you: pass this amendment.''

But Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., 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.''

The measure was designed to overturn a 1989 decision by the Supreme Court, which ruled 5-4 that flag burning was a protected free-speech right. That ruling threw out a 1968 federal statute and flag-protection laws in 48 states. The law was a response to anti-Vietnam war protesters setting fire to the American flag at their demonstrations.

The proposed one-line amendment to the Constitution reads, "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of theUnited States.'' For the language to be added to the Constitution, it must be approved not only by two-thirds of each chamber but also by 38 states within seven years.

Each time the proposed amendment has come to the House floor, it has reached the required two-thirds majority. But the measure has always died in the Senate, falling short of the 67 votes needed. The last time the Senate took up the amendment was in 2000, when it failed 63-37.

But last year's elections gave Republicans a four-seat pickup in the Senate, and now proponents and critics alike say the amendment stands within a vote or two of reaching the two-thirds requirement in that chamber.

By most counts, 65 current senators have voted for or said they intend to support the amendment, two shy of the crucial tally. More than a quarter of current senators were not members of that chamber during the last vote.

The Senate is expected to consider the measure after the July 4th holiday.

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My first response to such a "threat" is to say "Well, time to GET POLITICAL".

I'll be the first one out there to offer my symbolic burning of the American Flag, well a small one, since I'm cheap.

It is interesting to consider that "protecting the flag" by default stands as "patriotic", while "burning the flag" stands for traiters and Haters of America.

Is there any way to show my love for America by burning the flag?

Overall, I'm not much into symbols anyway, and the primary reason I'd burn the flag would as an act of civil disobedience AGAINST the movement that seeks to protect the flag.

There are so many gray issues out there, it's just FUN to have a single issue that is so clear cut. I have no DOUBT which side "God" is on here. NOT A SINGLE ONE OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS talks about flag burning. Flag burning is no sin in God's eyes. I'm sure!

AND the commandment about not making idols might just offer evidence FOR flag-burning, just to "prove" we're not worshiping them.

I can TRY to imagine being on the "other side" perhaps, for a moment.

Let's pretend an "America hater" came up to me with a gun, a flag, and a ligher. Then he hands me the lighter and commands me to light the flag on fire, OR he'll shoot me in the head. (Oh, he had a friend also with a video camera which will tape my "act of desecration")

Of course I KNOW he wants me to burn the flag because the flag represents evil to him, and he thinks if he can broadcast an American-lover like myself burning my own symbol for freedom, he'll be one step closer to throwing America into the dust.

Well, I'd see if I could delay for a while, at least to challenge his authority, just a bit. You know, I'd stare at the lighter, flick it a few times, let it go out. Give him a little drama to see if I'll actually do it. But he starts getting violent, you know, shooting the ceiling or kicking me or something, I'll just as well shrug and do as he says.

I just can't get much moral outrage at destroying a flag. In comparison to say directly harming someone. Perhaps if I knew my own MOTHER had sewn the flag, I might have a little more guilt in the act.

AH, but what about the symbolic american flag, raised in the rubble of the world trade center collapse. Don't I feel patriotic at that sight?

Well, I won't burn THAT flag. And I promise not to burn any historical flags. I won't even burn the american flag left on the moon from Apollo.

STRANGELY, I'd be much more unconfortable burning books. How about a constitutional ammendment that prohits political statements that burn books?

Nah, I like books, and in a different time and place, I'd protect books, like a library, with my own life, but really, we've got plenty of books, so let'um burn if there's a reason - whether keeping warm, or protesting their "lies" or whatever.

What about the soldiers that dies to keep America free? Doesn't the flag symbolize their sacrifice?

I admit in life and death circumstances perhaps a flag will mean more to me. I admit that life sometimes demands personal sacrifice, and having a symbolic focus for that sacrifice is meaningful. Still, a accept every symbol, like dreams, can have multiple interpretations and I deny the singular idea that burning a flag harms anyone else for the act.

I wish there was more of an argument for banning flag burning, but I can't find it.

I am lastly curious, if the constitutional ammendment got its 2/3 support, if my act of burning it in protest would inspire states to support it. Obviously backlash must be avoided.

Oh, I'm just peaved because it's such a NONISSUE. It's fun because it's easy, but come on, don't have more important things to debate?!