We are very lucky in America. There are those who constantly seek, and in some cases succeed at limiting our freedoms, but for now atleast, we are still FREE.
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and cronies want to make a change in the constitution. I suppose their intentions are honorable but in my opinion they have closed their eyes to truth and are proceeding wrecklessly in a very dangerous direction.
The change they wish to make seems simple and harmless at first glance. "Let's make it constitutionally unlawful to desecrate the flag." Now there are many good, red blooded Americans who stood up and cheered when they heard about this but whenever I hear of anyone making changes in the constitiution It gets my hackles standing straight up. First of all, I have seen a lot of crazy things in this world but not since the 60's have I seen a whole lot of flag burning going on.
Could this be just a political ploy? "Hmmm, I can't seem to fix any of this country's real problems and if I'm going to get re-elected, I better think of something real quick. I know, I'll make a change in the constitution to protect the flag.. We saw how mad all those veterans got when Ted Turner showed us all those Arabs burnin' flags on the T.V. last year. Heck I'll just get all those vets on my side and the rest will just have to vote for me when they see that I even have the power to change the constitution.. Not only that I'll be in the history books just like that Jake Garn. He thinks he's so cool flying in the space shuttle,, Well let's just see how cool I can be..."
Now before you start sending me all that hate mail, let me clarify a few points for you. First of all, I am a veteran. My Dad and both of his brothers were veterans. Both my Grandfathers were veterans as well as most of their brothers. In fact, though I have not done the research, I believe that there are American veterans in every generation of my family since we left the loving protection of the King of England.. This is a fact that I am proud of and I will be just as proud if one or both of my sons one day choose to carry on this tradition. That is if America is still worth fighting for when that time comes...
As one of only 4 living members of all those veterans, I can tell you without hesitation that what we volunteered to fight for and some of us died for was most assuredly not that piece of cloth. As pretty as it may be, I wouldn't have much respect for a man who was willing to orphan his kids for a piece of cloth. Not even a pretty silk one....
What we were willing to fight and die for was the freedom that this flag represents. Let me phrase that another way. The flag is not sacred. It is an embroidered and dyed picture which we use to remind us of things that are sacred.
I have never desecrated the flag, nor have I any intention of doing so in the future; that is unless it becomes illegal to do so. On that day the police can just come pick me up because I guarantee you that I will be burning every flag in my house. Including the one used to cover my Grandpas' coffin, and if he had the ability to do so he would be the one to light the match. On that day, the flag will cease to represent the freedom he fought for and he will have fought for nothing...
It is very important that those kinds of freedoms not be removed or infringed in any way. Each of us must gaurd dearly our hard earned right to speak out against the government, the president, and yes to burn the flag!
Those freedoms are the very thing that makes the flag so special. Without them the flag is just a blood stained rag and the blood shed to protect the things it represents was lost in vain.
I welcome rebuttal and may post a few of same on this page if written cleanly and intelligently. Senator Hatch will recieve preference...
Update... December 13, 1995
Thank GOD he failed. Hopefully he will come to his senses before he tries that again.... Now we just have to deal with Senator Bob Bennett who wants to make it just a Federal Law protecting the flag.... See above and let your representatives know what you think.... Thank You,,,, Keith.....
Here is one of the replies I have recieved to this page. Below it you will find the answer I sent back..
Hi Keith
Thanks for the msg. I've taken a look at your Web page and I certainly respect the thoughts you have presented there. Can't say it has changed my feelings about the flag amendment, though. I believe that the Constitution is a living document...subject to change...and we have seen once again how difficult the *legislative* process is when attempting to alter it.
I highlight the word legislative because there is another method through which the Constitution can be...and often is...changed: through federal court decisions.
I think most of my support *for* a flag amendment is really a reaction to the Supreme Court's decision that flag desecration constitutes free speech. I don't hold such a view. We like to think there are unbounded speech rights in this country...but the truth is that there *are* forms of speech which are *not* constitutionally protected: examples include speech intended to incite riots, speech which could harm others (shouting "fire" in a crowded theater) or most forms of commercial advertisements.
The idea that the Constitution is sacrosanct and should not be changed holds little weight with me. That seems to be an argument used by whomever it is opposing change. Who would like to step forward and suggest the Bill of Rights (the first set of amendments) should not have taken form? How about the abolition of slavery? Women's suffrage? (I suppose I'd have to take exception to the imposition of a ban on alcohol...but thankfully...it was followed by the 21st amendment!)
In my own mind...the flag desecration issue ties in closely with the idea that inciting riots is not constitutionally protected. Look at the incidents where this issue has arisen: people engaging in activities intended to shock others in public places. If someone wants to suggest that we legalize flag desecration done in the privacy of their own home, you'd get less argument from me. My concerns lie more in the public spectacles which tend to underlie these activities.
Would anyone suggest it's alright to crucify a bald eagle (I know I know... now I'm getting into animal rights/endangered species issues)? How about an inherent right to destroy public property...perhaps by taking a sledge hammer to the columns of the Capitol Building or your local Federal Government Building? I don't think so.
Thankfully...you and I have the benefit of a country which usually encourages open discussion on matters of such intense disagreement.
-map-
Dear -map-
I appreciate your comments.. I think on the flag issue we will just have to agree to disagree.. The flag is not a living creature, endangered or otherwise... It is also not public property, every flag I own, I paid for, except the one that covered my grandfather's casket...
The Bill of Rights are correct additions to the Constitution because they serve to further liberate people who needed liberating.. They did not actually change the Constitution but further clarified it's meaning which in many cases should not have needed clarifying.. For instance, the constitution states very clearly that all men are created equal.. That statement should have abolished slavery without the Bill of Rights.. The fact that it did not is the fault of the people who supported slavery, it was not because of an error in judgement or lack of forsight on the part of the authors of the Constitution.
This in my point of view really has nothing to do with the flag issue... The flag is not a person.. The flag is an inanimate object... I truly respect the flag because of what it stands for, FREEDOM..!! The flag does not bleed but many men and women have bled for what it stands for...If you take away any part of what those men and women bled for, then you are causing them to lose a battle which they died thinking they had won...
In my opinion the freedom, or not, to desecrate the flag is very much a free speech issue.. If I have a problem with the government I cannot fly out to Washington and discuss it with the president... Neither can I call a press conference to air my views and try to gain sympathy and/or support for my side of the story.. As a matter of fact I may not have the ability to hear, talk or write... I have never tried it but I can imagine that there are very few ways in which a lower middle class truck driver like me could get attention from anywhere. However it is important that everyone have the ability to express their views and opinions. If you see a homeless person on the street you will not likely look at him twice unless you are making sure that he is not walking towards you. If that homeless person is burning a flag to gain attention and or to protest something he feels is wrong with this country, then he is going to get the chance to express his opinion... I don't feel that he should have to go before a judge and jury to express it.. I joined the Army so that he wouldn't have to...
I do not necessarily feel that the Constitution should be sacrosanct.. I do however feel that it's power should not be used unwisely.. It is a sacred document.. Not because of the paper or ink it was written with but because of what it says... It should be left to deal with sacred issues, human issues.. The right to keep and bear arms grants me freedom.. Freedom to protect my family from would be aggressors. Freedom to protect myself from unrighteous governments, etc... My right to swing my fist ends at the point of my neighbors nose... This is as it should be... My neighbors nose is not connected to the flag and if I want to burn that flag then the flag stands for my right to do so...
Thankyou for looking at my page and I respect your opinion.. I appreciate your obvious willingness to respect mine...
X-Sender: jasper@reliable-net.net
Date: Wed, 14 Jan 1998 00:35:15 -0500
To: keard@qcontinuum.com
From: The Pipers
Subject: Senator Hatch, Flag Killer
Flag amendment and my dad
My name is Jace Piper. I am the son of Sgt. Major John R. Piper. Most of you truckers would have known him as "Sarge," a driver for Consolidated Freightways, running from Indianapolis to Springfield, MO. Dad died of cancer in July '96, but he served in both Japan and Germany during W.W.II. My wife , Dara worked as an Internet Operations Specialist for the American Legion National Headquarters until she quit in February '97, after 7+ years. I hate to see poor ol' Sen. Hatch taking all the heat for such a misguided attempt at "saving" America. The American Legion had a 5 million dollar budget for the Citizen's Flag Alliance in 1996.The C. F. A. is the lobbying group dedicated to the passage of the flag amendment. I feel that it is a disgrace, as my dad did, that 5 million dollars could be thrown into such an effort, while many thousands of veterans are in dire need of services that the American Legion could and should provide. Over 1/3 of the homeless men in America are vets. Imagine the level of outreach that could be provided for 5 million dollars! As is the case with all symbolism, this ridiculous effort has only one goal; to make it look like the Legion is doing more than it is. The American flag is supposed to stand for America. America is, ideally, the citizenry. Thus the flag stands for the people. While the powers that be stand up for a bit of fabric, the common folk, both vet and non-vet, are tread upon with impunity, especially by those in government. I say let's Take America Back. If every individual in this great country is cared for with compassion and respect, this country will be respected once again, not because we have smart bombs and satellites that can read license plates, but because we simply are respectable. If the politicians don't want to do what's right, vote them out. It's been said that a nation deserves the government it gets. Let's participate, and work to deserve better than that which we now have. P.S. If you Knew Dad, or would like to respond or participate in Take America Back, my e-mail address is jasper@reliable-net.net