Burning is the proper way to dispose of a flag. The proposed amendment, I believe, concerns desecrating a flag -- burning is used in some protests that could be considered desecration.
I actually support the idea of an amendment that criminalizes desecrating a flag. Sure, go ahead. Make the penalties as stiff as you like! One caveat: I only support this on the grounds that *I* get to define "desecration".
Waving a flag, dressing in it, even burning it to express sincerely-held beliefs in the Constitution and this nation's higher purpose would, of course, not be desecrating a flag at all -- more like supporting what it stands for.
Dressing in flag bikini for the cover of a fashion mag -- desecration.
Wearing flag underwear to moon John Sunnunu at a cabinet meeting -- aggravated desecration. (That actually occurred during Bush Senior's administration. No word on whether Dubya will haul his father in under the proposed new amendment.)
Using the flag to sell used cars -- second-degree desecration. Maybe also fraud.
Wrapping oneself piously in the flag to distract the public from real issues one is afraid to tackle -- first degree desecration.
Wrapping oneself piously in the flag to attack political opponents or to hide one's own crimes: CAPITAL desecration.
Bring it on, politicians! There's room in Gitmo for a while bunch of you.
Sailboat
I actually support the idea of an amendment that criminalizes desecrating a flag. Sure, go ahead. Make the penalties as stiff as you like! One caveat: I only support this on the grounds that *I* get to define "desecration".
Waving a flag, dressing in it, even burning it to express sincerely-held beliefs in the Constitution and this nation's higher purpose would, of course, not be desecrating a flag at all -- more like supporting what it stands for.
Dressing in flag bikini for the cover of a fashion mag -- desecration.
Wearing flag underwear to moon John Sunnunu at a cabinet meeting -- aggravated desecration. (That actually occurred during Bush Senior's administration. No word on whether Dubya will haul his father in under the proposed new amendment.)
Using the flag to sell used cars -- second-degree desecration. Maybe also fraud.
Wrapping oneself piously in the flag to distract the public from real issues one is afraid to tackle -- first degree desecration.
Wrapping oneself piously in the flag to attack political opponents or to hide one's own crimes: CAPITAL desecration.
Bring it on, politicians! There's room in Gitmo for a while bunch of you.
Sailboat