Vote on flag desecration may be 'cliffhanger'

[othermeans]

It's scary close," said Terri Schroeder of the American Civil Liberties Union, which opposes the amendment. "People think it's something that's never going to happen. ... The reality is we're very close to losing this battle."

But this time may be different. Amendment supporters say last year's election expanding the Senate Republican majority to 55 has buoyed their hopes for passage. Five freshmen senators — Richard Burr of North Carolina, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Jim DeMint of South Carolina, John Thune of South Dakota and David Vitter of Louisiana — voted for the amendment as House members and plan to do so again.

They will be joined by at least five Democrats who have co-sponsored the resolution, including Dianne Feinstein of California and Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Both are up for re-election next year.


http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-06-14-flag-desecration-vote_x.htm?csp=24&RM_Exclude=Juno

[Straight Shooter]

1. Right. Nothing going on in the world of importance. Focus on the flag.

Idiots. I'd like to see them drive around my town and look at all the homes where bushies live, and cite them for flying tattered, ragged, dirty, faded flags.

Nobody's burning them, so I guess it's no big deal to see a trashy U.S. flag that looks like ribbons whipping around in the breeze.

[othermeans]

4. I don't understand it either and it bothers me that my senator Feinstein

is supporting it. Who the hell cares about a piece of cloth while people are dying in an unjust war.

[Joebert]

5. There are a few too many tattered flags here too.

But by God, they have them, so they're more patriotic than I am.

Same with the sun-faded support the troops magnet on their Truck-a-saurus.

[Shallah Kali]

13. It's a load of Freedom Fries - meaningless bills to make a name for a pol.

or get on a groups goodside while not actually enacting laws that do a single human being any good.

[K-W]

2. Nationalism kills. EOM

[LiberallyInclined]

3. i hope feinstein and nelson both lose their seats.

this stuff is CRAP!

[othermeans]

8. I was wondering if you'd be allowed to trash the flag in private?

[puddycat]

6. This is evil. Destroy the Constitution but declare the flag inviolate

We are sinking into a hell-hole of fascism and right-wing hatred we will never be able to climb out of without an all out civil war.

[LiberalFighter]

7. It is wrong for a flag amendment for the following reasons

1) Because it doesn't add protection to an individual as intended but takes away

2) It is a slap in the face for the Star Spangled Banner

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

3) The flag has never needed protection in all this time and now it does?

[othermeans]

9. Do you think we could then arrest people in foreign countries for burning

the flag? You know, then rendition them to a country where we could torture them to find out where they got the flag?

[LiberalFighter]

21. Of course we can... it's legal for us to do regime change

A good defense for them would be that since the flag is not made in America it can't be an American Flag

[Ouabache]

10. heard a guy at work say this

that he was patriotic as the next guy, (and he is, although he is one of those that doesn't vote, and doesn't take much interest in things generally) -but when he heard this on a tv that was on he said, screw it, if they do that he just won't buy or fly a flag, since he would have to worry if he was doing it right...seemed pretty disgusted by the report he saw.

[Endangered Specie]

11. Why not just make the damn things fireproof?

:shrug:

[Shallah Kali]

12. Why not copyright or trademark it and have the Gov. get a % of every sale

More flag burning = more revenue! Only grant the right to make flags to US factories so any flags made outside the US will be a copyright infringement and subject to big fines.

BTW why aren't any of the groups against disrespecting the flag doing something about flag-ware. American flag bikinis, underwear, shorts, etc. Why is it patriotic to plaster flags on one's bosom or butt :b

[IChing]

14. IF it passes I will start not a major book burning rally

But a flag burning rally, and gladly be arrested..............

.

[Joebert]

15. Before you do it, line up a lawyer who likes Cuba.

[IChing]

18. Yeah Right, Because most of the flags are made in China

sold in the United States......

I'm just burning Chinese imports

[Joebert]

19. You're off to Syria with an attitude like that.

China is a most favored trade partner.

You might as well just pee on George Washington's grave, you pinko commie.

[burrowowl]

16. Desecrate is relegious!

I thought our Constitution had something about separation thereof!
Man, I'm getting ready to hang it upside down and burn it! It is dirty and according to the code that is what you are supposed to do, BURN IT, like dog-eared holy cards and left over blessed palms from palm sunday.

[Joebert]

17. Wait a sec. You're SUPPOSED to burn the flag.

http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=cmty.leveld&did=2477

Flag Disposal

Suggested Procedures for Disposing of a Faded, Worn Flag

1. The flag should be folded in its customary manner.
2. It is important that the fire be fairly large and of sufficient intensity to ensure complete burning of the flag.
3. Place the flag on the fire.
4. The individual(s) can come to attention, salute the flag, recite the Pledge of Allegiance and have a brief period of silent reflection.
5. After the flag is completely consumed, the fire should then be safely extinguished and the ashes buried.
6. Please make sure you are conforming to local/state fire codes or ordinances.

[NYC Liberal]

20. First up to be punished under this new amendment:

George Walker Bush, step right up!

[NeoTraitors]

22. If this ammendment is indeed regarding

desecrating the flag (not just burning) there are thousands of freepers in violation right now.

[elvisbear]

24. Next will be Gen. Myers

[CHIMO]

23. So Who

Is going to determine if the object is a real flag?

What if it only looks like it is? Or if is in the shape of a circle.

Maybe they will need someone to bless or consecrate it before it can be called a real flag. Then who is going to appoint these people. Aw never mind.

But lots of potential here for employment. Not to mention grants.

Better stop now.

[dad]

25. This is why I don't like Wesley Clark

because during the campaign, he came out with the dumbass statement that he was for an amendment to ban flag burning. I don't like anyone who tries to take away our freedoms, whether I intend to use them or not.

[fujiyama]

26. F%&k Feinstein

She's a corporate pandering %^&$.

I'm so sick of this shit. Oh and didn't she say she has "regrets" about voting for the war? Why not cosponser Fiengold's bill to get us the fuck out of there?

WTF does a piece of cloth matter when the principles behind it are burned and destroyed?

[renaissanceguy]

27. Vote on flag desecration may be 'cliffhanger' (CONST. AMENDMENT)

The Senate may be within one or two votes of passing a constitutional amendment to ban desecration of the U.S. flag, clearing the way for ratification by the states, a key opponent of the measure said Tuesday.

<SNIP>

Scenes of foreigners burning American flags may be common on TV, but such desecration is rare in this country. The Citizens Flag Alliance, an advocacy group that supports a constitutional amendment, reports a decline in flag desecration incidents, with only one this year.


Still, "it's important that we venerate the national symbol of our country," said Sen. Orrin Hatch (news, bio, voting record), R-Utah, the amendment's chief sponsor. "Burning, urinating, defecating on the flag - this is not speech. This is offensive conduct."

<SNIP>

Every state legislature has passed resolutions urging Congress to send them a constitutional amendment to ban flag desecration. Still, such resolutions aren't binding, and "that doesn't necessarily mean it would pass in the states," says Heather Morton, of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

[consuming]

28. Let her RIP