Stevens: Flag burning change not needed

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON - Justice John Paul Stevens twice voted to outlaw burning the U.S. flag, in memorable dissents that emphasized the flag's great symbolic value. Now, however, the 86-year-old justice says there is no need to amend the Constitution to protect Old Glory.

In 5-4 decisions in 1989 and 1990, the Supreme Court held that burning the flag is protected by the First Amendment.

"Ironically, those decisions seem to have solved the problem because no one burns flags anymore," Stevens said in a speech to the Chicago Bar Association in September. The justice's speech was recently aired on C-SPAN.

Congress has continued to try to amend the Constitution to permit legislation that would prohibit desecration of the flag. The Senate fell one vote short of the required two-thirds majority in June.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061206/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_stevens

[JohnLocke]

1. Can you edit the subject line?

I thought it was Senator Ted Stevens at first...

[waiting for hope]

2. Okay...Now LET"S MOVE ON

to something that is more meaningful and has a ring of sanity to it.

[MannyGoldstein]

5. But Not Before We Give A Tip of the Hat to Mrs. Clinton

Who was the sole sponsor of a bill to criminalize flag burning last year.

[waiting for hope]

6. Thank you....

That was my sinking point for her. It was a pure political move to appease the right and I felt it was a slam against the party's ideals. The first amendment has, to me, always been a Dem strong point and after that, I lost respect for her.

[ima_sinnic]

10. thank you! I did not remember that additional reason for why I

cannot stand that woman. sheesh.

[bluestateguy]

3. These kinds of nonsense bills will not see the light of day in this new Congress

Only tinhorn dictatorships and theocracies like Iran ban flag burning.

[tritsofme]

7. I'm not so optimistic

IIRC the House has passed this amendment in every Congress since 1988.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

4. People don't burn flags anymore

Which is another way of saying that the American people have become so apathetic that the need to protest is just too much of a bother.

[pocoloco]

8. Nope, they don't burn them very often

but they rip 'em to shreds on auto antennas!

On second thought , I guess those are Chinese flags.

[badgerpup]

9. When this issue came up I emailed both my senators...

...asked them "Don't you have REAL work to do?"

Putting on my big damn Karnac the Magnificent turban here...

I PREDICT:

This issue will come up yet again in 2008 as an 'issue' in one of the more right-wingnut repub candidate's pitch.

:popcorn: