Fourth of July a time for political pandering

[struggle4progress]

<snip> It seems the voting is always timed so members of Congress who support the amendment will be able to use the issue as fodder for patriotic speeches when they go home to participate in Fourth of July celebrations.

Flanked by members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the American Legion, they will talk about how our forefathers fought and died defending Old Glory. They will demonize those who desecrate the flag as ungrateful, unpatriotic and un-American.

What the politicians won't talk about during their Fourth of July speeches is how the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has guaranteed freedom of speech and freedom of expression, and why these freedoms are so important. They will conveniently overlook the founding fathers' deep conviction that citizens have not only the right, but also the duty to criticize the government when it engages in activity that is illegal, immoral or infringes on people's constitutional rights.

The fact is the flag has been trivialized and commercialized in countless ways that are far more demeaning than desecration as an honest expression of political dissent. The flag shows up in every conceivable nook and cranny of American life, on swimwear, underwear, toilet paper, jewelry, tattoos, paint jobs, drug paraphernalia and bumper stickers, to name a few. If Congress is truly concerned about instilling respect for the flag maybe it should pass a constitutional amendment banning any commercial use of the Stars and Stripes. <snip>

http://www.lahontanvalleynews.com/article/20050621/Opinion/106210011

[Johnny Noshoes]

1. I would like to ask the congresscritters

who want this amendment if this is desecration -

[Johnny Noshoes]

2. If we plaster the flag

on everything in site doesn't it cheapen the meaning of the symbol. If they'd say that its freedom of speech that allows this commercial exploitation well then - isn't it freedom of speech to burn a flag in protest. If freedom of speech means anything it means the right to do just that as bad as it might appear to some.