Flag Desecration

The United States Senate, now that they've dealt with all the urgent problems facing the country, is set to debate a flag desecration amendment to the nation's constitution. I hate seeing anyone burn our flag but I also shudder at any infringement of first amendment rights. We already have "free speech zones" around President Bush when he ventures from the White House and the NSA logging our telephone and email records. They may even be listening in.

This amendment is nothing more than pandering to the extreme right wing, just as the gay marriage amendment was. As Bush's approval ratings continue to tank the Oval Office is desperate for issues that could give them a boost. Next thing you know he'll spend all his time flying around the country doing photo ops instead of concentrating on doing his job running the country. What's that you say, that's Cheney's job? Oops, sorry, I forgot for a sec.

Just how do you define flag desecration? One person's definition is anathema to another. For instance I consider these pictures as desecration of the flag. The picture of the young man with a swastika drawn on his forehead was posted on a Young Republican's weblog last winter. Combining it with the flag tie was something a lot of people found offensive and Blogger deleted the blog.

The potential litigation trying to define what constitutes desecration of the flag will only fatten the bank accounts of countless lawyers at the expense of citizens. If this amendment passes I, for one, will refrain from flying the flag at all for fear of offending someone and spending ten years of my life paying lawyers to defend my free speech rights. Better safe than sorry you know. This is because your definition of desecration is different from mine.

For example President Bush has prevented our free press from covering the return of many of our servicemen and women from Iraq. The explanation? Seems they come home draped in the flag. Do you consider that picture above desecration? Does George W. Bush? Seems he must since he won't allow you to see them.

Let's get our priorities straight and get back to ending this war and saving a lot of families the grief of being on the receiving end of those flags.