I’m a patriotic American. I get choked up when I hear the national anthem. The American flag is a symbol that represents our country and all we stand for - the red, white and blue. The Stars and Stripes. Whenever our country faces adversity or hardship, i.e. 9/11, what symbolizes our strength as a nation, our unwavering belief that we will prevail? Our flag. Old Glory.
The ACLU called the House’s approval of the "Flag Desecration Amendment" a "loss for freedom and an unwarranted assault on the First Amendment." I find it fascinating that the ACLU declares that there is growing, nationwide opposition to this Amendment. I haven’t talked to a soul that says "yeah, let’s burn the flag…it’s our right! We don’t like abortion, let’s burn the flag. We’re mad that they ended Everybody Loves Raymond - let’s burn the flag!"
Terri Ann Schroeder, Senior Lobbyist with the ACLU Washington Legislative Office (aka Head Blahblah) said:
"Today’s vote was a victory not for the flag, but for lawmakers seeking cheap political points. The flag is a symbol, and today’s vote is an assault on the freedoms that it embodies. In a democracy, freedom means that we must tolerate all peaceful forms of expression, no matter how uncomfortable they make us feel, or how much we disagree. Lawmakers cannot silence individuals just because they don’t agree with their message or how it is expressed."
Perhaps you may think I’m a bit too patriotic, but I find the burning of the flag far from "peaceful" and for me it borders close to violent. To me, a "peaceful form of expression" would be signs, speeches, or human chains. When I think of flag burning, I think of militant Islamofascist freaks who would not only like to burn said flag, but a few million Americans as well.
Do I believe in freedom of speech? Absolutely. But I don’t believe in desecration of the flag - something that represents our country, our honor and the blood, sweat and tears shed by countless Americans defending the very right to fly such a beautiful flag.
Please stop by Stop the ACLU! for their weekly ACLU blog burst. They’ll keep you informed and - if you are like me - somewhat ticked off, too!
I am the Flag
by Ruth Appeasing Rois
I am the flag of the United States of America.
I was born on June 14, 1777, in Philadelphia.
There the Continental Congress adopted my stars and stripes as the national flag.
My thirteen stripes alternating red and white, with a union of thirteen white stars in a field of blue, represented a new constellation, a new nation dedicated to the personal and religious liberty of mankind.
Today fifty stars signal from my union, one for each of the fifty sovereign states in the greatest constitutional republic the world has ever known.
My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and spiritual qualities of the citizens of my country.
My red stripes proclaim the fearless courage and integrity of American men and boys and the self-sacrifice and devotion of American mothers and daughters.
My white stripes stand for liberty and equality for all.
My blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty, and faith.
I represent these eternal principles: liberty, justice, and humanity.
I embody American freedom: freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, and the sanctity of the home.
I typify that indomitable spirit of determination brought to my land by Christopher Columbus and by all my forefathers - the Pilgrims, Puritans, settlers at James town and Plymouth.
I am as old as my nation.
I am a living symbol of my nation’s law: the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
I voice Abraham Lincoln’s philosophy: "A government of the people, by the people,for the people."
I stand guard over my nation’s schools, the seedbed of good citizenship and true patriotism.
I am displayed in every schoolroom throughout my nation; every schoolyard has a flag pole for my display.
Daily thousands upon thousands of boys and girls pledge their allegiance to me and my country.
I have my own law—Public Law 829, "The Flag Code" - which definitely states my correct use and display for all occasions and situations.
I have my special day, Flag Day. June 14 is set aside to honor my birth.
Americans, I am the sacred emblem of your country. I symbolize your birthright, your heritage of liberty purchased with blood and sorrow.
I am your title deed of freedom, which is yours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity.
If you fail to keep this sacred trust inviolate, if I am nullified and destroyed, you and your children will become slaves to dictators and despots.
Eternal vigilance is your price of freedom.
As you see me silhouetted against the peaceful skies of my country, remind yourself that I am the flag of your country, that I stand for what you are - no more, no less.
Guard me well, lest your freedom perish from the earth.
Dedicate your lives to those principles for which I stand: "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
I was created in freedom. I made my first appearance in a battle for human liberty.
God grant that I may spend eternity in my "land of the free and the home of the brave" and that I shall ever be known as "Old Glory," the flag of the United States of America.
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The American Flag
I'm a patriotic American. I get choked up when I hear the national anthem. The American flag is a symbol that represents our country and all we stand for - the red, white and blue. The Stars and Stripes. Whenever our country faces adversity or hard...
Lunch: 6/23/2005
Try one of these specials with your lunch: The Therapist says the Downing Street Memo is just the tip of the iceberg. The Nose On Your Face has a Top Ten Eleven Nine list. Eyes On The Ball News looks
Great post. Nothing could be more expressive of the patriots point of view than the flags point of view. Excellant.
Stop da ACLU Blogburst-Flag Burning As Free Speech
Ok!!! Let's burn some flags!!!
Awesome job! thank you so much!
Gribbit -
You speak utter nonsense. I'm a patriot (support the war and even voted for Bush) and I support the right of someone to burn the flag (if they own it, that is), as distasteful as I may find it. Of course, invoking nationalistic pride to paint the enemy as anti-American is pretty common among right-wing nutters these days.
Merri -
Perhaps you may think I'm a bit too patriotic, but I find the burning of the flag far from "peaceful" and for me it borders close to violent.
Patriotism is a devotion to one's homeland, not to one's flag. My loyalty is to the United States and the values and freedoms in her Constitution, not a piece of cloth.
When I think of flag burning, I think of militant Islamofascist freaks who would not only like to burn said flag, but a few million Americans as well.
Great, so do I. I also think of other protestors, for example, anti-globalization types.
Of course, that you associate flag burning with people who want to kill Americans does not mean that is its only association, or that all who burn the flag want to kill Americans. It simply doesn't follow and has no logical basis in an argument for or against.
Do I believe in freedom of speech? Absolutely.
So long as you approve, you mean.
But I don't believe in desecration of the flag - something that represents our country, our honor and the blood, sweat and tears shed by countless Americans defending the very right to fly such a beautiful flag.
So don't desecrate it then. I promise not to as well. However, if someone else wants to poop on their own flag, let them - it makes them look like an idiot.
If you support this ban, you are admitting that these yahoos have some kind of power, that our shared values are weak in the face of idiots. You shame the flag and our nation as much as any dumb flag-burning protestor.
I'm not sure if you live in the same United States that I call home. My country is strong and proud and has more important things to worry about than flag burning.
P.S. I did have your lines in italics, but for some reason you have your blogging software set to strip out formatting.
Andy - thanks for stopping by and posting. I appreciate that we all have different views and the freedom to express them. That being said, I find your comment facinating that you note that I only believe in freedom of speech when I approve. I would turn that around and say the same of you. Do you believe your views on patriotism are the only ones that count (i.e. "Gribbit - you speak utter nonsense.")? We all come at this from different perspectives and my opinion - it is only that - is that I disagree with flag burning. I would also tend to agree with others who say that flag burning really isn't even a form of speech, it's an action. 'Nuff said.
Hey andy, by all means, burn that flag.
Make sure you wrap yourself in it first.
Assmonkey.
