No Flags, No Patriots…

June 28, 2006

…if only we could be so fortunate.

One of my current favorite songs, is Antiflag’s No Borders, No Nations, even though I have to look past their extreme-left political views (there is a dearth of freedom-loving punk rockers). That said, theflag-burning amendment proposal really chapped my ass. I was hoping the proposed amendment wouldn’t pass, and for the time being I’m glad it didn’t. But the margin of victory scares the piss out of me.

Polls show that most Americans want flag desecration outlawed, and the amendment’s proponents said they were trying to stop justices from thwarting the public’s will… “Fifty state legislatures have called on us to pass this amendment,” [Orrin G.] Hatch [R-UT] told colleagues.

I say, then let the states pass their legislation - that is, after all, the point of this grand (and failing) experiment with federalism. Let the states pass the laws, and watch SCOTUS knock them down, one by one.

Despite my roman-catholic upbringing, I’m decidedly agnostic for the time being. That said, there is a certain amount of wisdom in the scriptures: “Then God spoke all these words: saying … You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” This concept of idolatry reminds me much of the current debate about flag-burning, and the deification of the flag. The flag is a symbol, sure. It stands for alot of things. Alot of different things to alot of different people. So, I think we all need to embrace the opinion widely attributed to Voltaire, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Flag-burning is a political statement, and an unpopular political statement. And if yuo want to let politicians determine what sort of political statement is acceptable in a free society, I hope you enjoy your slide down the slippery slope to overwhelming statism. You won’t take me with you.
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See also HR 42, the Freedom to Display the Flag act, with analysis by Kip


Posted in: Potpourri

Comments

1 Comment so far

  1. Wulf July 1, 2006 9:51 am

    I was just thinking about the idol-worshipping connection. I would guess that most of the people who support the anti-flag desecration amendment are exactly the type who thinks that they adhere to The Book.

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