Define “Lost.”
Because we all know that no speech is good speech, everybody is shocked – shocked, I say! – to see that the Son of the Revenge of the Flag Burning Amendment Part II was defeated in the Senate by a margin of one vote.
The amendment’s advocates have been promoting it for years and had hoped that Republican gains in recent Senate elections would get them to the two-thirds threshold. But three GOP senators broke ranks and provided crucial votes that thwarted the measure.
“Old Glory lost today,” said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), one of the amendment’s prime backers. “At a time when our armed services are defending America’s freedom in the war on terror, it’s unfortunate that a minority of my colleagues blocked” the proposal.
This would be Bill Frist, supporter of the “strict constructionist” Alito. Because we know that the founding fathers obviously wanted our flag to be taken out of the hands of those durn flag-burners. Dig it, yo – that’s why the copy of the Ten Commandments Ben Franklin smote Thomas Jefferson upside the head with also read “XI: Thou shalt not byrneth yon grande olde flag, or else shalteth thou be smoteth upsyde the headeth by an eldrytch statesman.” 1
I don’t know. I grew up being taught not only to respect the flag, but also what it stood for. And that meant democracy, freedom, and the right of every American to express themselves in any way they saw fit short of a punch to the nose. 2 With that in mind, Old Glory didn’t lose – Old Glory won, because it continues to stand for freedom the way it was intended.
And if that’s too touchy-feely for you, consider the cold hard capitalistic facts – if flag burning is outlawed, there will be fewer jobs in the flag manufacturing industry. After all, your “protect-the-flag” patriot may buy one flag every 15 years to replace their old flag when it gets tattered. Your avid flag-burner, however, is a repeat customer, because flags are really only good for a single burning. Isn’t this an example of capitalism at work? What does Frist have against American business, anyway? Flag makers have a right to make a profit, too.
While we’re on the subject, there’s one more thing that I would like to address.
A recent CNN poll showed 56% of Americans favor an amendment that would pave the way for a ban on flag burning, and all 50 states have passed resolutions asking Congress for such a measure to ratify.
“Who gets the final word — five justices on the Supreme Court or we the people?” asked Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas)
Oo! Oo! Me! I know the answer! Call on me!
The answer is, (A). Five justices on the Supreme Court. Because that’s the way it was structured.
And the idea that 56% of people want an amendment to ban flag burning matters naught. You know why it doesn’t matter?
72% of Americans feel that medical marijuana should be legal, but the federal government continues to support and order raids on medical marijuana growers in states where medical marijuana is legal under state law.
I think that if we’re going on the poll numbers, then legalization of medical marijuana should be a much higher priority than an anti flag burning amendment.
1 In other historical finds, beneath Abraham Lincoln’s beard there was no chin – there was only another fist.
2 And anybody who wishes to argue that burning the flag is a punch in the nose has obviously never been punched in the nose. Trust me, there’s a difference.
June 28th, 2006 at 1:33 pm
”’Who gets the final word — five justices on the Supreme Court or we the people?’ asked Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).”
Um. What’s his position on Bush v. Gore?