House OKs Flag Burning Amendment

[David]

AP


The House on Wednesday approved a constitutional amendment that would give Congress the power to ban desecration of the American flag, a measure that for the first time stands a chance of passing the Senate as well.

By a 286-130 vote, House members approved the amendment ? as they have six times before ? after a debate over whether such a ban would uphold or run afoul of the Constitution's free-speech protections. The measure now advances to the Senate, where activists on both sides say it stands the best chance of passage in its 16-year history.

If the amendment wins two-thirds majorities in each chamber, it moves to the states for ratification.

Supporters said the measure reflected patriotism that deepened after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and they accused detractors of being out of touch with public sentiment.

"Ask the men and women who stood on top of the (World) Trade Center," said Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham, R-Calif. "Ask them and they will tell you: pass this amendment."

But Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said, "If the flag needs protection at all, it needs protection from members of Congress who value the symbol more than the freedoms that the flag represents."

The measure was designed to overturn a 1989 decision by the Supreme Court, which ruled 5-4 that flag burning was a protected free-speech right. That ruling threw out a 1968 federal statute and flag-protection laws in 48 states. The law was a response to anti-Vietnam war protesters setting fire to the American flag at their demonstrations.

The proposed one-line amendment to the Constitution reads, "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." For the language to be added to the Constitution, it must be approved not only by two-thirds of each chamber but also by 38 states within seven years.

Each time the proposed amendment has come to the House floor, it has reached the required two-thirds majority. But the measure has always died in the Senate, falling short of the 67 votes needed. The last time the Senate took up the amendment was in 2000, when it failed 63-37.

But last year's elections gave Republicans a four-seat pickup in the Senate, and now proponents and critics alike say the amendment stands within a vote or two of reaching the two-thirds requirement in that chamber.

By most counts, 65 current senators have voted for or said they intend to support the amendment, two shy of the crucial tally. More than a quarter of current senators were not members of that chamber during the last vote.

The Senate is expected to consider the measure after the July 4th holiday.

[Advisor]

Stupid! More window dressing. SMOKE AND MIRRORS, BABY!!!!!!!

[BLUEHAWK]

JaySUS!

IF it is gonna require a Constitutional gol dang Amendment to put into effect a simple piece of human decency about the flag, then so be it.

Could we please get on with the rest of our lives here?

[SuperScout]

Perhaps the larger question has gone unasked: what stretch of warped imagination extends to equate flag-burning with free-speech? The flag is not a symbol of speech, but a symbol of our great country. Wasn't the ruling allowing flag-burning the product of an activist court, ergo, the self-evident need for better appointments to said court?

If you want to run down our country, speak your mind, as guaranteed per the 1st Amendment. The Flag stands for much more than just the 1st Amendment, holy as it is, and truly transcends the Constitution while embracing our entire culture, ethos and promise to the future. Personally, if I saw someone burning an American flag in protest, there will be a confrontation, and yes, I'm prepared for whatever consequences.

[reconeil]

Well,...it's about time that someone made such a criminally desecrating act and national insult, an actually criminal offense here in America. Such is long overdue and sorely needed,...especially during wartime.

Hey,...if Marine Guards at: "Gitmo" MUST wear white gloves while searching through terrorist prisoners' Korans for weapons or contraband, lest they be punished,...doesn't The American Flag at least deserve some similar protection against enemy sympathizers or just plain old political fools??

And besides, desecrating the American Flag insults every American whomever died, was wounded or served under same flag. Only fools would politicize or call publicly burning the America Flag in protest,...as: "Free Speech". No ifs, ands or buts (Supreme Court also). Nor Dems and/or ACLU and their quite supportive and quite liberal mainstream media, either.

Neil

[BLUEHAWK]

Originally posted by SuperScout Perhaps the larger question has gone unasked: what stretch of warped imagination extends to equate flag-burning with free-speech? The flag is not a symbol of speech, but a symbol of our great country. Wasn't the ruling allowing flag-burning the product of an activist court, ergo, the self-evident need for better appointments to said court?

If you want to run down our country, speak your mind, as guaranteed per the 1st Amendment. The Flag stands for much more than just the 1st Amendment, holy as it is, and truly transcends the Constitution while embracing our entire culture, ethos and promise to the future. Personally, if I saw someone burning an American flag in protest, there will be a confrontation, and yes, I'm prepared for whatever consequences.

Me too...

I'll go a step further... I don't want to see ANY national flags desecrated in this country.

[urbsdad6]

I pledge allegiance
To the flag of
The United States of America
and
To the Republic for which it stands
One Nation
Under God
Indivisible
With Liberty and Justice for ALL.

What Advisor said. Smoke and Mirrors. Just a dog and pony show. How many of those Basitches know what the real price of the flag is about? How many really care? Except to make them look good in the next election.

Dco Urb





Doc Urb

[BLUEHAWK]

Originally posted by urbsdad6 I pledge allegiance
To the flag of
The United States of America
and
To the Republic for which it stands
One Nation
Under God
Indivisible
With Liberty and Justice for ALL.

What Advisor said. Smoke and Mirrors. Just a dog and pony show. How many of those Basitches know what the real price of the flag is about? How many really care? Except to make them look good in the next election.

Dco Urb

Doc Urb

It often happens that the primary message of a given propaganda ends up being unintentionally embraced by those who sincerely believe in minor features of the proponent's agenda.

[SuperScout]

Lest we cast aspersions upon those who have proposed this amendment, consider that the impetus was the very constituents of the politicians who have drafted the proposed amendment. I for one do not think that it was political grandstanding that caused the amendment to be submitted for consideration, but the strong, heartfelt wishes of millions of people who are sick and tired of the desecration visited upon our national colors by either ungrateful wretches, vengeful enemies, or illiterate dolts. If one doesn't like this country, just say so, and we'll get the message; to infer that burning our national colors is part and parcel of the 1st Amendment denies the fact that all of our freedoms have limits, and are not absolute. Freedom of speech has been limited by laws prohibiting slander, or inciting a riot, or similar public disturbances. Freedom of the press has been limited by laws against libel, advocating violence against our government or other forms of destructive behavior. Freedom of religion has been limited by prohibiting human sacrifice, or polygamy. There are no absolute freedoms in the real world.

[Stick]

It'll go back to the courts and be fought again by organizations that call for "American Civil Liberties." Right now it's a treasonist persons right to light up the symbol of America that so many have died for. Right now that same treasonist person makes his or her fifteen minutes of fame on some mop-head television network. Right now that treasonist person can say it's his or her freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and right now, should that person light up that flag in my view, I will use my freedom of expression that was demanded by an oath I once took. "To serve, protect, and defend."
I may be short but I carry a big stick.