Worthy News: Flag Amendment Fails by Single Vote - ABC News

[George]

The narrow defeat of a proposal to ban flag desecration marks the second time in a month Senate Republicans have lost bids to amend the Constitution in ways designed to inspire social conservatives to vote in the midterm elections.

http://www.worthynews.com/news/abcnews-go-...int-id-2127542/

[tah]

Why should it matter?I do not know how I would vote..

I really am undecided on this...

I can see how it is just a piece of cloth and sheer foolishness if people think I will get upset because they burn it...

childish actions on their part... that does not hurt me...

and I can see where it is also to be respected as when the flag that was used as a doormat for Saddam was removed from the door way when the Military took over his home.....

None who respects this country will use the flag with any disrespect....

[jesussaves]

Would it still be legal to respectfually dispose of old flags by burning them?

[Marnie]

Being a staunch supporter of free speach, I think a person should be free to say whatever they want. Burning a US flag falls under a different catagory. Of course it is not a sacred object or a holy object, but what it symbolizes is something significant. It represents a set of ideals, which I think, people from other countries don't fully understand but envy just the same. To burn the flag when not disposing of it, brings disrepute on those ideals and is an insult to other Americans. I know I am not expressing myself very well here, but consider this: my Dad fought to defend our flag overseas, some of your parents fought and died doing the same thing. What kind of message does burning the flag send to those vets? It's not just the flag, it's what's in back of the flag. Not burning the flag is a show of respect not only for the ideals this country is built upon, but it is a show of respect to your fellow citizens, the leadership of the country and our military.

For those of you who think burning the flag should be protected free speech, let's all go to Dollywood this weekend and ask a vet what he thinks about it. I know you'll get an earful.

[tah]

I would not burn the flag because I respect it and what it stands for..

I would not encourage anyone to burn the flag..

people who do are doing it because it "gets your goat" or they would not do it..Is that true??

When I see someone doing so I see a rebellious childish act and I have no respect for those who do it...

they should go to a county they do respect...

but I will not allow them to "get my goat"...

does that make sense..

Why do people break the law??

In rebellion....take away the law and you take away the offense (sorta, hope you know what I am meaning here..)...less flag burning...

Tell someone they can't do something and boy do they want to do it.....

hummm....I was thinking about other countries but they don't count as we are talking about our laws...

I am very willing to see why there should be a law but I don't see it...

I tell you, sometimes I think this "country bumpkin" should retreat from this world's issues....

she's a mess.....(the world, in case there was some confusion as to what I meant by "she's".. )

[tah]

burning the flag does not kill you..drugs do...

People do not use drugs in rebellion to the law...not at all the same thing...

[tah]

Iran Cuba and and china...

[LadyRaven]

I am not for any of my freedoms being deluted, I am sorry that others don't mind.

You see, it's not only about flagburning (which BTW I find reprehensible), Where do we stop? What type of expression will be illegal nest? What about those who like to wear a cross? Should it be illegal because some people might find it offensive?

Don't you see, any freedoms given up puts other freedoms in danger. Are we going to chip away at them one by one til we have none left. It seems to be going in that direction.

I have noticed something very scary happening in this country. Every so often another little freedom can be sacrificed, and people are ok with that. Where do we draw the line? When they begin rounding up Moslems or do we wait until they get to us Christians?

I totally agree.

Besides, people talk about desecrating the flag. Desecration implies consecration, which implies sacredness. You can't desecrate something that isn't sacred. The flag is a symbol. Those who burn it or walk on it don't care for either the symbol or the meaning behind it. A law is not going to change that feeling, they will find something else to burn or walk on or vandalise.

[LadyRaven]

It was more of a joke than an insult unless you think being a lawyer is a bad thing. By the way, I don't doubt their is politics involved here, but that may be just the push needed for passage. As for there not being a rash of flag burning, even Makulski said the 4 cases were 4 too many. She tried to make out like the issue was a waste of Senate time. I want the amendment so we can throw the 4 in jail in the future.

Also, I think I see the big picture quite clear. This Amendment has no bearing on any other form of free speech or any other of our Consititutional rights. By the way, I'm just curious where you stand on campaign finance reform? That was more of an infringement on free speech in general than this flag burning amendment.

At least one version of the campaign finance reform legislation was an abomination to the whole notion of the "will of the people." It was a blatant attempt IMO to rid the elections of third parties.

[LadyRaven]

Why do people break the law??

In rebellion....take away the law and you take away the offense (sorta, hope you know what I am meaning here..)...less flag burning...

Tell someone they can't do something and boy do they want to do it.....

This is the same argument those who want to legalize drugs use. If you decriminalize it, supposedly drug use will go down in the long run. I don't believe that would be the case, but since that is how you look at the flag burning issue, would you want to make drugs legal in the hopes people would stop using them on their own?

Decriminalising drug use will not likely decrease drug use. It would lower the market value of said drugs, which might have the opposite effect. However, it would have a temporary effect on organised crime, esp organised crime from other countries

(not in favour of legalising drugs, btw)