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Protecting the Flag: Discussion

Mon Jul 17, 2006 at 09:00:35 AM EST

Robert Gillis begins his Op-Editorial:Protecting the Flag with the sentence:

"Last week, by a single vote, the Senate failed to pass a proposed constitutional amendment to ban desecrating the American flag."

What Gillis doesn't mention in his opinion piece is that this is the closest vote ever to make the flag burning prohibition a part of the United States Constitution. Care to join in speculation as to why this year, of all years, the US Senators seem to pander more to jihadist partriotism?

commentary :: :: :: buzz-it!

Protecting the Flag: Discussion | 5 comments (5 topical, 0 hidden)

I'll take a guess... (5.00 / 1) (#1)

Rhetorical Question alert:

... because this year, more than ever before, the Senate and the House have been rendered meaning- and power- less?

by Cho on Mon Jul 17, 2006 at 10:30:55 AM EST

Wrong people (5.00 / 1) (#2)

Because they are listening to the wrong people. They are listening to the minority, not the majority. That minority voice is loud and strident.

by kfred on Mon Jul 17, 2006 at 11:25:42 AM EST

Some of It Is Peculiar Nostalgia? (5.00 / 1) (#3)

I remember--gee, almost 50 years ago--the respect the flag was given that had covered my grandfather's casket on its trip through Arlington to his grave.

At the time, I didn't understand, but it left my in awe of the thing itself.

It wasn't until years had gone by (in the meantime, I had been indoctrinated with rules about the flag--when to fly it, how to fold it, what to do if something bad happens to it) that I began to realize that the flag really isn't a thing, but a symbol.

I grew up. Now, I know that the flag itself is of little importance. What it symbolizes is.

I think many of those in favor of the amendment really want to avoid discussion on what the flag represents. Instead, like children, they want something to venerate.

by Aaron Barlow on Mon Jul 17, 2006 at 11:40:38 AM EST

: What we learn as children. (5.00 / 1) (#4)

You know, until this moment, I never really thought of the millions of children who must pledge allegiance every weekday of their young lives to a symbol, first and foremost, with the "republic for which it stands" as an afterthought.
It's no wonder, that in a country filled with people who are indoctrinated, in a sense, for a dozen years or so in public schools, repeating a pledge with little or no discussion of its meaning, that a proposal to amend the Constitution continues to make headway.
For the most part, we are trained to do as we're told and follow instructions; a relatively small proportion escape that to think for themselves.
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by wanderindiana on Mon Jul 17, 2006 at 12:19:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]
: I did a July 4 Commentary on this (5.00 / 1) (#5)

What I noticed, most of all, was that even those these Republicans are pushing this - like mad - they don't voluntarily follow the rules to respect the flag that both you and remember from our childhoods.
Consider just this one of my A-#1 nemesis, Richard Pombo from election night 1994:

by Land of Enchantment on Mon Jul 17, 2006 at 06:55:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]