*Right on schedule, cynical Senate GOP leaders trot out their
self-serving amendment to ban defilement of the flag *
Saturday, September 18, 2004
Can it be that four years have passed since last the
Republican-controlled Senate re sorted to the false patriotism of
seeking to protect Old Glory from the First Amendment?
Why, yes indeed. It appears the GOP's leadership is preparing to bring
up its quadrennial proposal of an ill-conceived constitutional amendment
to protect the American flag from desecration, whatever that might be
interpreted to be.
A presidential election lies just around the corner, the country is at
war and the upper chamber is hopelessly inundated with the critical,
unfinished business of governing. So what better time to waste a few
hours hiding in that last refuge of scoundrels?
Especially when such an irrelevant diversion can be used to force the
Democrats' presidential ticket and the Senate minority leader back to
Washington from the campaign trail to cast the votes that will defeat it?
This gossamer gambit is breathtaking in its cynicism. If they go through
with it, the Republican leaders will have shown that they have no qualms
about threatening this nation's free-speech rights to gain what they
perceive to be the political advantage of protecting the flag from a
threat that doesn't exist.
The American flag is a symbol. To those who love this country, it
represents the ideals of a nation yet striving to form that "more
perfect union" of which the Founders wrote.
But it is only a symbol, a cherished piece of cloth that, in a truly
free land, may become the target of the anger and disdain at the
nation's actions.
Burning that flag in protest may well and properly infuriate those who
love it, but amending the Constitution to criminalize such protest
strikes a blow at the very heart of the liberty for which it stands.
And the shame of it is, the amendment's supporters know this.
Yet they are prepared to use that flag as a bootblack might use a rag to
burnish their political aspirations.