Comments on: Oh Jeez, Not This Again

By: Big Cat Chronicles

Big Cat Chronicles — Fri, 24 Jun 2005 02:15:47 +0000

Fallaci and flags — the not-so free speech spectrum

Two unrelated events received spotlights yesterday and today and show a free speech spectrum that bears exploration. The first is the flag-burning Constitutional amendment in the US and the other is the impending trial in Italia…

By: Mark in Mexico

Mark in Mexico — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 21:02:36 +0000

Flag Burning Amendment

The House of Representatives approved the flag burning amendment yesterday. I don’t really have too many strong feelings about this. It was probably just a little show of patriotism for the homefolks, although about 130 representatives declined the o…

By: weener

weener — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 17:01:33 +0000

“This old horse” seems to get trotted out whenever heineous and flagrant malfeasance is being produced by the Powers That Be. Anyone remember the last major confabulation over the flag burning? Think Ollie North admitting to all of his crimes and trying to fall on his sword. It saved Reagan and it is certainly possible that Bush&Co. will find a patsy, but I hope we are more sophisticated than that.

By: Ron

Ron — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 16:10:10 +0000

You would think with everything that is going on in the country today our legislators could find “something” better to do than beat this old horse.

By: Gary and the Samoyeds

Gary and the Samoyeds — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 15:38:28 +0000

The whole point of free speech was already gutted in the Campaign "reform" act. I don't care to protect the pornographers or flag-burners who piously say they are the vanguards of the First Amendment, because free speech in its most important form is already dead.

By: A Stitch in Haste

A Stitch in Haste — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 14:40:07 +0000

Early Thoughts on the Flag Amendment "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States."
--Proposed Flag Protection Amendment

"[A] government cannot mandate by fiat a feeling of unity in its citizens."
--

By: Duane Gran

Duane Gran — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 13:23:12 +0000

While we disagree on many points, I agree (see http://duanegran.com/blog/?p=219) with you about the flag issue. However, I’ll point out that the issue over desecrating the Koran is legitimate, given the ritualistic respect that Muslims exhibit toward the object. While I’m not a believer in Islam, I can see how they regard every copy of the Koran as a holy and sacred object. The flag, on the other hand, is purely a symbol with a well-defined code of etiquette for its handling and display.