Anti-flag burning amendment passes first hurdle

[Ghoulish Delight]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8318974/

The House has passed the amendment by the required 2/3 majority. All signs seem to point to the senate to do the same. After that, it's on to the states.

What a blatant disregard of speech. Disagree with it all you want, but to ban it? Of course, passing it as an amendment automatically makes it Constitutional, by definition. But that doesn't mean it should be done, and it doesn't change the fact that it goes completely against the spirit of the first amendment. Is the patriotism of these people so weak that it's threatened by what happens to a piece of cloth? Is their faith in this country's ideals so shaky that they need to silence a method of expressing a dissenting opinion?

Magician Penn and Teller performed one of the most moving acts I've ever seen that last time this idiotic amendment made the rounds. They burnt a flag saying (I'm paraphrasing, I don't recall the exact script), "We're doing this not because we don't like what this flag stands for, but precisely because we love what this flag stands for and that we have the freedom to do this." And, to alegorically, metaphorically, and magically drive their point home, they, of course, produce said same flag, undamaged, to signify that burning a flag does no damage to what that flag stands for.

If and when this assault on freedom of expression reaches the state polls, I'd urge all patriotic and freedom loving Americans to vote against it.