Jo's Cafe

When I went in the Army back eons ago, we were taught proper care of the American Flag. We had to learn this before we could go on the detail to put the flag up on post in the am and take it down in the pm. It was strongly impressed on us not to ever let the flag touch the ground. If it ever did touch the ground, it had to then be destroyed.

To get a history of the American Flag, Wikipedia has a complete list here.

There are specific guidelines put into place by the by law:

Prior to Flag Day, June 14, 1923, the federal or state had no regulations governing the display of the United States’ Flag. On June 14, 1923 the National Flag Code (U.S Flag Code) was constructed by representatives of the Army, Navy and other groups.

In December 22, 1942 the Flag Code had become Public Law 826; Chapter 806, 77th Congress, 2ed session. Little had changed with in the code since the Flag Day 1924 Conference.

I say all that and give you links to follow, to bring up the issue that the ACLU believes that it is “a – okay” to burn our Flag. But then, you have to remember, the ACLU hates everything and anything that this country stands for, or may represent this country.

Since I refuse to give the ACLU any linkage from this site, I will quote from their recent Press Release dated May 25, 2005, which is posted on their site.

WASHINGTON – Noting that free expression and the right to dissent are among the core principles for which the American flag stands, the American Civil Liberties Union today strongly urged Congress to reject the reintroduced Flag Desecration Amendment. The House Judiciary Committee is considering that measure today.

“If we take away the right to dissent – no matter how unpopular – what unpopular freedom will be sacrificed next?” said Terri Ann Schroeder, an ACLU Senior Lobbyist. “The First Amendment must most be protected when it comes to unpopular speech. Failure to do so fails the very notion of freedom of expression.”

Okay, in case everyone has forgotten how much the ACLU twists the First Amendment, let’s remember what it actually says:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Now here is where the ACLU likes to twist things. According to their very sick twisted logic (smeared with the hatred of the United States of America), they believe in their dark sick hearts that the burning of the American Flag – the symbol of this great nation – is freedom of speech.

Okay, off to the dictionary and let’s look up the word “speech” and “freedom”.

Speech
Pronunciation: ‘spEch
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English speche, from Old English spr[AE]c, sp[AE]c; akin to Old English sprecan to speak — more at SPEAK
1 a : the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words b : exchange of spoken words : CONVERSATION
2 a : something that is spoken : UTTERANCE b : a usually public discourse : ADDRESS
3 a : LANGUAGE, DIALECT b : an individual manner or style of speaking
4 : the power of expressing or communicating thoughts by speaking

Okay – I think we get the point. Speech is “verbal” in nature according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Freedom
Pronunciation: ‘frE-d&m
Function: noun
1 : the quality or state of being free: as a : the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action b : liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another : INDEPENDENCE c : the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous (freedom from care) d : EASE, FACILITY ( spoke the language with freedom) e : the quality of being frank, open, or outspoken (answered with freedom) f : improper familiarity g : boldness of conception or execution h : unrestricted use (gave him the freedom of their home)
2 a : a political right b : FRANCHISE, PRIVILEGE
synonyms FREEDOM, LIBERTY, LICENSE mean the power or condition of acting without compulsion. FREEDOM has a broad range of application from total absence of restraint to merely a sense of not being unduly hampered or frustrated (freedom of the press); LIBERTY suggests release from former restraint or compulsion (the released prisoner had difficulty adjusting to his new liberty); LICENSE implies freedom specially granted or conceded and may connote an abuse of freedom (freedom without responsibility may degenerate into license).

And so we get the point of the word freedom.

Don’t see any reference to “Flag Burning” do you? Me either — but then I’m just an uneducated blogger from Alabama – what should I know about Freedom of Speech?

Late yesterday afternoon, we got this word:

WASHINGTON (AP) – The House on Wednesday approved a constitutional amendment that would give Congress the power to ban desecration of the American flag, a measure that for the first time stands a chance of passing the Senate as well.

By a 286-130 vote – eight more than needed – House members approved the amendment after a debate over whether such a ban would uphold or run afoul of the Constitution’s free-speech protections.

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STOP THE ACLU!!!
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More Bloggers on the US Flag are:
Is It Just Me? with Flag Desecration Amendment Passed by House
Rightwing Nuthouse with “THIS AIN’T NO RAG – IT’S A FLAG.” BUT…