My letter to my congressmen re: Flag Desecration Amendment

[Ian David]

Every day, I see supposedly Patriotic Americans with torn, tattered, faded flags flying from their cars.

With an amendment against flag desecration, those people would be breaking the law, and subject to fines or jail time.

An amendment against flag desecration would discourage people from displaying the flag, because they will know that they will be held accountable for the way they take care of the flag.

They will not be able to leave it on highway overpasses, unless they take it inside during the rain. They will be responsible for removing that flag from the overpass once it becomes worn or faded.

If you buy a shirt with a flag on it, you will be required to dispose of that shirt the same way as you would any other flag-- with a ceremonial burial or cremation. And you would have to do this once the shirt is torn, faded, or stained.

The amendment passed for the District of Columbia, for example, makes no distinction between flags burned in protest, and those desecrated by neglect.

Personally, if this law were passed, I would gleefully go around documenting instances of flag abuse and reporting several of them per day to authorities.

For example, I would like to cite two instances. At the pro-war rally in Washington, DC yesterday, some "Patriotic Americans" defaced an American Flag in front of The White House. Now, the flag looks much like The AIDS Quilt.

Here are two photos:




That desecration took place in The District of Columbia where flag desecration is illegal!

And then there's the now infamous photo of a man named George W. Bush autographing an American Flag.


Passing an amendment would discourage the display of The American Flag, and would create an enforcement nightmare as thousands of people dutifully report each and every incident they see.

If you believe in the flag, please do not discourage its display. If you pass this amendment, you will hardly ever see a flag outside a classroom or government building again.

Sincerely,

[gratuitous]

1. I solemnly predict no response whatsoever

But I especially like the use of Stupidhead autographing a flag to reinforce your point, which will surely sail right over the heads of your elected representatives in Congress.

[ProudDad]

2. I'd love to paraphrase

and send this to DiFi.

OK?

[Ian David]

5. Absolutely! Feel free to use or abuse it as you see fit. n/t

[ProudDad]

3. I sent this to DiFi just now...

Ok, I give up. I'm ready to support your flag desecration amendment.

Every day, I see supposedly Patriotic Americans with torn, tattered, faded flags flying from their cars.

With an amendment against flag desecration, those people would be breaking the law, and subject to fines or jail time.

An amendment against flag desecration would discourage people from displaying the flag, because they will know that they will be held accountable for the way they take care of the flag.

They will not be able to leave it on highway overpasses, unless they take it inside during the rain. They will be responsible for removing that flag from the overpass once it becomes worn or faded.

If you buy a shirt with a flag on it, you will be required to dispose of that shirt the same way as you would any other flag-- with a ceremonial burial or cremation. And you would have to do this once the shirt is torn, faded, or stained.

The amendment passed for the District of Columbia, for example, makes no distinction between flags burned in protest, and those desecrated by neglect.

Personally, if this law were passed, I would gleefully go around documenting instances of flag abuse and reporting several of them per day to authorities.

I look forward to the day when we aren't confronted by the jingoistic, American preoccupation with putting flags on every available surface. No other Democratic country in the world is as insecure as this one in this regard. It's about time we grew up.

[proud patriot]

4. Great letter

:thumbsup:

[Ian David]

7. Thanks! I try to please. And I fail 1/12 of the time. n/t

[Ian David]

6. I thought about taking that more confrontational approach...

But I settled for a happy medium.

I didn't take the high road, but I think I treaded toward the middle. As did you, just a little closer to the shoulder.

I thought about saying I would hunt down and report people with Bush/Cheney stickers that are abusing the flag and turn them in.

Or compare those homes abusing the flag to voter registration lists, and turn-in the Republicans.

Good work.

I'm glad to have people run my ideas up the flagpole and see if it flies.