Flag desecration amendment is just the beginning, backer tells newspaper.An activist leading the charge for a constitutional amendment barring flag desecration Flag desecration is a blanket term applied to various acts that intentionally deface a flag, most often a national flag (though other flags can be defaced as well). Often, such action is intended to make a political point against a country or its policies. has admitted that the proposal will be just the first of several changes to the Bill of Rights. In a July 18 letter to a columnist for the conservative Washington Times newspaper, Patrick H. Brady, chairman of the Citizens Flag Alliance The Citizens Flag Alliance is an American organization advocating in favor of the Flag Burning Amendment project. CFA was founded in 1989 by the American Legion and originally called the Citizens' Flag Honor Guard. , tied the flag-burning amendment to a series of other long-sought Religious Right goals. Wrote Brady, "But this is about rights: the right of the people to protect their flag, the right of the majority to rule, the right of the people to define their Constitution. And beyond the flag, the issue spills over into the right to protect our children from pornography, the right to own property, to pray, to post the Ten Commandments Ten Commandments or Decalogue [Gr.,=ten words], in the Bible, the summary of divine law given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai. They have a paramount place in the ethical system in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. and to say the Pledge of Allegiance Pledge of Allegiance, in full, Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, oath that proclaims loyalty to the United States. and its national symbol. ." Concluded Brady, a retired Army major, "If we can recapture our flag, we will have begun a march to recapture our Constitution." Americans United has long argued that the flag desecration amendment The Flag Desecration Amendment, often referred to as the flag burning amendment, is a controversial proposed constitutional amendment to the United States Constitution that would allow the United States Congress to statutorily prohibit expression of political views through is unnecessary for two reasons. One, it treats the flag like a sacred symbol, which it is not. The term "desecration" has traditionally been used to define attacks on religious symbols and holy books. The flag is an important civic symbol of our nation, AU argues, but it has no religious meaning. Those who are so offended of·fend v. of·fend·ed, of·fend·ing, of·fends v.tr. 1. To cause displeasure, anger, resentment, or wounded feelings in. 2. by flag "desecration" are investing the flag with religious meaning it lacks. Two, AU has argued that one alteration of the Bill of Rights could easily lead to others. The Bill of Rights, AU points out, has not been altered since its ratification The confirmation or adoption of an act that has already been performed. A principal can, for example, ratify something that has been done on his or her behalf by another individual who assumed the authority to act in the capacity of an agent. . Once that door is open, there's no telling what might run through. Brady's admission, AU says, is telling because it is evidence that he and his cohorts have admitted they have a much broader agenda for America than the flag desecration amendment. Two flag desecration amendments are pending in Congress. The leading measure, H.J. Res. 4, passed the House with the required two-thirds vote in early June and is pending in the Senate. |
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