In a recent column, Clarence Page claimed that burning the United States flag for political purposes shows more respect than flying it over a car dealership. This was one of the best examples of liberal sophistry ever printed in the Tribune.
He seems to forget that our flag symbolizes not only the rights of free speech but also the right to conduct legal trade and to own property as individuals. As such, it is just as correctly flown on commercial sites as it is at Klan or left-wing rallies.
This amendment is necessary because an overwhelming majority of Americans believe that the Supreme Court erred in failing to recognize the right of local government to place limits on public behavior. Can nude-ins by prostitutes be justified on the grounds of free speech? Why can the burning of leaves or trash be illegal but not burning our nation’s symbol?
The Founding Fathers did not intend for our Constitution to be easily changed, and rightfully so. However, they also intended for our citizens to be the final judges of constitutional law–not the Supreme Court. It was our citizens, through constitutional amendment, who overturned Supreme Court decisions against democratic rights for minorities and women.
The flag-desecration amendment is not the work of Republican ideologues and American Legion lobbyists, as Mr. Page claims. The facts are that 49 state legislatures have passed resolutions and more than 2 millions Americans have signed petitions in support of this amendment.
Liberal educators have indoctrinated our children with the concepts that society has no right to judge and control public behavior and that all authority should be resisted. The news media, under their First Amendment rights, have used these same concepts to glorify all lewd and scandalous behavior and to ridicule American ideals and moral values. This amendment reaffirms the right of society to define the limits of public behavior.
The U.S. flag can be properly displayed or draped over the coffin of a deceased veteran. Any other use is unacceptable.
