Freedom of speech has already been curtailed by the passage of the so-called Patriot Act. The passage of an amendment to protect the flag of the United States from “desecration” would violate the very first line of the 1st Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”
Saying that the flag shall not be desecrated is the equivalent of setting up a state religion, and this should not be tolerated by any citizen of this country. This nation was founded by people attempting to escape the bloody Church of England and its reign over their lives.
The definition of “desecrate” is to disregard the sacredness of; to render the flag of this country as a sacred object is to establish it as a holy symbol, connected with religion.
Will the taxpayers tolerate the institution of a Federal Flag Police? The rules of flag etiquette we learned as students in civics class or as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have already been largely ignored with the practice of displaying flags on flimsy plastic holders (made in China) mounted outside car windows. Will the Flag Police arrest as violators of the new law those people who fail to retrieve such a flag when it has broken off a car at 50 miles per hour and fallen in the gutter?
What will be the proper display of respect–a curtsy before the king, sign of the cross before a bishop?
What amount of secondary legislation will we endure as our representatives develop an entire legal code surrounding this seemingly simple amendment?
Say no to state religion, or you can kiss all your other freedoms good-bye.
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Editor’s note: To read additional letters to the editor, visit http://bancodeprofissionais.com/flagletters
