I Heard Somebody Say “Burn Baby, Burn…”

I feel I have to begin by saying that this is one of those issues where my stance might surprise some people.
I love America and I love being American. I love the flag and I love everything it represents. To me, it’s a symbol that deserves the respect of the world, regardless of how you feel about the the political party in power. I believe that the desecration of the flag by dropping it on the ground or by burning it is absolutely wrong.
However, with all that said, I think it’s unconstitutional for the legislative branch of our government to try and pass a law making flag burning illegal.
Now, I realize that my saying that is as a Conservative is the equivalent of political heresy. I know this. Those who share the majority of my political beliefs will be all over talk radio and the blogosphere calling people like me unpatriotic because we share a different view. (One that agrees with the 1989 ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States of America, I might add.)
You know, it really does anger me to see some jackass protestor (like the one to the right) burning a flag in protest. My father defended that flag. My grandfather defended that flag. My friends and family members have defended that flag. Countless others have not only defended that flag, but also spilled their blood for the right to fly it. I find flag burning to be a reprehensible act, one that might as well have the protestors urinating on the graves of those brave men and women who fought for our right to fly Old Glory with pride. By design, however, our Constitution allows for many things that we may disagree with or find absolutely revolting.
Let’s look at the Klan. Yes, that Klan. The Ku Klux Klan. (Please note the correct spelling.) In the United States of America, they are able to say whatever they want because they have a right to free speech. Is it despicable and contemptible? Absolutely…you bet it is. Do I agree with them? Hell, no. Do they have a right to say it regardless of what I think? Yeah, they sure do. I find their beliefs and their actions to be morally reprehensible, but our Constitution allows them the right to say what they like. I don’t have to like it–and I don’t–but it is an excellent example of how the freedoms we have don’t just apply to the people who are in the majority opinion.
Freedom of religion is exactly the same concept to me. I don’t believe in organized religion, personally. I find most of them to be nothing more than money-making enterprises who prey on the credulous simplicity of the flock. I don’t think that God lives in a building that I have to visit every week in order to know I’ve got some spirituality. Every American has the right to worship—or to NOT worship—as they see fit, whether we agree with it personally or not.
To me, burning a flag is the same exact issue. The very same. Our Constitution exists to protect all kinds of speech and especially political speech. Our founding fathers knew that there had to be protection against reprisal for those who spoke out against their government. We cannot outlaw one form of political speech just because we find it distasteful.
The five most beautiful words in the Constitution of the United States of America are these:
Congress shall make no law…
They’re the first five words of Amendment I of the Bill of Rights. They appear in that order only once in the entire document, but they’re five of the most powerful words put to paper in our society. If we are to pass a law prohibiting the burning of the American flag, then we’re no different and no better than those who sought to abolish the rights of our ancestors before they set out for the New World.
I don’t have to like flag burning and, in fact, I don’t. Nothing would make me happier than to tackle some jackass flag burner to the ground and kick their ass. That, or I’d love to see some of America’s bravest, our soldiers and veterans, happen upon said jackass and watch what happens. I don’t have to like it, but I do have to understand it.
The only thing I can truly hope for is that anytime a flag is burned in protest it’s wrapped snugly around a protestor as it’s set ablaze.
Freedom of speech, baby. Freedom of speech.
William Smith
ConservativeBlogger.com