The Flag Burning Amendment fell short of Senate ratification by one vote, 66-34. Let me repeat that- ONE VOTE!! This is yet another reminder that in today's political climate, dissent is not really tolerated.
Burning the flag is a powerful statement. It is because of this power that flag burning merits protection, not prohibition. If flag burning is banned, the government is saying in effect, "you can protest, you can disagree with US policy, but we are going to handcuff your ability to do so." Its like being allowed to play poker, but having the aces taken out of the deck. Can you play? Technically, yes, but you sure are missing something.
I believe the argument made by many lawmakers as well as the adminstration that flag burning is an insult to our men and women in uniform is disingenuous. What are our troops fighting for if not to preserve our liberties? They may not agree with flag burning, as most civilians do not agree with flag burning. But I believe that the majority of our armed forces support the notion that we as Americans must be free to express ourselves as we see fit. Indeed, if history has any bearing on this debate, many of the flag burners in the 1970's- when flag burning was at it's height as a form of protest- were veterans opposing the Vietnam conflict.
Still there are those upon who's ears my arguments will fall unconvincingly. To them I share the words of Senator Daniel Inouye (D, Hawaii), WW2 veteran and Medal of Honor recipient:
This objectionable expression is obscene, it is painful, it is unpatriotic...But I believe Americans gave their lives in many wars to make certain all Americans have a right to express themselves, even those who harbor hateful thoughts.
Here is the Senate roll call of those who supported the flag burning amendment:
Alexander (R-TN)Allard (R-CO)Allen (R-VA)Baucus (D-MT)Bayh (D-IN)Bond (R-MO)Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)Burns (R-MT)Burr (R-NC)Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)Cochran (R-MS)Coleman (R-MN)Collins (R-ME)
Cornyn (R-TX)Craig (R-ID)Crapo (R-ID)Dayton (D-MN)
DeMint (R-SC)DeWine (R-OH)Dole (R-NC) Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)Enzi (R-WY)Feinstein (D-CA)Frist (R-TN)
Graham (R-SC)Grassley (R-IA)Gregg (R-NH)Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)Hutchison (R-TX)Inhofe (R-OK)Isakson (R-GA)
Johnson (D-SD)Kyl (R-AZ)Landrieu (D-LA)Lincoln (D-AR)
Lott (R-MS)Lugar (R-IN)Martinez (R-FL)McCain (R-AZ)
Menendez (D-NJ) Murkowski (R-AK)Nelson (D-FL)Nelson (D-NE)
Reid (D-NV)Roberts (R-KS)Rockefeller (D-WV)Salazar (D-CO)
Santorum (R-PA)Sessions (R-AL)Shelby (R-AL)Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)Specter (R-PA)Stabenow (D-MI)Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)Talent (R-MO)Thomas (R-WY)Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)Voinovich (R-OH)Warner (R-VA)
Those of us who are proponents of a robust righht free speech in all its forms should remember well the above names and act accordingly when they are all up for reelection.
