The Indy Star has an editorial entitled O, say can’t Senate see those red flags?
Amending the Constitution is a grave step that never should be taken unless it fills a broad practical need, clearly defines itself and avoids conflict with the document’s existing amendments and basic guarantees.
The proposed amendment to prohibit “desecration” of the American flag, noble as its intent may be, fails all three tests.
I definitely agree with this sentiment, except for the assumption that the intent of the flag-burning amendment is noble. Most of the time, seems to me, the intent of politicians proposing such amendments is to have an opportunity for grandstanding with their patriotism on their sleeve.
One of the cool things about symbols is that they can be destroyed without damaging that which they represent. In the case of the proposed flag amendment, ironically, by protecting the symbol, we would diminish that which the symbol represents.
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