What’s on your representatives’ minds? Iraq? Social Security? Maybe they are giving our current dependency on foreign oil some thought? Nope, they’re worried about people burning the US flag. So worried, in fact, the House of Representatives have taken the drastic step of approving a Constitutional amendment. To make matters worse the proposed amendment is absurdly vague.
The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.
The funny part is that the the US Flag Code specifically states that the flag should be disposed of by burning it.
The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.
Also, what does desecration mean, exactly? According to Wiktionary it means the following.
An act of disrespect or impiety towards something considered sacred; blasphemy, sacrilege or profanation.
First of all I have problems with the country’s near religious worshipping of a piece of cloth. Why is it so sacred? The ideals it represents should be held in higher esteem. At any rate, what constitutes desecration? The amendment is worded in such a way that anything could be construed as desecration. Can I still wear my hammer pants with the flag on them? What if I leave the flag out in the rain because I’m forgetful? Am I breaking the law?
Never mind the fact that 95% of all the flag burning you see on TV takes place in a foreign country. Idiots.
UPDATE: It appears that it is already illegal to desecrate the flag, which makes this proposed amendment even more confusing to me.
Whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles,
burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag
of the United States shall be fined under this title or imprisoned
for not more than one year, or both.
