The US House has just, in Calley-esque fashion, voted to save the flag by destroying the freedom it stands for. In other words, they voted to propose a Constitutional amendment banning flag desecration. If it passes the Senate by a two-thirds majority, it will become a proposed amendment to our Constitution. Three-fourths of the states (38 of them, out of 50) would then have to ratify it in order for this to become part of our Constitution.

I don’t really think it’s going to pass. The House has already passed this five times before, and there are some politicians who see the nonsense in this, such as Rep. Gary L. Ackerman (D-NY) who is quoted in the article as saying, "The reason our flag is different is because it stands for burning the flag. The Constitution this week is being nibbled to death by small men with press secretaries."

But then, there’s the shameful and disgusting comments of Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA): "Ask the men and women who stood on top of the Trade Center. Ask them and they will tell you: pass this amendment." What a sleazebag! How dare he capitalize on that terrible tragedy to push forward his jingoistic agenda?

Comedian Tim Slagle does (or, at least, did) a routine about flag burning. He talks about how the flag only means something because it’s backed up by the Bill of Rights. He then sets the Bill of Rights on fire, and the American flag spontaneously combusts. He’s received tons of complaints and has even been banned from several venues because he burned the flag.

The thing is, I don’t think he ever received a single complaint about him burning the Bill of Rights.

I think that’s very telling.