The newest in an extended, lengthy record of government orders seeks to punish those that would dare to burn the American flag.
Don’t we ever be taught?
Possibly President Donald Trump is attempting to carve out a historic area of interest for himself by pandering to a vocal minority. Get up, of us. The difficulty of flag burning was settled by the Supreme Court over 30 years ago. This futile try to revive the difficulty is the newest try by the manager department to increase imperial energy.
Ever since that 1989 Supreme Court docket determination, our democracy has managed to outlive regardless of a scarcity of enforcement towards this type of inane, but lawful, protest. Whereas signing the flag desecration order might appear to be a logical response, it’s in actual fact a feel-good motion with little long-lasting benefit. Beneath that motion, nevertheless, lurk harmful shoals that threaten our ship of state.
The hazard lies in tampering with our established First Modification freedoms. Once we place restrictions on free expression, we run the danger of setting a precedent that would result in the compromising of our constitutional rights.
The interpretation of the order would steer the nation into the murky waters of deciding what’s flag desecration and what’s free expression. Will we jail retailers who use the flag of their promoting or who promote T-shirts with a flag motif?
All through historical past, flags have held energy. They have been used to determine international locations or teams after they gathered for festivals or political conferences. They have been utilized in warfare to assist troops discover their models amid the chaos of battle. Flags are necessary symbols and ought to be acknowledged as such.
For me, nevertheless, they symbolize a extra necessary image of America. It’s the spirit of our individuals that’s manifested in a love for our nation and is displayed in such easy methods as serving to our neighbors when they’re in want, or serving on a neighborhood college board.
By taking the simple step of utilizing an government order to ban flag burning, we sidestep the true challenge of patriotism. Being happy with America means being happy with the individuals — our authentic and nonetheless most potent image of nationwide power and delight.
Free speech and the correct to show in a lawful method are liberties we maintain pricey and have extra which means than a bit of fabric that represents extra of a nationwide id than the ideas of constitutional freedoms.
The spirit by which we love our nation doesn’t spring solely from flag worship. It comes from inside and infrequently reveals itself by particular person and group involvement. That is how we discover our sense of morality, which in flip, dictates how we lead our lives.
Patriots are individuals who understand the power of a nation lies not in exterior symbols however within the energy of the human spirit working towards a typical aim — making our nation robust, wholesome and compassionate.
Wrapping ourselves within the flag whereas condemning those that selected to show their disapproval by a tasteless act is a hole gesture. Trampling on the rights of others in protection of our specific model of patriotism depreciates and defiles the precept of freedom for all, a precept on which the USA was based.
Being a veteran, I don’t agree with flag burning and would by no means interact within the apply. However I’m neither intimidated by or spiteful towards those that do. By remaining morally dedicated, our spirit is evident and we now have little to worry from views totally different from our personal.
The ability of America lies in its individuals working collectively towards a typical aim. This precept has endured all through our historical past and can proceed provided that we work as a united nation. Let’s not be diverted by unnecessary name-calling after we can use that vitality to resolve the numerous advanced issues we are going to face sooner or later.
