Amy Traub

Letter to the Editor of the Week

When things get tough in America -- when job growth slows, soaring energy prices cut into family budgets, and the situation in Iraq worsens by the day -- in other words, when the nation has real and serious challenges to face -- it always seems to be in times like these that someone in Congress gets the bright idea of amending the United States Constitution to prohibit burning the flag. We could all speculate about the political reasons for the sudden focus on flag burning at a time like this, but it's also worth focusing on the substance.

If the proposed flag burning amendment were just a non-issue, a frivolous distraction from the genuine problems besetting the nation, we could breathe a sigh of relief that at least Congress is not doing any damage, making it harder for financially strapped families to declare bankruptcy, for example, or trying to eliminate taxes on inherited wealth. But a flag burning amendment is damaging in its own right, not only because it's a distraction. The Senate came within a single vote of altering the United States Constitution and abridging the First Amendment.

This week's letter to the editor, which appeared in yesterday's Washington Post captures some of my frustration.

Protecting the Flag's Symbolism
Thursday, June 29, 2006; Page A26

Because I'm the son of a veteran who fought in the Pacific during World War II, one of my proudest possessions is the American flag that adorned his casket at his military funeral some years ago. That flag reminds me of all this country stands for, especially freedom of speech, and that is why I think the flag desecration amendment is a disgrace. My father, like all our veterans, fought for political liberty, and no such right is more important than freedom of speech, including unpopular and even obnoxious expression.

Those who would amend the Constitution and chip away at the First Amendment to prohibit desecrating the flag are determined to exalt the symbol of our rights even if they must undermine the most basic right for which that symbol endures and inspires. Just as one cannot save a village by destroying it, one cannot uphold liberty by vilifying it when it becomes inconvenient or unpopular.

Flag burners are obnoxious fools. But the First Amendment protects obnoxious fools, too. If it did not, many of our elected leaders -- including the sponsors of the flag amendment -- might be subject to arrest. Thankfully, the First Amendment remains intact -- but by only one vote [front page, June 28].

EDWARD T. MULLIGAN
Springfield

Edward Mulligan, we salute you!

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Posted at 12:26 PM, Jun 30, 2006 in Letter To The Editor of the Week
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