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Burning the US Flag in protest has been a controversial issue for my entire lifetime, and before. I know the opposition to it stems at least from the Vietnam era, and likely earlier, perhaps to the very founding of our country.
That opposition has recently again taken a concrete form, in the form of an amendment which would state "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." This proposed amendment has already passed the House, though it faces significant opposition in the Senate and I believe would still have to be ratified by a significant number of the states even if it should pass the Senate.
Such an amendment is ironic, to say the least. First, for those who may not know (and many seem not to,) burning the flag is not in and of itself desecration. It is actually the preferred way to retire an old flag, according to the US Flag Code:
So what makes burning a flag in protest desecration? It would seem to be the intent, or rather the perception of intent. Those opposed to burning the flag see the flag as a national symbol, and burning the flag a sign of hatred for the nation it represents. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The line from the flag code is very important to this issue, as those who burn the flag in protest take a very strict interpretation of it. Beyond merely seeing the flag as sullied by physical dirt or tears, they see certain actions of the government staining the flag and desecrating it, thereby putting it into such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display. The burning of the flag is not a sign of hatred, it is a symbol of mourning, keeping our national symbol from being dragged in the mud by our government by respectfully retiring it. As the harp in the old folk song, "The Minstrel Boy", it is a beloved icon meant for the pure and free, destroyed to keep it from falling into slavery.
"The minstrel fell, but the foe-man's chains
could not keep that proud soul under.
The harp he loved never spoke again,
for he tore its chords asunder.
And said no chains shall sully thee,
Oh soul of love and bravery,
Thy songs were made for the pure and free,
they shall never sound in slavery."
That opposition has recently again taken a concrete form, in the form of an amendment which would state "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." This proposed amendment has already passed the House, though it faces significant opposition in the Senate and I believe would still have to be ratified by a significant number of the states even if it should pass the Senate.
Such an amendment is ironic, to say the least. First, for those who may not know (and many seem not to,) burning the flag is not in and of itself desecration. It is actually the preferred way to retire an old flag, according to the US Flag Code:
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.
So what makes burning a flag in protest desecration? It would seem to be the intent, or rather the perception of intent. Those opposed to burning the flag see the flag as a national symbol, and burning the flag a sign of hatred for the nation it represents. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The line from the flag code is very important to this issue, as those who burn the flag in protest take a very strict interpretation of it. Beyond merely seeing the flag as sullied by physical dirt or tears, they see certain actions of the government staining the flag and desecrating it, thereby putting it into such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display. The burning of the flag is not a sign of hatred, it is a symbol of mourning, keeping our national symbol from being dragged in the mud by our government by respectfully retiring it. As the harp in the old folk song, "The Minstrel Boy", it is a beloved icon meant for the pure and free, destroyed to keep it from falling into slavery.
"The minstrel fell, but the foe-man's chains
could not keep that proud soul under.
The harp he loved never spoke again,
for he tore its chords asunder.
And said no chains shall sully thee,
Oh soul of love and bravery,
Thy songs were made for the pure and free,
they shall never sound in slavery."
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