It’s Okay, People Want It
Supporters of a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning hoped a bigger Republican majority in Congress and wartime patriotism would give the proposal the best chance in years to advance to the states for ratification.
“The American people want this,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, sponsor of the amendment in the Senate. “I believe this is the year that the Senate will join the House to send it to the states for ratification.”
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Supporters said there was more public backing than ever because of emotions following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Proponents said detractors were out of touch with public sentiment.
“Ask the men and women who stood on top of the Trade Center,” said Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham, R-Calif. “Ask them and they will tell you: Pass this amendment.”
See, it’s okay to trample on the first amendment… the American people want it! The supporters of this amendment want to dictate patriotism. They want to hijack the surge in patriotism after 9/11 and use it to impose patriotism on others. They have so little respect for this country that they hold a cloth icon in higher esteem than the actual freedom it represents.
Thankfully, the amendment seems to have little chance of passing.
But an informal survey Wednesday by The Associated Press suggested the amendment’s prospects in the Senate are no brighter than in the past, unless there is a switch in position by one or more senators.
The tally found 35 senators on record as opposing the amendment — one more than the number needed to defeat it if all 100 senators vote, barring a change in position.
