American Flag Blog

I just came acroos this opinion piece, that, like so many others, attempts to make the case that the act of flag burning is protected as free speech by the First Amendment. And Ms. Webb cleverly bolsters her argument by pointing out that the Supreme Court agrees with her - a non-argument since the Supreme Court has many times reversed it’s own opinions.

The First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the
people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a
redress of grievances."

The problem I have with flag burning is this - the implied threat of violence and, pardon the pun, inflamed passions that invariably accompany these events, can’t reasonably be construed to be an act of "peaceable assembly" or petitioning "the government for a redress of grievances." Some might even view this type of action as an attempt to incite a riot, which is obviously not protected by the First Amendment. If we define behavior that threatens violence as "speech," where do we draw the line regarding other forms of behavior? I don’t think we can.

By Sandi Webb
"He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself."

    - Thomas Paine

"Politically popular speech has always been protected: even the Jews were free to say ‘Heil Hitler.’"

    - Isaac Asimov

On this Fourth of July, the 219th birthday since our nation was "conceived in liberty", the sight of Old Glory proudly waving brings a lump to my throat. Our flag symbolizes the greatest advance in individual rights and human liberty in the history of the world.

And yet, tragically, that same flag has become the pawn in an effort to whittle away at our most cherished freedoms-those very freedoms that it has stood for all these years.

An effort is now under way to pass a constitutional amendment that would prohibit flag-burning. Since the Supreme Court has ruled that flag-burning is protected under the First Amendment, Congress is rushing to alter the First Amendment.

After all, politicians have to prove that they’re in favor of mom, apple pie, and the flag. Never mind that hardly anybody is actually burning the flag. Focusing on non-problems is great for diverting attention (and criticism) from their handling of real problems.

But if they’re willing to tamper with the First Amendment today, what’s to stop them from tampering with the other amendments tomorrow? They can always come up with good excuses. And each time it will seem like such a little thing, hardly worth getting upset about.

I consider the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights to be the two most important political documents ever written. The first threw off the chains of an oppressive government, and the second tried to safeguard us from the formation of new chains.

The entire Bill of Rights is about limiting the power of government and securing our individual freedoms.

I’ve argued before that when our Founding Fathers wrote the Second Amendment, they were not thinking about duck hunting. They wanted "the people" to have the means of defending themselves, if necessary, against a tyrannical government.

In the same way, when our Founding Fathers wrote the First Amendment, they were not thinking about nude dancing. They wanted "the people" to have the means of voicing their opposition, no matter how unpopular, against a repressive government.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

The First Amendment was specifically designed to protect unorthodox views, unpopular ideas, and political dissension. Would it make any sense if it protected only orthodox views, popular ideas, and political harmony? Since when have those ever been in danger?

When government agents behave like jack-booted thugs, we must have the freedom to speak out against them. When bureaucrats bind us with regulations, and politicians tax us to death, we must retain the means of protest.

More than anything else, we need to protect political speech and political action. We must be able to criticize our own government. That’s what the Declaration of Independence was all about. That’s our nation’s birthright.

To me, a flag is far more than just a colored bolt of cloth. It’s an idea, it’s a vision of the principles we believe in. You can’t destroy an idea by burning a piece of cloth. Even if someone were to burn every flag in the world, he’d accomplish nothing. The vision would still be there.

Flags can always be replaced. Principles can’t.

If this measure passes, if we take the first little nick out of the Bill of Rights on the pretext of "protecting our flag", I will never be able to look at it again with quite as much pride.

And I don’t want that to happen. I don’t want to lose that lump in my throat.

I don’t want to see the true meaning of our flag desecrated.

This Fourth of July op-ed piece was published in the chain of Star Newspapers in Ventura County, CA, by Simi Valley Libertarian Party city council member Sandi Webb.

I have a solution: the Israeli Government should quickly pass a law requiring all commercial airlines based in Israel to display the flag of Israel prominently on the fuselage of every aircraft and put an end to this nonsense. Can you imagine if US air carriers took competition to this low and ridiculous level?

Of course, it would never happen here because airlines in this country are too busy trying to figure out how to attract new customers. And you don’t accomplish that by presenting yourself as petty and stupid.

Israir Airlines says recently privatized national airline should not be allowed to use Israeli flag as trademark

By Arieh Egozi

TEL AVIV - El Al Israel Airlines should be instructed to remove the Israeli flag from its airplanes, lawyers for competitor Israir Airlines told Interior Minister Ophir Pines-Paz.

The recently privatized El Al is no longer a government company, and therefore should not be allowed to use the national flag as its trademark, Israir said.

Displaying the Israeli flag on El Al planes constitutes a violation of the Flag Law and misleads consumers by making it appear the airline still acts on behalf of the State of Israel, a lawyer for Israir wrote.

‘El Al is a national symbol’

El Al officials, however, slammed Israir’s request.

"I regret that Israir and those who head it chose to undermine Israeli pride shortly before Independence Day," El Al CEO Haim Romano said. "El Al is a national symbol of the State of Israel."

Israir’s latest move comes in the framework of the raging war between the two airlines. Previously, Israir accused El Al of attempting to undermine Israir’s charter flights to New York, and demanded a permit that would allow it to offer regular flights to the lucrative destination.

This is the kind of thing that makes me proud to be an American. So many people willing to sacrifice their time and money in recognition of the huge sacrifice our soldiers are making.

If you know someone who could benefit from this program, please pass it along.

Free Mother’s Day Videoconferencing Offered

By Steven Donald Smith / American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 27, 2005  – The Freedom Calls Foundation will provide free videoconferencing for servicemembers and their families over Mother’s Day weekend, May 7-8.

The private 20- to 30-minute high-tech videoconferences are scheduled to link troops at Al Asad Airfield and Camp Taji in Iraq with family members at specified locations in 10 cities across the United States on those two days, said Ed Bukstel, Freedom Calls Foundation co-founder.

The foundation is part of the Defense Department’s America Supports You campaign, which spotlights how Americans across the country are supporting the men and women of the U.S. military.

The foundation provides video services and equipment to military hospitals and bases around the world. Its services enable troops to remotely attend graduations and other important family milestones, such as birthdays and the birth of babies.

The 10 cities that will host the videoconferences are Atlanta; New York; Kansas City; Wilmington, N.C.; Groton, Conn.; Dallas; San Antonio; Los Angeles; Fayetteville, Ark.; and Chicago.

Families wishing to connect with their loved ones during the Mother’s Day weekend should contact Bukstel at ebukstel@freedomcalls.org

Flag fashion sweeps the country [Agence France Presse]

Lebanon flaunts the new cedar chic on everything from cookies to cars

BEIRUT: It is finally trendy to be Lebanese in Lebanon. Since the launch of the "uprising for independence" a few weeks ago, the Lebanese national colors have become the ‘in’ thing to wear, eat and drink. Artisans are stitching red and white bags, bakers are making cookies featuring the flag’s cedar tree, artists are drawing paintings with national symbols and jewelers are engraving bracelets with patriotic slogans.

When they feel cold, demonstrators and concert-goers wrap the Lebanese flag around their shoulders, particularly in Martyrs’ Square which has become the capital’s new point of convergence.

The square is where massive protests erupted after the burial of former Premier Rafik Hariri, whose February 14 assassination awakened national feelings against Syria’s military and political domination.

In a country where some refused to salute the flag because it symbolized a regime led by Christians and their wealthy Muslim allies prior to the 1975-1990 civil war, the national emblem is finally being adopted by all.

Even the Lebanese resistance group Hizbullah staged its first massive demonstration under a sea of Lebanese flags.

"Before the war, I refused to stand at the national anthem and salute the flag every morning in class," said former teacher Rouba Khalil.

"Back then, a large part of the population - namely many Muslims, leftists and nationalists - associated the Lebanese flag, the cedar tree and the national anthem with the regime," she explained.

"Now people make the difference between the nation and the regime," said Khalil, proudly sporting stickers of the Lebanese flag on her jacket.

Today, phones ring to the tune of the national anthem, cars roam the streets with Lebanese flags fluttering from their windows and music shops sell compilations of patriotic songs that have accompanied street protests.

Red-hot music star Haifa Wehbe abandoned the Arab stage for a day to read stories to children as part of national unity actions. Famous singers have put aside old feuds to make collective patriotic music videos.

Under layers of gold necklaces, even the most fashion-conscious social butterflies are not afraid to be seen walking the pavements of boutique-lined streets wearing badges calling for "freedom" on their chic jackets.

A downtown cafe advertisement even attempts to lure clients - now busy with street protests - to "demonstrate your love" by buying sandwiches at its outlets in response to opposition calls for an economic revival.

The Lebanese entrepreneurial spirit has prompted jeweler Leon Shirikjian to launch a "nationalistic" collection of silver bracelets engraved with a church, a mosque and the first line of the national anthem: "All for the nation."

Caterer Hala Beydoun is also engaged in the thriving trade. She has been baking cookies decorated with Lebanese flags, cedar trees and even gingerbread "protestors" with icing messages crying for "freedom, sovereignty and independence."

Need to flick ash from your cigarette? Buy one of Maryse Mokdessi’s handmade porcelain ashtrays declaring in large print: "100 percent Lebanese."

At the Bokja shop, which usually creates exclusive furniture made from Central Asian tapestries, Maria Hibri has sold out an entire collection of sofas made on the spur of the moment using fabrics with pictures of flag-waving demonstrators on Martyrs’ Square.

Suha Thumi’s company can hardly meet demand, both in Lebanon and among an emigrant community following developments at home, for her t-shirts printed with witty messages about Lebanese identity.

"One of our best sellers was a t-shirt with a message on the back reading: ‘yalla bye,’ which protestors wore when Syria announced it was pulling out its forces from Lebanon," she said.

Apart from the Lebanese flag, loyalist and opposition followers agree on one thing: Roula Bazerji’s handmade bracelets which say it all: "Kafa," (enough).

I guess this is more proof that politicians are politicians - no matter how funny their accent is.

From the Herald Sun
The Howard Government has been accused of pinning its political colours to the mast in a funding row over the Australian flag.

Primary and secondary schools are being paid up to $1500 to install flagpoles and fly the national flag. But a demand that participating schools invite Howard Government MPs to their flag-raising ceremonies has sparked claims by Labor that the Government is politicising patriotism.

Application forms for the cash initially asked schools to tick a box that said: "I agree to invite a federal parliamentarian to attend a flag-raising ceremony". The new forms require schools to "arrange attendance by an Australian Government representative". They must also erect a plaque saying: "This flagpole was a gift from the Australian Government".

Victorian schools have been the most patriotic to date — nearly 550 of the 1473 Australian schools to request a flagpole are Victorian. About 300 dedication ceremonies have been held nationally.

Deputy Opposition Leader and education spokeswoman Jenny Macklin said the conditions were insulting and an abuse of taxpayers’ cash. "Our Australian flag should be a symbol of democracy — not one of political abuse by an arrogant Howard Government," she said. "Schools must be allowed to invite whomever they choose to a flag-raising ceremony without fear of losing funding."

But the Government’s parliamentary secretary on education, Liberal Pat Farmer, denied non-Government MPs were excluded from the ceremonies. He said he was not sure why the application forms had been changed.

Opposition, minor party and independent MPs were welcome to attend the ceremonies, but a government MP would officiate. "It should never exclude any federal member," he said last night. "I don’t know why that was done. We don’t have a problem with anybody from Federal Parliament attending those functions, it’s just that it’s the Federal Government’s initiative and they are paying the money. "We just want to make sure there is a representative from the Government there."

Restored Iowa Civil War battle flag on display

DES MOINES (AP) — With seven descendants of Iowa Civil War soldiers standing at attention, a restored flag carried into the war by an Iowa regiment was placed on display at the Statehouse.

Encased in a glass, wood-framed case, the flag has 13 alternating red and white stripes and 34 white stars in a circular pattern on a field of blue. The entire banner is lined on the edges with a band of gold frills.

The flag, made in Philadelphia in 1863, is faded and has patches of silk cloth missing.

It was carried by the 33rd Iowa Infantry, a group of farmers, businessmen and craftsmen who left their families in the fall of 1862. About a third of the unit survived battle and disease to return home in 1865, said Bill Johnson, curator for the State Historical Society of Iowa.

"It’s difficult to capture into words the emotion of what happens when you realize the last people who saw these colors unfurled are all dead now," said Tom Clegg, of Urbandale, who was one of seven Civil War re-enactors dressed in the uniforms of Company B, 15th Iowa Volunteer Infantry.

His great-great-great grandfather, John Fisher, served in the regiment.

He said flags for Civil War soldiers were important because they served not only as the nation’s symbol, but also helped guide soldiers in battle.

"It was precious and they defended it to the death," Clegg said Wednesday.

To Jim Hawk the unveiling of the flag was an emotional occasion.

The departmental commander for the Iowa Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War was involved in beginning a restoration project of Iowa’s historic battle flags in 2001.

With tears welling in his eyes, Hawk told of his family history, which included Robert H. Redd, who fought with the 7th Illinois Cavalry and Robert Coles, a master sergeant with Company H, 3rd Iowa Cavalry.

"This has been a great honor for me, to do such a great thing to honor our Civil War ancestors," he said. "If it wasn’t for these gentleman who sacrificed their lives to preserve the union, we wouldn’t have the freedoms we have today."

The state plans to restore 214 battle flags from the Civil War, World War II and the Spanish American War. The flags are stored at the Iowa Battle Flag Preservation Laboratory in the State Historical Building and will be displayed individually as they are completed.

The state has completed restoration of 110 flags since the project began in 2001.

Each flag costs about $20,000 to restore, said Anita Walker, Director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.

The Legislature has appropriated money for the project and the state has received a $75,000 America’s Treasure federal grant. Individuals and organizations interest in historic preservation have also contributed money.

Walker said a request of $220,000 is before the Legislature this year to continue the work.

"It’s a painstaking and meticulous process," she said.

Each flag is unrolled from its staff and small vacuum cleaners are used to remove dirt, dust and pollen, which is sent to a laboratory for analysis. Many of the flags have bullet holes and blood stains.

The 33rd Infantry flag will be on display in the first floor rotunda of the Statehouse for the next six to eight weeks and then it will be replaced by another restored flag, Walker said. Others are on display at the State Historical Building.

On Thursday, I wrote about a bipartisan resolution recently introduced in the Senate to ammend the Constitution allowing Congress to probit the desecration of the American flag. Today, while surfing through the Citizen’s Flag Alliance website, I came across an editorial originally published in March of 2000, that is perhaps, more timely now than when it was written.

The reason I say this is because it not only deals with the issue of flag burning, but also with activist judges who pay lip service to the Constitution in order to promote fringe political agendas - political agendas, for example, that would protect physical desecration of the American flag as "free speech."

You can read the editorial here: It’s Not The Flag, Stupid

Here’s some interesting news from our friends at The National Flag Foudation.

The Smithsonian Institution, with support from the White House and funding from the Pew Charitable Trust and other sources, is undertaking an ambitious effort to restore the Star-Spangled Banner, the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to pen what became our country’s national anthem.

The 30-foot b 42-foot Garrison Flag flew over Baltimore’s Ft. McHenry during the unsuccessful British bombardment of the fort on September 13-14, 1814. Key, a Washington D.C. attorney, witnessed the  bombardment aboard a flag-of-truce ship, and was moved to pen the first stanza of his poem that, set to the English melody "Anacreon in Heaven", officially became America’s national anthem in 1931.

The historically priceless flag has been in the possession of the Smithsonian since 1912, when it was donated by the grandson of the fort’s commander. It was repaired in 1914 and then displayed, folded, in an inadequate case in the Arts and Industries Building before being moved to the National Museum of American History in 1963.

The flag was most recently cleaned in 1982 at which time a protective screen was installed to further protect it from the deleterious effects of dust and light. Cables holding the screen failed in 1994, increasing the urgency of the Smithsonian’s efforts. The restoration process is expected to take approximately three years.The U.S. Flag, adopted on June 14, 1777, is the fourth oldest national flag in the world. Denmark’s flag, adopted in 1219, is the oldest.

I strongly agree with this effort. The First Ammendment protects freedom of speech, but in recent decades, the original intent has been stretched, twisted and otherwise ignored in order to include various types of behavior.  And protecting freedom of behavior under the First Ammendment seems to me to be an extraordinarily bad idea.

The defenders of this notion refer to it as "freedom of expression."  It sounds nice, but it’s still a dangerous idea. Perhaps the guy who spat in Jane Fonda’s face could claim protection under the First Ammendment. Or worse yet, the terrorists who destroyed the Federal Building and scores of innocent lives in Oklahoma City ten years ago. Where do you draw the line.

It’s time we started seperating speech from behavior.

On Thursday, April 14, 2005, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch [R-UT], along with Senator Dianne Feinstein [D-CA], introduced Senate Joint Resolution [S.J. Res.] 12 with these words:

"Mr. President, it is with a sense of honor that my friend and colleague, Senator Feinstein, and I rise to introduce a bipartisan constitutional amendment that would allow Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the American flag.

"I am proud and privileged to be working again with my California colleague on this important proposal. Among our principal cosponsors are our colleagues Senator Thune and Senator Talent. It is heartening to us to see some of the Senate’s newest Members come to this issue with the same passion that its original supporters still feel."

The language of the measure reads, "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." S. J. Res. 12 was read twice and referred to the Senate Judiciary.

In earlier action on the House side of the "Hill," U.S. Rep. Duke Cunningham [R-CA], along with U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha [D-PA] introduced Housed Joint Resolution [H.J. Res.] 10. It was referred to the House Judiciary Committee and early in March was referred to the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution. H.J. Res. 10 enjoys cosponsorship from 98 Members. The language of the House measure is identical to S. J. Res. 12 in the Senate.

With a resolution now active in both the House and the Senate, flag amendment advocates need to turn efforts toward securing additional cosponsors for each resolution.

Telephone numbers for U.S. Senators’ and Representatives’ District offices can be obtained from the blue pages of a local phone book or by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at [202] 224-3121. Members of Congress are also accessible via the Internet. Place their last name in a search engine, and then follow the links to their email address.

In his introductory remarks, Sen. Hatch commented on the right of the people to amend their Constitution by noting that amending the Constitution should never be taken lightly. "Yet after serious study of the issue," said Hatch, "I have concluded there is no other way to guarantee that our flag is protected . . . . And, indeed, guaranteeing the physical integrity of the flag is a cause worth fighting for. The American people seem to understand what the opponents of this amendment fail to grasp. This amendment is a necessary statement that citizens still have some control over the destiny of this Nation and in maintaining the traditions and symbols that have helped to bind us together in all our diversity for over 200 years."

The member organizations of the Citizens Flag Alliance agree.

Californians Show Respect for Fallen Troops

By Rudi Williams / American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, April 20, 2005  – Californians Grant Bjorn and Robert C. Pfeiler are reaching out to America. They’re working to bring the country together in support of fallen servicemembers and the families they’ve left behind.

The two men embarked on their quest in January, when they formed “American Heroes Tribute,” a nonprofit corporation aimed at showing respect and support as a country to fallen servicemembers who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families.

To honor the fallen and their families, the pair envision placing large, tribute banners for each fallen warrior on light poles in cities and counties across the country by Memorial Day 2006.

They’re kicking off the tribute on April 24 in San Clemente, Calif., by hanging 24 3-feet-by-8-feet banners on light poles throughout the city. The banners feature photographs of servicemembers from the local area who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We contacted some of the families here in Orange County, Calif., and asked them to e-mail us a picture of their lost loved one,” Bjorn said, adding that the city of San Clemente and Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton helped them get the names of the fallen troops in that area. “Underneath the picture, we put the servicemember’s name, rank, hometown, and when and where he or she was killed.”

Family members were then asked to say something about their lost loved one, like, “He loved fishing,” or, “He loved to fly, and after getting out of the service he wanted to become a commercial pilot,” said Bjorn, who does the artwork and design of the banners.

“We ask for comments like that so each banner is different,” Bjorn said. “We’re letting the families tell us what they would like because it’s a tribute to them, not anything about pro-war or anti-war. It’s plain and simple a tribute to the men and women who lost their lives.”

The reverse side of each banner features an image of an American flag. Initially, the banners will be placed on light poles on streets and highways throughout participating cities and counties in Southern California, according to Pfeiler.

American Heroes Tribute, based in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., hopes to erect more than 1,500 banners on light poles in San Diego, this Memorial Day. “From there, this banner tribute will systematically move up the coast of California and continue its journey across our country, weaving a ribbon of unity in community after community,” Pfeiler said. “On Memorial Day 2006, the banner tribute will complete its journey in Washington, D.C., in a grand and glorious event.”

Pfeiler said Grant thought of the concept in December 2004. “One day after church he was talking to a couple of veterans and the idea just popped into his mind. When he told me about it, immediately, I was hooked,” Pfeiler said. “I’ve never been so irresistibly compelled to make something happen like I am this. It’s quite phenomenal — the creative force and energy behind it.”

Bjorn, who owns a sign business, said his guys are using his company’s cherry-picker truck to post the banners in his local area.

He said he hopes that the American Heroes Tribute catches on like branches of a tree. “We’re hoping that one branch will grow into other branches and people will say, ‘Let’s do one for our hometown,’” he said. “If we get this working, let’s show other people how they can do tributes for their fallen, whether it’s a car wash or something like ours.”

Eventually, American Heroes Tribute wants to raise money to help children and spouses of fallen servicemembers.

American Heroes Tribute also wants to honor foreign allies and non-American citizens who serve in the U.S. military, Bjorn noted. “Here in Southern California people from South America and Mexico come here to join the Army or the Marines. We’re going to place a small flag from their country on their banners.”

By Memorial Day 2006, Pfeiler would like to see more than 1,600 military families “happily embraced by their country,” he said. “They and the country (would be) better and healthier for it. I would like our allies to see how the great American spirit has reached across the borders and acknowledged and touched them in the special way Americans can.