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One Reporter's Opinion - Old Glory Deserves to Be Protected George Putnam It is this reporter's opinion that among the many issues to be considered by the new Supreme Court is the position of the flag of the United States of America. The vast majority of Americans, along with this reporter, believes our flag is a national treasure – that no statue, no monument, no document, no artifact says "AMERICA" as eloquently. No other symbol of our nation has led men and women into battle, been sanctified by the blood of patriots, and then draped – in honored glory – over the caskets of those who gave their last full measure of devotion.
Desecrating the flag dishonors the memory of those who have died defending it. The American flag represents all that unites us as "one nation under God." The American flag is a constant reminder of the ideals we share, and because of its significance, we Americans have always provided our flag a measure of protection from abuse – preferring to hold it above domestic turmoil and political posturing.
And yet in the summer of 1984 one Gregory Johnson participated in an anti-American demonstration in Dallas, Texas. Demonstrators marched to the Dallas City Hall, defaced buildings with spray paint, turned over potted plants, then stole an American flag from a Dallas bank. As patriotic Texans watched in outrage and anger, Johnson torched the flag and chanted, "AMERICA, THE RED WHITE AND BLUE, WE SPIT ON YOU." Johnson was arrested, charged, tried and convicted of violating a Texas law that made the public desecration of our U.S. flag a crime.
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Five years later, in a 5-to-4 split decision, the Supreme Court ruled that Johnson had been denied his rights. The highest court in the land ruled that Johnson and his free speech were protected by the First Amendment. Thus the court took away the right of the people to protect the flag of our nation from intentional, public physical desecration.
The American people were outraged, as was Major General Patrick H. Brady, who organized THE CITIZENS FLAG ALLIANCE, INC., a coalition of organizations, national in scope, that have come together to persuade the Congress of the U.S. to propose a constitutional amendment to protect the flag of the U.S. from acts of physical desecration and to send the amendment to the states for ratification.
General Brady is an amazing individual. He is one of a handful of veterans who holds both the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross – two eminent service medals – six Distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars and 53 Air Medals.
General Brady has spent over 34 years in the service of our country; he was in Germany, Korea and Vietnam. Who better than General Pat, this Medal of Honor recipient, knows that the way to protect our flag is a constitutional amendment, which would put the decision in the hands of elected representative bodies and the people themselves – not lawyers sitting as judges.
A large majority of the U.S. Senate is committed to send the flag amendment to the states for an up-or-down vote. But once again, a few "swing" senators are coming up with old excuses. They insist there's another way – that a flag protection statute would be better than a constitutional amendment. But with the new balance on the court – Roberts and, hopefully, Alito – common sense will prevail.
If you feel as I and the vast majority of Americans do, contact:
THE CITIZENS FLAG ALLIANCE, INC.
We have 20 million who feel as we do; you can make it 21 million.
Editor's note:
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