The latest in a long, long list of executive orders seeks to punish those who would dare to burn the American flag.
Don’t we ever learn?
Maybe President Donald Trump is trying to carve out a historical niche for himself by pandering to a vocal minority. Wake up, folks. The issue of flag burning was settled by the Supreme Court over 30 years ago. This futile attempt to revive the issue is the latest attempt by the executive branch to expand imperial power.
Ever since that 1989 Supreme Court decision, our democracy has managed to survive despite a lack of enforcement against this form of inane, yet lawful, protest. While signing the flag desecration order may seem like a logical response, it is in fact a feel-good action with little long-lasting merit. Underneath that action, however, lurk dangerous shoals that threaten our ship of state.
The danger lies in tampering with our established First Amendment freedoms. When we place restrictions on free expression, we run the risk of setting a precedent that could lead to the compromising of our constitutional rights.
The interpretation of the order would steer the country into the murky waters of deciding what is flag desecration and what is free expression. Do we jail merchants who use the flag in their advertising or who sell T-shirts with a flag motif?
Throughout history, flags have held power. They were used to identify countries or groups when they gathered for festivals or political meetings. They were used in warfare to help troops find their units amid the chaos of battle. Flags are important symbols and should be recognized as such.
For me, however, they represent a more important symbol of America. It is the spirit of our people that is manifested in a love for our country and is displayed in such simple ways as helping our neighbors when they are in need, or serving on a local school board.
By taking the easy step of using an executive order to ban flag burning, we sidestep the real issue of patriotism. Being proud of America means being proud of the people — our original and still most potent symbol of national strength and pride.
Free speech and the right to demonstrate in a lawful manner are liberties we hold dear and have more meaning than a piece of cloth that represents more of a national identity than the principles of constitutional freedoms.
The spirit in which we love our country does not spring solely from flag worship. It comes from within and often shows itself through individual and community involvement. This is how we explore our sense of morality, which in turn, dictates how we lead our lives.
Patriots are people who realize the strength of a nation lies not in external symbols but in the power of the human spirit working toward a common goal — making our nation strong, healthy and compassionate.
Wrapping ourselves in the flag while condemning those who chose to demonstrate their disapproval by a tasteless act is a hollow gesture. Trampling on the rights of others in defense of our particular brand of patriotism depreciates and defiles the principle of freedom for all, a principle on which the United States was founded.
Being a veteran, I do not agree with flag burning and would never engage in the practice. But I am neither intimidated by or spiteful toward those who do. By remaining morally committed, our spirit is clear and we have little to fear from views different from our own.
The power of America lies in its people working together toward a common goal. This principle has persisted throughout our history and will continue only if we work as a united nation. Let’s not be diverted by needless name-calling when we can use that energy to solve the many complex problems we will face in the future.
