The Flag

The proposed "Flag anti-desecration" amendment to the constitution was defeated in the Senate (only 66 votes for, 67 were needed) the other day. Supporters claim they want to avoid desecration of the flag that our brave servicemen fought and died for. (Oddly enough, those self-same servicemen, including a few who voted against the amendment, thought they were fighting and dying for their country, not a piece of cloth.)

According to the United States Flag Code

§176. Respect for flag
No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America...

(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery.




(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.


(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.


(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform.

Can you imagine the consequences of actual passage of such an amendment? No more flag stamps, flag shirts, flag posters, flag hats, little flags attached to the SUV! No more campaign bumper stickers with the flag on them! No more ads for Presidents' Day or Fourth of July sales featuring flags! No more refuges for scoundrels.... The red state bric-a-brac industry and Republican campaign memorabilia industries will be in tatters!

And what would the president sign? (Besides signing statements intended to destroy the constitution's separation of powers and abrogate our civil liberties.)