Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 07/18/2005

Dear Sgt. Shaft,
As we near a Senate vote on the flag amendment, which passed the House for the 6th time June 22, the hysteria in the media runs wild. They fear it could pass and in their frenzy they distort the facts. From recent radio and TV interviews it is clear to me that many of them have not read the amendment and do not understand its purpose or impact. Tragically, they mislead their audience and are blatantly unfair to the truth. As an aside, many of those who fight for the right to desecrate the symbol of our country are outraged at the desecration of the symbol of many terrorists. Let’s look at the truth.

Many in the media support flag desecration as free "expression." One need only think of the many types of expression to know why the Founders wisely eschewed that word. Some, in desperation to fit their objections into the First Amendment, use the word "speech" in contradiction of the dictionary and in defiance to reason.

Sixteen years ago 90 Senators voted for a statute to protect the flag after the Supreme Court, in Texas v. Johnson, took that right away. Those Senators could not have so voted if they believed flag desecration was constitutionally protected speech. Three of 4 Americans, all 50 states and over 70 percent of the Congress agree that desecrating the flag is not speech.

Critics say the amendment protects the flag and changes the Bill of Rights. It does neither, and this is important to understand.

The flag amendment says: "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." An amendment, of itself, does not protect the flag. It simply takes control over the flag away from the courts and returns it to the people where it resided until 1989. Once the amendment is ratified, and only then, can a law be passed to protect the flag. This point is fundamental for those Senators who seek a statute to protect Old Glory. They can have a statute, but only after an amendment is ratified by the people.

As for changing the Bill of Rights, consider this. By judicial fiat, with a single vote from one Supreme Court Justice, flag desecration was inserted into the Bill of Rights. If you deny this then answer this question: If the Court had declared that flag burning was not speech, would they then have amended the Bill of Rights?

One pundit feared the amendment would curtail the rights of those who hate us. There are no laws against hating, but there are laws against hateful conduct. Flag burning fits both roles. But this is about rights, the right of the people to protect their flag, the right of the majority to rule, the right of the people to define their Constitution. And beyond the flag, this issue spills over into the right to protect our children from pornography, the right to own property, to pray, to post the Ten Commandments, and to say the Pledge of Allegiance.

If we can recapture our flag, we will have begun a march to recapture our Constitution.

Maj. Gen. Patrick H. Brady, (USA, Ret.)
Chairman, Citizens Flag Alliance, Inc.

Dear General Brady
The following letter is from one of the over eighty percent of Americans who wholeheartedly agree with you. As you will see this young man like so many other Americans are willing to put their butts on the line to preserve the sacred symbol of our country, Old glory.

Dear Sgt Shaft
My name is Spc. Jake P, I am currently serving on Active duty in the Army. My unit Alpha Co. 1-9 Infantry is currently finishing up our year in Iraq.

I recently read the article about the polls being taken about making it illegal to desecrate the flag.  It always gets me steamed to see people burning it and then hiding behind the first amendment. I have never seen someone desecrate my flag in person and I hope I don't. My Father served in Vietnam from 69 to 70. My grandfather served in the south pacific during WWII. I have watched footage of people burning the flag with both of them and I think I have seen looks that would kill from them. It should be a capitol offense to desecrate the flag. If these people think it is so bad at home then they should go live in Iraq or Afghanistan for a year. They would be trying to get back to America in less than a day. I am a firm believer in the saying "If you don't love it, leave it!!" I would gladly loose my rank and much, much more to protect that flag from being burned by its own citizens.

It’s true the 1st amendment provides a lot of freedoms we enjoy in our great country, BUT desecration of the flag should not be one of them.  For over 200 years men have fought and died for that flag and the freedoms it represents. Lets show it the respect it deserves. If you are burning my flag you are spitting on all those that have fought for it and those that are still fighting for it. We can only hope that the higher-ups will do something about it.

Respectfully,
Spc. Jake P.
Alpha Company

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-257-5446 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

BAVF Home | Who We Are | Sgt. Shaft | Flag Week | Links | Financials | Search | Contact BAVF

BAVF - P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900

Copyright BAVF 2005