THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 11, 1995 TAG: 9507110008
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
Our flag is neither so puny nor so powerless a symbol as to require legislative protection from a small percentage of attention-seekers. Such a law would merely afford these idiots national recognition, rational opposition and, above all, an amendment to the Constitution.
Who will define desecration?
How about mens' boxers in flag design? (Sitting on our flag?) Bathing suits and trunks? (Swimming in our flag?) Fourth of July paper plates? (Eating on our flag?) And, of course, that most reverential use of all - dozens and dozens of oversized banners on auto lots. (Selling cars with our flag?)
When any individual flag has to be disposed of, it is - respectfully - burned. So an amendment would need another amendment for the good burnings and the bad burnings.
The flag has weathered many vicissitudes over two centuries without the sheltering arms of Congress. I hope the Senate, unlike the House, will not be stampeded into further acts of silliness.
We do not need to protect the flag by constitutional law. It protects us.
JACQUELINE MARTEN
Virginia Beach, June 29, 1995 by CNB