THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 18, 1995 TAG: 9507180072
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: LARRY MADDRY
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
ART MOODY dropped by my house the other day with a petition for me to sign. He's a neighbor who is president of the I Don't Hear America Singing Foundation.
The IDHASF, Art says, is opposed to the proposed constitutional amendment that would ban flag burning, because nobody burns flags these days.
But don't misunderstand. Art's no hippie. And he doesn't hold a membership card in the ACLU. He spends his weekends watching old John Wayne films in which the Duke battles it out with the Japanese during World War II.
What Art's petition would do is criminalize disrespect for ``The Star-Spangled Banner,'' he explained.
Art said he spent last year traveling to football stadiums around the country and was shocked by what he found.
``About half the spectators at a football game who stand up during the national anthem don't even open their mouths unless it's to drink beer or munch popcorn,'' he said. ``And even the ones who do sing, do it poorly. They sing the first line, which everybody knows, then hum until they hit `rockets' red glare' and hum again until they reach `land of the free and home of the brave.' ''
``Shocking,'' I said.
``Americans are murdering our anthem,'' he said. ``That's why I'd like for you to sign our little petition urging an amendment criminalizing disrespect for it.''
I told him I'd like to hear more about the amendment's consequences before signing anything.
Art said that once the constitutional amendment banning disrespect for the anthem passes Congress, the IDHASF intends to issue its guidelines for courts to follow in punishing violaters:
Failure to stand for the national anthem: 60 days in jail or 30 days in Newark, N.J.
Failure to sing any of the anthem: $10,000 fine and loss of right to sit in the nonsmoking section of restaurants for a full year.
Knowing all verses of anthem but failing to sing: $5,000 and loss of TV viewing privileges to the O.J. Simpson trial for six weeks.
Playing national anthem on musical saw, ocarina or pocket comb wrapped in wax paper: $100 fine and mandatory reading of Newt Gingrich's book.
Coughing during national anthem: $50 fine and automatic dismissal from stadium or building where anthem is rendered.
The penalties seemed severe to me, but Art said they are merely for misdemeanors. ``We haven't even worked up our felonies yet,'' he said.
``Felonies?''
``Yeah the ones requiring at least five years in federal prison, with a death penalty for the maximum,'' he said.
I couldn't imagine what would rate the death penalty. ``Singing the anthem the way Roseanne Barr did at a ball game. . . . You remember when she finished by grabbing her crotch?'' Art replied.
``Oh, yeah. Show me where to sign here, Art.'' by CNB