www.Neo-Liberalism.org
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Liberals are passing on a huge chance to potentially tip the
constituency scales in their favor. Liberals could make plenty good use of an amendment on flag desecration. Unfortunately, they appear blinded to the potential bludgeon this amendment could be. The Democrats' desperate need for a Rove-like soothsayer was never more apparent. Right-wing Republicans could rue the day they force this amendment through the state houses of America. How? Stars and Stripes schwag is de rigeur for today's right-wing Republican. On everything from ties, hats and even bug deflectors, right-wingers feel naked unless they can wrap themselves in the flag. It would appear that Republicans do not see the potential for problems were liberals to pursue the old right-wing course of persecuting hippies and progressives for displaying the flag everywhere during the sixties. An American flag patch on the bottom of one's ratty jeans or a stylized flag on one's motorcycle helmet and other such "protest" displays could get one beat up, back in the day. Unfortunately, you see the term "desecration" does have some ambiguity to it. Is it burning the flag? No, it cannot be that, because the proper disposal of a flag that is no longer in serviceable condition is for it to be burned. To properly prosecute the perpetrator of a flag burning, said perpetrator would almost have to admit that the burning was an act of desecration otherwise the burner could simply state that the flag was no longer in respectable condition. We would need to have "thought police" to determine the true intent of a flag burning were the burner to plead flag code adherence as an excuse. Here is where liberals can really vex the right-wingers. In an effort to narrowly define "desecration", the flag code is a perfect tool to remove ambiguity. Failure to adhere to the flag code should by definition be "desecration". Seems logical to me. To further remove ambiguity, liberals should try to force in language more exactly defining the current flag code as well as increasing the penalties for said desecration to something quite onerous, for example, make it a felony punishable by at least 5 years in jail. Liberals should get some clarifications inserted in the flag code to make sure they will be able to leverage the amendment for its maximum political impact. Democrats could ask, what exactly are the criteria for making a flag unserviceable and therefore mandating its disposal? In this digital imaging age, it will be quite easy to distribute small cards with the approved shades of red, white and blue. That way it will be easy to see when a flag needs to be retired by simply comparing the colors on a "candidate" flag that may have faded beyond acceptable limits to the government approved "These Colors Don't Run" flag desecration color match card. The flag code could also be enhanced to state exactly how many foot candles of light must be falling on an American flag that is displayed at night. In addition, the definition of rain should include exactly how many drops per unit per square foot defines "rain" as well as similar benchmarks for all other types of precipitation. The flag burning amendment presents a tremendous opportunity to remove the super (pseudo) patriots who fly the American flag 24/7 in front of their houses and on their automobiles and these verbiage clarifications will only sharpen the tool. These pseudo-patriotic persons are almost exclusively Republicans and big Bush supporters to boot. The pseudo-patriots regularly violate the flag code based upon my observations. By flying the flag 24/7, the flag tends to become faded and tattered in short order, but these alleged patriots never take the flag down. Similarly, during raining or inclement weather, they do not take the flag down as the flag code specifies, but let it fly in drenching rains. This further damages the flag and disrespects it. Also, by flying the flag of this nation 24/7 the pseudo-patriots leave their flags up past sunset most of the time, if they take it in at all, ever. The ability to remove these pseudo-patriotic flag desecraters from the streets of America will definitely make things safer in America. After all, flag desecration is a serious offense and sets a very poor example for our youth. The flag code clearly states that the flag should be brought in after sunset unless a spot light is shined upon it, parenthetically; a porch light 50 feet away in a doorway would not qualify. The flag code also clearly states the flag should be brought in during inclement weather. If liberals can get an exact definition of the official colors of the American flag, those that are faded and ready for burning will be readily identifiable. The most compelling reason for liberal support of the flag desecration amendment should be the widespread display of the Confederate flag by right-wing southerners. Everyone knows, of course, that the Confederate flag was the banner of secession and treason, as the Union saw it. But most people don't know that the Confederate flag design itself was a physical desecration of the Stars-and-Stripes. It takes the physical elements of the Union flag and rearranges them in a parody. It was meant to anger the Union and symbolically split the flag as the south wanted to split the union. Any and all displays of this treasonous banner would have to cease. Continued displays of the banner could be viewed as more than just desecration, but actual treasonous incitement of the masses. With many conservative right-wing southerners cooling their heels in Gitmo detention for flag desecration and potentially high treason, the Democrats should have no trouble taking back the South
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