|
Editor's note: The Daily Herald asked readers if the U.S. Constitution should be amended to allow Congress to outlaw flag burning. Here are the comments we received: Flag amendment more dangerous than flag burners If the Hatch amendment is eventually approved it will provide Congress power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States -- wherever U.S.
law applies. This will leave the rest of the world not only free to desecrate our flag at will but also provide a clear statement of what really offends us. Predictably, the end result of Hatch's amendment will be the desecration of many more U.S. flags than without the amendment. All this at the heavy price of the desecration of our Bill of Rights. Ron Woolley, Provo Amendment needed to protect sacred symbol I believe we should have that amendment. I am in favor of Hatch because the flag is a sacred symbol of our freedom and our country. The amendment would make it even more sacred. Patricia Terry Orem Amendment only giving flag burners attention they crave Few people in the past have burned the American flag. It burns for a minute or two and it is over; no harm done. But make a law against burning it, law enforcement has to get involved, setting in motion the publicity these people are seeking, on their way to becoming martyrs. Far more troublesome and unpatriotic to me is having American flags made in China. Helmut Hobush, Orem Flag represents freedom to speak; burn Old Glory For Hatch to think about doing this is wrong. Our country was built on the freedom to disagree with our government, and there should be nothing that comes close to prohibiting any act like that. Otherwise, we just aren't America anymore. Chris Roberts, Springville Hatch's proposal no threat to criticizing nation's leaders I'm in favor of a constitutional amendment to prevent flag burning. I don't believe it will affect freedom of speech because burning the flag is a specific and outrageous form of free speech, if you want to call it that. There are other, better ways of protesting, such as carrying a sign or writing a letter. I don't believe the country would be affected one way or the other by prohibiting flag burning. I think the punishment for this should be minor to moderate. I don't think we should throw people in jail, but they should be fined. Vernon Moulton, Pleasant Grove
This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A6.
|
