The House passed a resolution today proposing an amendment that would exclude flag burning from our first amendment rights. If passed, Congress would be permitted to make laws punishing anyone caught burning a flag in protest.

If this weren’t so sad, it would be funny. Our politicians have had our Constitution up in flames for years now, what’s wrong with me burning a flag? This is supposed to be America!! Freedom of speech capital of the world! Geesh, what has happened to this country?

What I don’t understand is, it seems that most people actually support this. Sure, the flag is a symbol of our country’s government, and I guess that most folks have a warm spot in their hearts for the country and the flag. But do we really want to head down the path of making speech against government symbols a crime? I certainly don’t.

Like most things in goverment, if this ever passed it would have the opposite of the intended effect. More flags would be burned in protest of this amendment than have been burned in the last 20 years on US soil.

The reality is, symbol or not, a flag is the property of its owner. If a property owner chooses to destroy his property, that is his choice and his right. Let’s hope it remains his right.