Wednesday, May 25, 2005
"Renounce Your Constitution Today!"
Michelle Malkin calls this "Beware of moonbats with matches". Personally, I'd rather call it "This Independence Day, show your support for America by doing what her mortal enemies do!"
(Admittedly, Michelle's line has more punch to it...)
This July 4th is Flag Burning Day!Hmm. I have to wonder if there aren't more effective (and efficient) ways to "completely reject" the false principles they despise so much. For example, while the Constitution and the Bill of Rights guarantee important rights to every American, nowhere is it written that we're required to take advantage of those rights.
[America-as-racist-colonialist-warmonger moonbattery omitted]
So on this Fourth of July we call on you to express your feelings on their “Independence Day” by burning a flag in a nationally coordinated action. Together we will show the elite that we are everywhere and that we completely reject the false principals [sic] this holiday is based on.
So, if you're offended by this country's Independence Day and what it stands for, I urge you to publicly renounce your protection under the Bill of Rights. If you like, pick just one or two amendments, and announce that they do not apply to you. Here, I'll make it easier for you:
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
Okay, granted, some of this is just too easy. The Second Amendment, for example -- "I hereby protest our racist, sexist government by renouncing the Second Amendment! I forever give up my right to bear arms, whether I'm part of a well-regulated militia or not!" Nah, that wouldn't work; I suspect anyone willing to burn an American flag has already taken that pledge anyway.
Ditto for the Ninth and Tenth Amendments. I mean, just imagine: "I hereby protest our classist, fascist government by renouncing the Ninth Amendment! I don't care if my rights are enumerated in the Constitution or not; the government can go ahead and deny or disparage them!" Or, for that matter: "I hereby protest our ageist, homophobic government by renouncing the Tenth Amendment! The Federal Government can take away any of my state's rights that it wants!" Nah, that wouldn't work either, for the same reasons; flag-burners, I suspect, are mostly in favor of the government taking rights away anyhow.
(Hmm, maybe I'm on to something here. Maybe the reason some people disparage our precious rights so much, is because they're not interested in taking advantage of those rights anyway.)
The other Amendments, though, offer promise:
"I hereby protest our colonialist, warmongering government by renouncing the Eighth Amendment! You wanna give me excessive fines, excessive bail, or cruel and unusual punishment? Bring it on!"
Would anybody like to protest by renouncing their rights to trial by jury, avoidance of "double jeopardy", and a speedy trial? How about the right to cross-examine, or the right to counsel? How about the right not to testify against oneself, or the right to be compensated for eminent domain? Would anyone like to announce themselves open to unreasonable search & seizure, or to quartering of soldiers in their homes without their permission? Finally, who's interested in giving up their freedom of religion, of speech, of the press, of assembly, or of the right to address grievances against the government?
Let's be blunt. Flag-burning is cheap and easy, especially if you have reason to expect that you won't be punished for doing it. And, given that it's easy, it is essentially meaningless; all it accomplishes is to annoy the people who pledged to serve that flag.
Oh, and it also blurs the line between the American flag-burner and the al-Qaeda flag-burner... and that line was too blurry anyway. Hmm, making yourself resemble America's enemies at a time of war -- not too bright, people.
