FLAG DAY: “You can’t appreciate home ’til you’ve left it, money
’til it’s spent, your wife ’til she’s joined a woman’s club, nor
Old Glory ’til you see it hanging on a broomstick on a shanty of a
consult in a foreign town.”

We must move today’s quote to the top of the column. After all,
it’s Flag Day.

The comment was made by American writer O. Henry.

THIS, TOO: Is there anything more all-American than our
never-ending discussion about the flag, and what might constitute
“desecration”?

One side believes flag burning (or any form of desecration)
should be made a crime. On the other are those who see flag burning
as the ultimate statement of a democracy that prides itself on the
right of expression.

And never the twain, or so it seems, shall meet.

In 1989, the Supreme Court handed down a decision in which
burning the flag was deemed “expressive conduct protected by the
First Amendment.” In 1990, the Court elaborated: “If there is a
bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment … Government may
not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds
the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.”

Many attempts have been made over the years – particularly
during political season – to make some sort of flag protection
official U.S. law. Not too long ago, we recall an effort to made it
part of the Constitution via amendment.

To date, none of these various efforts have been successful –
but we’re certain they will continue.

Our thanks today to a booklet, “Our Flag, the Story of Old
Glory,” for much of our background information.

MORE QUOTES: We’ll pass these along to perhaps shed additional
nuance to the issue:

“A flag in and of itself is nothing extraordinary – in fact,
flags have flown for virtually all enemies of democracy. It is what
the flag stands for that gives it meaning,” said Gary E. May,
chairman, Veterans Defending the Bill of Rights, 2006.

“If Congress really wants to send the message that American
flags are exceptionally sacred, maybe we should stop importing them
with our underwear,” said Derek Thompson, columnist, the Daily
Northwestern, Northwestern University, 2006.

” ‘Desecration’ of the flag is in the mind of the beholder,”
said Robert Corn-Revere, First Amendment attorney, author,
2007.

As always, these quotes are from our Freedom Forum calendar.