Another take on Flag Desecration
I read a blog post today (unfortunately I didn't note the URL, and can't find it again, or I'd give credit) that made some good points on the Flag Desecration amendment that I'd not thought of before.
It notes that the origin of the word "desecrate" refers to treating sanctified, holy objects in a sacreligious manner. In other words, the Religious Right should be offended that we're raising the flag to the level of idol when their Christian religion has as one of it's major commandments that we shouldn't have idols or false religious objects.
It also notes that the Nazis raised the swastika to the level of idol and made desecrating it a punishable offense, and so on that basis alone we should probably think twice about venerating anything done by that horrible regime.
And finally, it points out that this is the first amendment EVER to be offered up in order to CURTAIL a right guarenteed by another part of the Constitution, and we should probably think long and hard about the wisdom of curtailing freedoms.
Good points, all, and I thought they were worth passing along. If I find the original author, I'll come back and give him or her credit in the comments.
Liam.
posted by Liam at 6/24/2005 04:11:00 PM
2 Comments:
There are lots of things that can be descrated without being holy objects ie cemetarys, signs, schools, flags,etc. To say that if we allow that they can be desecrated is to raise them to the level of an idol in my opinion is a stretch of the imagination. The flag, as a representation of our country can be desecrated without being an idol. Just ask in prayer the men and women who have died for our freedom.
Friday, June 24, 2005 5:05:00 PM
I strongly disagree.
"desecrate" is not a word that I have been able to find associated with either "school" or "sign", anywhere in either my memory or the internet. The only occurences of "school desecration" that I've been able to find were where it was obviously a misprint for "desegregation" (with one exception: a GOPBlogs entry where he was ranting about the false Quran desecration story a few months ago; he used "school desecration" as the link words to a story about a school hostage situation.)
Desecration is indeed used with reference to cemetaries; but there is a great deal of religious feeling associated with cemetaries.
Finally, you say "ask in prayer the men and women who have died for our freedom." If the word "prayer" in your sentence doesn't signify raising the issue to one of holiness, I don't understand you at all.
"desecration", "sacrilegious", and any other word with "sacr" in the root, always and inevitably invokes a religious meaning or connotation.
The Romans treated the legionary eagles with much the same holy regard as anti-flag-desecrators treat the flag. And as for venerating war dead, look up the Sixteen Immortals sometime for a really scary endpoint to that kind of veneration.
Monday, June 27, 2005 1:25:00 PM
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