I love the Stars and Stripes. A lot. I'm not even particularly fond of the colors red, white, and blue in and of themselve, but every time I see them come together to make our flag, it makes me feel happy, proud, and grateful, because it is the symbol of everything I love the best.

When Islamosupremacists or their vacuous leftist cheerleaders burn our flag, sure, I get angry. It mostly just makes me sad, though. I feel a dull, momentary contempt for these idiots, and then I conclude what I've concluded countless times before: The price of freedom is worth it, even when it hurts.

If you believe that the juvenile act of lighting your hated step father's favorite shirt on fire is a meritorious undertaking, then have at it, junior. I find it repulsive and moronic, but you know, I think I'll be able to get through it. America will get through it too. After all we've seen, faced, suffered, survived, and accomplished as a nation, your sophomoric I'm a rebel..wheeee! tantrum is hardly worthy of the attention you apparently crave. As stupid as such behavior is, it's your freedom of expression, and that's a crucial component of my America that I am not at all interested in parting with.

However, not everyone agrees with your humble infidel correspondent.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A proposed constitutional amendment to ban burning of the American flag won the approval of the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday and was sent to the Senate where it may finally succeed after years of rejection.

"It's going to be really close (in the Senate), within a one- or two-vote margin," said Terri Schroeder of the American Civil Liberties Union, which has lobbied against the measure. It must also be ratified by the states to become law.

Wow. It's kind of unsettling when I agree with the ACLU about something these days.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Utah Republican and a chief backer of the measure, "is hopeful we have the votes," said his spokesman Adam Elggren. "He's pretty confident."

Backers argue the legislation is needed to protect a symbol of American democracy; foes warn it would infringe on First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech.

The House approved a ban by 286-130. It has voted repeatedly for such a measure since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1989 that flag burning was protected free speech.

As soon as the Muslim Street™ got a whiff of alleged U.S. crimes against Quranity at Dar al-Gitmo, there was a furious, violent worldwide Islamic seethefest. People even died. Weeks later, here in the great Satan, the oxymoronically named Islamic Thinkers Society publicly desecrated and destroyed our flag on the Manhattan streets not far from where their mujahideen homeboys killed us by the thousands four years ago. Americans were disgusted and appalled... and we moved on, secure in the knowledge that our way of life is more sane and ethical than the knee-jerk murder mentality of a medieval religious totalitarianism. This is something to think about.

Besides, if a bill like this passes, how long would it take for the ambitious zealots in a suit at CAIR, the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), and the Muslim American Society (MAS) to demand a similiar law, banning acts they deem disrespectful to the Qur'an? And from there, one could argue that it should also be unlawful to defame the name of Muhammad, or to vilify (i.e., to criticize) Islam itself. This is definitely a slippery thoughtcrime slope, and you can be sure that our American Islamosupremacist friends are watching this matter closely.

There is nothing in Islam resembling a separation of church and state, representative government, or checks and balances. The "constitution" was written fourteen centuries ago by a hateful, violent, womanizing glorified desert bandit and called the writ of God. It hasn't changed since then, and it comprises the beginning and end of the Islamic worldview. Islam's fifth column in America is all about working by increments to undermine the principles that make democracy strong and free. Why should we contribute to our own politicide? This is about our American freedom.

I repeat: I love Old Glory like I love life. Our flag symbolizes the free, just, and pluralistic life I love so dearly and hope will one day be for all men to share. But as an unashamed American patriot, I can't get behind something like this.

Copyright ©2005 Patrick D. O'Brien: may not be copied, published, or otherwise used (except for quotes) without express permission of author. Originally posted at Clarity & Resolve.