The US flag is a lovely thing, but it's not sacred.
OMAHA, Neb. - A member of the Kansas group that has drawn criticism for protesting at soldiers' funerals has been arrested for letting her 10-year-old son stomp on a U.S. flag during a demonstration. She promised Wednesday to challenge the state's flag desecration law in court.
Shirley Phelps-Roper, 49, will be charged with flag mutilation, disturbing the peace and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov said Wednesday.
Full story here
As much as I loathe Fred and his band of homophobic funeral disrupters, stepping on the flag is the least of their offenses.
And if I stand up for the rights of protesters I agree with making statements by burning or stomping on a flag, I must similarly stand up for Fred's kin. Sigh.
Shirley's contributing to the delinquency of a minor by letting her child take part in her family's obscene rituals of anti-gay, anti-American fervor. Disturbing the peace, certainly!
But burning or stomping on a flag is a way to express one's extreme dissatisfaction with the actions of the government. A legitimate expression of 1st Amendment rights, in my opinion.
The ACLU's bound to take up this case, as they've taken up similarly unpopular cases defending the rights of nazis, skinheads, and other assorted scum. Because when the scum lose their rights, we do too.
So which of the Republiking wannabes is going to turn this into a campaign issue first, decrying the evil ACLU?