Letter: Flag shouldn't be excuse to limit personal freedom
Saturday, July 18, 1998 | 4:16 a.m.
I grew up in a time that each morning in school we started the day with the pledge of allegiance and were proud to do so. I still get goose bumps as I swell with pride while watching Old Glory make it's way to the top of the flag pole with our national anthem playing in the background.
I was taught and still believe that our flag is the symbol of freedom for all the world to see, but let's not lose sight of what is truly important here. What the flag symbolizes is what is important, not the mass produced symbol itself.
If we pass this flag protection amendment, we will be proclaiming that our flag, the symbol of freedom, is more important than the freedom it symbolizes. What sense does that make? Burning or soiling the flag becomes a minor desecration when compared to using the flag as an excuse to limit personal freedom in any shape, form, or fashion.
William C. Cloud
archive