Flag-Burning Amendment

“Honor the Flag, Keep the Right” (editorial, Oct. 15) overlooks the transcendent issue. In a world where appearances and reality clash, where perceptions may have no bearing on the truth, but are as important as though they were truths, the symbols of a society, especially those of the dream of America, are as important as that which they represent.

Though you agree that the flag is a symbol of our principles and our national identity, you go on to say that you agree with the court’s decision that under the First Amendment, it’s OK to burn the flag. But the flag represents the First Amendment. To destroy the flag is to destroy the First Amendment and everything this country represents.

Are we to give freedom to those who would destroy our First Amendment? Do we give freedom to those who upon taking power would deny our way of life to all of us Americans? Is that not national suicide?

JACK SALEM

Los Angeles

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* So, members of the House want to desecrate the Constitution in order prevent desecration of the flag. And what is next? Does someone go to jail if in the privacy of their own home they feel like drawing horns on a picture of some future far-right president--or emperor? You don’t need the IQ of a rocket scientist to concur with the Supreme Court’s conclusion that protection of free expression under the Constitution is more important than jailing some nut who burns the flag on his front lawn.

These House members aren’t true conservatives trying to preserve our heritage. They are opportunists who want to make brownie points with the electorate instead of solving our critical problems.

PHILLIP CUTLER

Costa Mesa

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* The amending process to the Constitution provides approval of a proposal by Congress by a two-thirds vote of both houses and state ratification of three-fourths of the state legislatures, not two-thirds as stated in your editorial. Even a national convention requires approval by three-fourths of the conventions of the states. The three-fourths was designed precisely to avoid frivolous amending.

ARMANDO G. ROSA

Palm Springs