Flag Burning

If I burn a flag with 51 stars, am I in trouble? If I draw a picture of a flag and throw it away, am I in trouble? If I’m developing a photo of a flag and fog the negative, am I in trouble? If I draw a flag on the computer and delete the file, am I in trouble? If my house burns down and there’s a flag in it, am I in trouble?

If I sing the national anthem out of tune, am I in trouble? If I forget the Pledge of Allegiance, am I in trouble? If I make jokes about the president, am I in trouble? If I don’t go to church, am I in trouble? If we get a constitutional amendment against “desecrating the flag,” aren’t we all in trouble?

WILLIAM LORTON

Culver City