Flag Day is forgotten U.S. holiday

The Congress of the United States has been struggling over passage of the U.S. flag amendment, which requires a two-thirds "super majority" vote in both the House and Senate. The House has done so each of the three times that a resolution was presented since 1995. The Senate has voted twice on this resolution: first time score was three votes shy of the necessary super majority. Then last year the Senate was four votes shy. What's amazing is that from the beginning, surveys of the general population showed between 75 and 80 percent of the general population were in favor of the amendment.

What is the proposed amendment? A single sentence: "The Congress shall have the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States."

Please allow me a few lines to express my strong feelings about this matter. First, as Americans, we are each of us citizens of a marvelous democratic country; which means popular sovereignty ; it is the essence of the rule of law. If our democracy is to continue to be viable, we must work together, establish and experience common goals.

Secondly, I believe our flag is the symbol of our country, and should be viewed with honor and pride. The desecration of our flag by a minority, should not be permitted by the majority — by law.

I have seen our flag draped over the caskets of many patriotic Americans who died so we might continue to enjoy the freedoms and privileges of citizenship in the United States. And I've seen the tears in the eyes of their widows and family as they received the folded flag and held it close.

I believe this letter speaks for most of my "WWII generation" — it's now time for the next generation to carry on.

Passing the flag amendment would be a good start.

John Lisack
Professor emeritus

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Flag Day is forgotten U.S. holiday

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