Friday, June 30, 2006

Maine Snowe Job

Ah yes, election season and the time to review the past. Ask the Dylan question: “'n' how many times can a man turn his head, Pretending he just doesn't see?”

I previously stated it would be a shame to surrender the seniority Olympia Snowe has; but, should we back a Senator who argues for a constitutional amendment to restriction freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, and our freedom to oppose il-conceived acts of politicians?

What has she supported? A Constitutional Amendment to allow laws against flag burning – an act which the courts have held to be an exercise in Constitutional freedom embodying all freedoms.

Thirteen at birth is not the same as the forty-eight under which I was born, and certainly not the same as the fifty into which the design has evolved and the nation evolved – became inclusive.

Those who hate evolution hate it in all forms of evolution –most of all, they hate individual freedom. They hate the symbolism of a proudly waving enunciation of our Constructional rights.

This nation has a Constitution – it is unique in may ways, not the least of which is the fact that it has changed little over 230 years. In one incarnation – prohibition – it took a right-wing evolutionary turn, which was painfully lived before it was reversed.

The Constitution is real, it has form, it has signatories and lives a very protected life. It is an irreplaceable parchment, and an historic state of mind. It is a piece of paper. Its words are the United States.

The flag is a symbolic design. It is said we fight for it. But in truth, we fight for what it symbolizes – freedoms embodied in the Constitution. Look at the Flag. It might have been made in America; more likely in China – where you neither burn a flag nor speak freely.

It is a symbolic design: blue – vigilance, perseverance & justice; white - innocence; red -valor, the blood of the brave; Stars - States United on a common field, for common purpose, joint freedom.

Be it by accident, or intent, destroy this symbol – immediately replaceable at any Walmart – and what has changed? Destroy a dime store copy of the Constitution – who, but a fool, would raise issue?
Change the wording of the Constitution; change the words which govern the courts; and you remove freedom, change history, destroy democracy in America as it expands around the world.

Burning in effigy. It is a time honored form of protest, speech, declaration of emotionally held belief – an emotional outlet.

“Congress shall make no law abridging freedom of speech.”

Olympia proudly argues to strike those Constitutional words – to amend them to allow freedom of speech to be abridged. And for what? To protect a piece of cloth, manufactured in China – where freedom of speech is suppressed with violent force.

As the administration reads you bank statements, reads our e-mail, listens to our phone conversations, and maps our contacts, it is interesting to see a Senator so worried about Chinese Cloth – that she would expand the right to invade our privacy and destroy freedoms.

“The borrower is servant to the lender”(Pr 22:7) China funds our deficits, is our largest creditor, but this is carrying things a bit too far.

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