Regarding flag burning, Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia has said that the "societal interest in preserving the symbolic value of the flag outweighs the interest of an individual who chooses to physically desecrate the flag."

For his reasoning, he claims that the flag unites Americans as nothing else can. While that may be true, is it really justification to start us on the slippery slope of restricting individual freedom when it comes to speech?

What he says is chillingly reminiscent of the status of individual rights under such regimes as Nazi Germany, wherein individuals were only granted such rights that the state deemed consistent with its interest.

What Sens. Cleland and Orrin Hatch fail to say is that the real reason they desire an amendment proscribing flag burning is that many individuals are greatly offended at this act. Trying to ban offensive speech is itself highly offensive, yet there is never going to be an amendment banning speech that encourages banning flag burning. These men seem to subscribe to the Orwellian notion that while some speech is good, other speech is better.

Scott R. Weeks

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Murray

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