A question of patriotism

To the Editor: Although the flag-desecration amendment received a majority vote for approval in both the House and Senate, (286-130 in the House and 66-34 in the Senate) it lacked one vote for the two-thirds needed in the Senate to pass. Congress, in its wisdom, has always felt that this is one case where the majority should not rule. Amendments to the Constitution are too important for the people to decide unless two-thirds of Congress agrees to let them vote on the matter. The failure of Congress to pass the Flag Act makes it perfectly legal for anyone to desecrate our flag in any way they wish. They can burn it, spit on it, urinate on it, defecate on it, or do anything else they wish, and it is perfectly legal. It is considered freedom of speech under the First Amendment of our Constitution, according to 34 patriotic senators and 130 patriotic representatives, who seem to feel our flag is merely a piece of cloth or rag that one can malign in any way they wish in order to make their point. The fact that 66 senators and 286 representatives disagreed does not matter. For as long as I can remember I have pledged allegiance to our flag, the flag of the United States of America, in school, in the Boy Scouts, etc. At almost every meeting or event of any kind I now attend, where our flag is on display, the meeting is opened with the pledge of allegiance. I was raised to respect our flag, to remove my hat when it passed, to salute when in uniform. In the armed services, that flag represented everything we were fighting for. When I think of how much blood was spilled by our armed forces who fought for our flag, I question the patriotism of anyone who feels it is perfectly alright to dishonor it in any way or defend those who do. Leonard R. Peck Sparta