I'm on vacation for the next couple of weeks, but I thought this was too important to pass up.
If you were wondering who voted for or against the Flag Desecration Amendment, here are the voting results:
Senators Voting For Amendment:
Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) Ted Stevens (R-AK) Jeff Sessions (R-AL) Richard Shelby (R-AL) Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) Jon Kyl (R-AZ) John McCain (R-AZ) Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Wayne Allard (R-CO) Ken Salazar (D-CO) Mel Martinez (R-FL) Bill Nelson (D-FL) Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) Johnny Isakson (R-GA) Charles Grassley (R-IA) Larry Craig (R-ID) Mike Crapo (R-ID) Evan Bayh (D-IN) Richard Lugar (R-IN) Sam Brownback (R-KS) Pat Roberts (R-KS) Jim Bunning (R-KY) Mary Landrieu (D-LA) David Vitter (R-LA) Susan Collins (R-ME) Olympia Snowe (R-ME) Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Norm Coleman (R-MN) Mark Dayton (D-MN) Christopher Bond (R-MO) Jim Talent (R-MO) Thad Cochran (R-MS) Trent Lott (R-MS) Max Baucus (D-MT) Conrad Burns (R-MT) Richard Burr (R-NC) Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) Chuck Hagel (R-NE) Ben Nelson (D-NE) Judd Gregg (R-NH) John Sununu (R-NH) Robert Menendez (D-NJ) Pete Domenici (R-NM) John Ensign (R-NV) Harry Reid (D-NV) Mike DeWine (R-OH) George Voinovich (R-OH) Tom Coburn (R-OK) James Inhofe (R-OK) Gordon Smith (R-OR) Rick Santorum (R-PA) Arlen Specter (R-PA) Jim DeMint (R-SC) Lindsey Graham (R-SC) Tim Johnson (D-SD) John Thune (R-SD) Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Bill Frist (R-TN) John Cornyn (R-TX) Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) Orrin Hatch (R-UT) George Allen (R-VA) John Warner (R-VA) John Rockefeller (D-WV) Michael Enzi (R-WY) Craig Thomas (R-WY)
Senators Voting Against Amendment:
Mark Pryor (D-AR) Barbara Boxer (D-CA) Christopher Dodd (D-CT) Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) Joseph Biden (D-DE) Thomas Carper (D-DE) Daniel Akaka (D-HI) Daniel Inouye (D-HI) Tom Harkin (D-IA) Richard Durbin (D-IL) Barack Obama (D-IL) Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Edward Kennedy (D-MA) John Kerry (D-MA) Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) Carl Levin (D-MI) Kent Conrad (D-ND) Byron Dorgan (D-ND) Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) Hillary Clinton (D-NY) Charles Schumer (D-NY) Ron Wyden (D-OR) Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) Jack Reed (D-RI) Robert Bennett (R-UT) James Jeffords (I-VT) Patrick Leahy (D-VT) Maria Cantwell (D-WA) Patty Murray (D-WA) Russ Feingold (D-WI) Herbert Kohl (D-WI) Robert Byrd (D-WV)
While the Supreme Court has held that flag burning as a form of protest is consistent with free speech and is protected, I must disagree with those smarter than I. This is not a matter of free speech, but it's a matter of respect. Respect for the people for the past 230 years that have fought for, built up, and otherwise made this country one of the most powerful nations on this Earth. This country has freedoms that the rest of the world can only dream about. Is it too much to ask for respecting one of the symbols of freedom by not burning, stepping on, or otherwise showing disrespect?
Let's put this in perspective - whenever you see people in other countries burning the American flag, doesn't that get you riled up? I mean, how could they show such disrespect for this country? If you burned their flag in protest, how do you think they would feel?
I would like to say to those people who want to burn the flag, if you hate this country so much, please immigrate to another country of your choosing. I'm fairly sure that whatever country you choose will not have the opportunities or freedoms that the United States has. Otherwise, please show respect for your father, grandfather, or great-grandfather who busted their butts so you could have the freedoms and opportunities that you now have by finding some other form (preferably constructive) of registering your opinion.
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