Rod Grams: “the Constitution begins with the ringing words--``We the People''--for a reason. In our great nation, the people are…”

“the Constitution begins with the ringing words--``We the People''--for a reason. In our great nation, the people are empowered to decide the manner in which we are to be governed and the values we are to uphold. I join 80 percent of the American people in the belief the flag of the United States of America should be protected from physical desecration. And I am blessed to live in a nation where the will of the people can triumph over that of lawyers and judges. In light of the U.S. Supreme Court decisions Texas v. Johnson (1989) and United States v. Eichman (1990), which essentially abrogated flag desecration statutes passed by the federal government and 48 states, a constitutional amendment is clearly necessary to protect our flag. This would take the issue of flag protection out of the Courts and back to the legislatures where it belongs. As Chief Justice Rehnquist stated in his dissent, ``Surely one of the high purposes of a democratic society is to legislate against conduct that is regarded as evil and profoundly offensive to the majority of people--whether it be murder, embezzlement, pollution, or flagburning.'' Mr. President, the fight to protect ``Old Glory'' is a fight to restore duty, honor, and love of country to their rightful place. As Justice Stevens noted, ``The flag uniquely symbolizes the ideas of liberty, equality, and tolerance.'' These are the values that form the bedrock of our nation.”