So the House just approved a Constitutional amendment prohibiting burning the US flag under penalty of law (what the penalty might be would also be up to Congress).

How...unnecessary.

First of all, I'm in the camp that thinks you don't screw with the Constitution lightly. And when you do, you should be adding language that upholds, protects, and ensures rights...not language that takes away rights.

I'm a pretty patriotic guy. I think this is probably the greatest nation-state in history. I don't like it when people burn or spit on or otherwise defile my country's flag. But it's pretty clearly speech. And people say a lot of things that make me angry or otherwise upset. That doesn't mean we need a Constitutional amendment limiting the First Amendment.

Here's what one of the lawmakers who voted for it said:

"Ask the men and women who stood on top of the (World) Trade Center," said Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham, R-Calif. "Ask them and they will tell you: pass this amendment."

With all due respect, I'd like to think both the ones who lived and the ones who survived would rather their government spend more time and energy reforming immigration, intelligence, and security in this country.

Anyway, it won't pass. This nonissue comes up every few years to give House members a chance to show just how much they love America. Ironically, they could show that a hell of a lot more by trying to protect the ideals the flag stands for rather than the cloth itself.

But oh well.