Donald Trump is known for his strong language on controversial topics. And while we have been sickened by some of the things he has said over the presidential campaign, now that he is the president-elect of our great nation, we figured his mouth would finally be zippered shut.
Not so.
His latest rant has us down right nervous. Haven’t you heard? Oh, it’s a doozie. Get this:
Trump said Tuesday that anyone who burns an American flag should face unspecified “consequences,” such as jail or a loss of citizenship — a move that was ruled out by the Supreme Court nearly three decades ago.
Trump’s words, expressed on Twitter early Tuesday morning, put him at odds with the late Justice Antonin Scalia, who was in the majority in the 1989 decision that said flag-burning is a form of speech that is protected by the First Amendment.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag — if they do, there must be consequences — perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!” Trump said in a tweet.
So is this a “show us your loyalty papers or the secret police will cart you off to the gulag” kind of statement? It seems that way to us.
Language like this coming from a man who will soon be the leader of the free world is unacceptable. Men and women fought hard through many wars for our freedoms — freedoms we hold as dear as our own family members. They are a part of who we are and what we stand for. That the president-elect thinks burning a flag should be a jailable offense, or worse, that an American should be stripped of his or her citizenship for such an act, is appalling.
Don’t get us wrong. We would never burn a flag, and seeing the sight of a flag burning sickens us. However, it’s a right that we enjoy as freedom-loving Americans. Just because you don’t agree doesn’t mean another person shouldn’t have the right to soak old glory in gasoline and torch her to ashes.
According to the Associated Press, it was not immediately clear what prompted Trump’s tweet.
Trump has called Scalia, who died in February, a great judge and said he would appoint someone to fill Scalia’s seat who is much like the conservative legal icon.
But in 1989, Scalia signed onto an opinion written by the liberal Justice William Brennan that struck down a criminal conviction under Texas law for burning a flag during a political protest.
Asked about that vote decades later in an interview on CNN, Scalia said he would outlaw flag-burning “if I were king.” But the First Amendment exists to protect “speech critical of the government. That’s the main type of speech tyrants would seek to suppress,” he said.
Mr. Trump, we aren’t workers in one of his skyscrapers or resorts who are willing to bow to your every wish and whim. We aren’t going to say “ten-hut!” and yell “sir, yes sir!” every time you have some nonsensical, outrageous urge to take away one of our freedoms.
As God-fearing Americans, we will stand up against your egregious notions and fight for our rights as Americans.