Changes

:1. '''The Amendment would restrict people's freedom.''' Burning a flag in protest is indeed disrespectful to the country, but the prohibition of it would disrespect freedom.

:1. '''The Amendment would restrict people's freedom.''' Burning a flag in protest is indeed disrespectful to the country, but the prohibition of it would disrespect freedom.

:2. '''Flag burnings are rare.''' The number of flag burnings in the United states is rare, with only 45 cases of it in US history.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alter: Flag Burning Ban is a Bad Idea|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/52498}}</ref> The number of flag burnings have generally been non-existent in recent years, especially because of the new wave of patriotism that came after [[9/11]]. The number of incidents in 2003 were six, in 2004 three, and 2005 twelve, most being cases of vandalism.<ref>{{cite news |title=Burn, Baby, Burn|url=http://www.alternet.org/rights/38254/}}</ref>

:2. '''Flag burnings are rare.''' The number of flag burnings in the United states is rare, with only 45 cases of it in US history.<ref>{{cite news |title=Alter: Flag Burning Ban is a Bad Idea|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/52498}}</ref> The number of flag burnings have generally been non-existent in recent years, especially because of the new wave of patriotism that came after [[9/11]]. The number of incidents in 2003 were six, in 2004 three, and 2005 twelve, most being cases of vandalism.<ref name="burn">{{cite news |title=Burn, Baby, Burn|url=http://www.alternet.org/rights/38254/}}</ref>

:3. '''It would put the country at par with the totalitarian regimes of other countries.''' Some countries that have bans on flag desecration include China, Cuba, Iran, and North Korea. The people who make this argument believe that the proposed Amendment would lower the United States to their levels, though many democratic countries such as France, Germany, and Italy also have bans on flag desecration.<ref>{{cite news |title=For Which It Stands - The New Yorker|url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/07/03/060703ta_talk_hertzberg}}</ref>

:3. '''It would put the country at par with the totalitarian regimes of other countries.''' Some countries that have bans on flag desecration include China, Cuba, Iran, and North Korea. The people who make this argument believe that the proposed Amendment would lower the United States to their levels, though many democratic countries such as France, Germany, and Italy also have bans on flag desecration.<ref>{{cite news |title=For Which It Stands - The New Yorker|url=http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/07/03/060703ta_talk_hertzberg}}</ref>

:4. '''The wording in the Amendment is loose.''' Because the Amendment prohibits ''desecration'' of the flag, the word could mean anything, from Boy Scouts burning it in respectful retirement to blowing one's nose on a handkerchief that had the flag imprinted on it. The word "flag" is also vague, because it could also mean anything from a drawing to an imprint on a T-Shirt.

:4. '''The wording in the Amendment is loose.''' Because the Amendment prohibits ''desecration'' of the flag, the word could mean anything, from Boy Scouts burning it in respectful retirement to blowing one's nose on a handkerchief that had the flag imprinted on it. The word "flag" is also vague, because it could also mean anything from a drawing to an imprint on a T-Shirt.

''"The First Amendment exists to insure that freedom of speech and expression applies not just to that with which we agree or disagree, but also that which we find outrageous. I would not amend that great shield of democracy to hammer a few miscreants. The flag will still be flying proudly long after they have slunk away."''<ref>{{cite news |title=Statement of Senator Leahy on the Flag Amendment|url=http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200407/072004a.html}}</ref> - [[Colin Powell]], Joint Chiefs of Staff

''"The First Amendment exists to insure that freedom of speech and expression applies not just to that with which we agree or disagree, but also that which we find outrageous. I would not amend that great shield of democracy to hammer a few miscreants. The flag will still be flying proudly long after they have slunk away."''<ref>{{cite news |title=Statement of Senator Leahy on the Flag Amendment|url=http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200407/072004a.html}}</ref> - [[Colin Powell]], Joint Chiefs of Staff

''"That proves that I am right. In my country we are not afraid of freedom, even if it means that people disagree with us."'' - James H. Warner, former Marine during the Vietnam War, after being shown by [[Viet Cong]] interrogators a photo of Americans burning a flag and being told that his cause was wrong<ref>{{cite news |title=Burn, Baby, Burn|url=http://www.alternet.org/rights/38254/}}</ref>

''"That proves that I am right. In my country we are not afraid of freedom, even if it means that people disagree with us."'' - James H. Warner, former Marine during the Vietnam War, after being shown by [[Viet Cong]] interrogators a photo of Americans burning a flag and being told that his cause was wrong<ref name="burn" />

''"Real patriotism cannot be coerced. Our freedom to speak was attacked — not our flag. The former, not the latter, needs the protection of our Constitution and our laws."'' - Former Senator [[Bob Kerrey]], [[Democrat]] of [[Nebraska]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Our Flag and Our Freedom|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/14/AR2006061402005.html}}</ref>

''"Real patriotism cannot be coerced. Our freedom to speak was attacked — not our flag. The former, not the latter, needs the protection of our Constitution and our laws."'' - Former Senator [[Bob Kerrey]], [[Democrat]] of [[Nebraska]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Our Flag and Our Freedom|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/14/AR2006061402005.html}}</ref>