Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to recognize the gentleman from Texas for 1 minute, [Mr. Paul].
Mr. SPEAKER. The gentleman’s recognized for 1 minute.
1997 Ron Paul 63:2
I would like to point out that the word “desecrate” is a very important word, and we’ve talked about it all day but haven’t yet defined it. It means to deconsecrate. What I’d like to know is when we have consecrated the flag.
1997 Ron Paul 63:3
We are holding the flag in the highest of esteem, and yet liberty is really what should be on the pinnacle. Liberty and the Constitution. When we undermine the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, we undermine liberty and then we diminish the value of the flag.
1997 Ron Paul 63:4
But to deconsecrate something means that the flag was consecrated. I’d like to just read what that means. It means “To make, declare or set apart as sacred,” or, such as a church, “To set apart for the worship of a deity. To change the elements of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.” Who and when did we raise this flag to this level? Have we deified the state to this extent?
1997 Ron Paul 63:5
We very often complain about the state taking over parental rights, and here we are now saying that to do anything to the flag is a desecration, which means that we have consecrated the flag. To desecrate means to abuse the sacredness of the subject of sacrilege; that we cannot commit blasphemy. I think we should be very – Does the gentleman have any more time?
1997 Ron Paul 63:6
Mr. SPEAKER. The time of the gentleman has expired.
1997 Ron Paul Chapter 63
The Hon. John Conyers of Michigan says he is pleased to recognize but actually he is yielding.
