When I did an internship at the Art Institute of Chicago, there was a student exhibit that had one piece that consisted of an American flag laying on the floor. I didn't see it myself, but I heard people talking about it all the time. It was on the news. The flag was placed in such a way that to read the caption, one had to step on the flag.

Now, I'm not super patriotic, but smart enough to figure this out. I felt strongly that the artist should be allowed to exhibit their work and have it be seen by everyone (this seemed far more important than a photo of a crucifix submerged in a jar of urine).

Every day that flag was there, a veteran would come, fold up the flag, and place it on a table or shelf or something that was nearby. And every day, the artist or someone at the gallery would unfold it and lay it back on the floor.

It was an exercise in patience. Although there were demonstrations outside the gallery, there never seemed to be any harsh words or altercations inside the gallery. It was a respectful exercise in letting another's viewpoint be expressed even though it may piss you off to the Nth degree.

Now it seems they want to pass a law banning anyone's right to burn the flag. I worry because it seems every day they want to take a little bit more away from us.

I suppose it's more important that we have soldiers in Iraq and it's a mid-term election year, though.