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Bill: Freedom of Political Expression Act 2413
Details
Submitted by[?]: Progressive Democrats
Status[?]: passed
Votes: This is an ordinary bill. It requires more yes votes than no votes. This bill will not pass any sooner than the deadline.
Voting deadline: April 2414
Description[?]:
| The Progressive Democrats propose this amendment in order to ensure freedom of expression is maximised in Aldegar. Flagburning and associated are acts of individual and political expression and must therefore be protected. |
Proposals
Article 1
Proposal[?] to change National policy regarding the desecration of the national flag.
Old value:: The national flag may not be desecrated or dishonoured.
Current: The national flag may not be desecrated or dishonoured.
Proposed: There are no regulations regarding the desecration or use of the national flag.
Debate
These messages have been posted to debate on this bill:
| Date | 19:45:38, June 09, 2007 CET | From | Party of Moderates | To | Debating the Freedom of Political Expression Act 2413 |
| Message | No, the flag must be honored for the sake of national pride. People can express their political beliefs and dissatisfaction just as well without being able to desecrate the flag. |
| Date | 21:58:17, June 09, 2007 CET | From | Left Libertarian Party | To | Debating the Freedom of Political Expression Act 2413 |
| Message | We agree with this bill. People can still have strong national pride when someone else burns Aldegar's flag. |
| Date | 04:55:41, June 10, 2007 CET | From | Aldegar Freedom Party | To | Debating the Freedom of Political Expression Act 2413 |
| Message | This is absolutely propostorous! The Progressive Democrats are suggesting that we allow enemies of this nation, whoever they may be, to behave in such a manor as to deface the very physical embodiment of the values and traditions this nation stands for! The flag represents this nation's honor, this nation's pride, this nation's values - to spit on the flag is to spit on everything this country represents; to hate our way of life, to hate our people, to hate everything we stand for! To burn the flag is treason and this disgraceful act should be punished to the full extent of the law. Anyone who burns our flag should not be considered a citizen of this country, but instead a trespasser, a heretic, and an absolute enemy to this nation. Anyone who hates this nation enough to burn it's flag should not be here. This is the most un-patriotic, disgraceful legislative proposal in the proud history of this nation since the existance of the Social Democrats. This proposal is absolutely abhorrent; it is an abomination to our national pride, it is an insult to our people, and it is a direct stab at this nation's heart and soul. We are utterly appalled and will vote fervently against this bill, a thousand times over. |
| Date | 07:48:11, June 10, 2007 CET | From | Progressive Democrats | To | Debating the Freedom of Political Expression Act 2413 |
| Message | We vehemently disagree with the opinions expressed by Family First in relation to this issue. Yet we the Progressive Democrats value this kind of diversity of political expression in Aldegar and we seek to foster with this legislation. Although one may not agree with flag-burning or the use of the flag in unconventional manner it is essential to allow dissent, satire and parody of national symbols and ideas as legitimate political expression. |
| Date | 10:42:58, June 10, 2007 CET | From | Aldegar | To | Debating the Freedom of Political Expression Act 2413 |
| Message | We are sorry, PD. But we can't vote yes on this. It just don't make any seense for me. |
| Date | 15:34:53, June 10, 2007 CET | From | Aldegar Freedom Party | To | Debating the Freedom of Political Expression Act 2413 |
| Message | Parody and satire of national symbols is one thing - burning it is something else altogether. Whilst we are passionately opposed to any use of our flag in manors that deface it, we are prepared to allow for things such as whimsical cartoons displaying the flag for the use of parody. But burning the flag is an abomination of a completely different calliber. Political expression is of none of our concern - we wish to encourage Aldegarians to think critically about political issues and to harvest their own opinions, but such political expression can be done in a calm and leisurely fashion, by voting, by registering a complaint with the government in question, or in many other alternative pursuits. We do not consider flag-burning to be a legitimate form of political expression - it is essentially more like a direct attack on this nation. If individuals wish to express their political opinions, they can do so in ways that do not vandalize the physical embodiment of everything this nation stands for and in ways that will not cause danger to society. They can express themselves calmly and without rediculous riots and public demonstrations - only if they behave in a rational manner will their opinions receive any consideration whatsoever from conservatives such as any member of Family First. Otherwise, they are a joke, a disgrace, and an abomination to the very values and virtues that this nation's proud history has forged on the backs of brave young men who fought to protect it against enemies such as the very people who burn flags. We speak for every single war veteran or current soldier in saying that they would be shocked and appalled to their very core by this legislation, and we speak for every single one of this nation's fallen heroes in saying that they would quiver in their graves, should they be alive to witness this disgrace. To burn the flag is to burn and deface everything this nation has come to stand for; to burn every brave soldier who fought for our people's liberty; to burn the very moral fabric that has woven this nation's values. Parody and satire is one thing - burning our national icon and our national pride is another entirely. |
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Voting
| Vote | Seats | ||||
| yes |
Total Seats: 413 | ||||
| no |
Total Seats: 137 | ||||
| abstain |
Total Seats: 100 |
| Random fact: Real-life organisations should not be referenced in Particracy, unless they are simple and generic (eg. "National Organisation for Women" is allowed). |
| Random quote: "If a female president can come here and be treated equally, why can't any other woman?" - Jewell C. Stillman, former Lourennais politician (on equal rights in Badara) |