On a cold February morning in Kansas City, Jay Norton walked out into his backyard with a bottle of WD-40, a zippo lighter and an American flag stretched like canvas onto a frame. He sprayed the flag with WD-40, lit it, and it went up in flames in a matter of seconds. When he had finished, he felt like he had exercised the ultimate freedom. Jay Norton is not a derelict, he's not a terrorist or a communist; in fact, as an attorney he's sworn to uphold the law. The American flag is taking some heat. Right now Congress is debating a Constitutional Amendment banning flag desecration that has been proposed six times since 1989. But will it pass? Some say Old Glory must be protected against flag burning at all costs; others, like Jay Norton, say the symbol of liberty represents the freedom to burn the flag. Who is right? In the landmark 1989 Texas v. Johnson case the Supreme Court ruled that flag burning was protected free speech under the first amendment. Since that ruling, jingoistic Congressional leaders have introduced anti-democratic measures like that of the Flag Burning Amendment. In the day and age of the Patriot Act, freedom of speech seems even more precious--and it is being threatened. DESECRATION NATION is a documentary short that explores the issues of flag desecration through the eyes of a Communist, a conservative radio show host, the world's largest collector of American flags, and the artist Jay Norton.

Forms: Documentary, Short
Genres: Alternative, Educational, Human Rights, Independent, Culture, Art