Happy Flag Day

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the Supreme Court's sentiment inward West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, which remains Justice Robert H. Jackson's rhetorical masterpiece:

Struggles to coerce uniformity of sentiment inward back upward of about destination idea essential to their fourth dimension in addition to province convey been waged past times many proficient likewise equally past times evil men. Nationalism is a relatively recent phenomenon only at other times in addition to places the ends convey been racial or territorial security, back upward of a dynasty or regime, in addition to item plans for saving souls. As starting fourth dimension in addition to moderate methods to make unity convey failed, those bent on its accomplishment must resort to an ever-increasing severity. As governmental pressure level toward unity becomes greater, in addition to thence strife becomes to a greater extent than bitter equally to whose unity it shall be. Probably no deeper partitioning of our people could buy the farm on from whatsoever provocation than from finding it necessary to direct what doctrine in addition to whose computer program world educational officials shall compel youth to unite inward embracing. Ultimate futility of such attempts to compel coherence is the lesson of every such exertion from the Roman stimulate to postage stamp out Christianity equally a disturber of its infidel unity, the Inquisition, equally a agency to religious in addition to dynastic unity, the Siberian exiles equally a agency to Russian unity, downwards to the fast failing efforts of our introduce totalitarian enemies. Those who start coercive elimination of dissent shortly abide by themselves exterminating dissenters. Compulsory unification of sentiment achieves entirely the unanimity of the graveyard.