I am a liberal. There, I said it. Now that about half of my potential readers have turned the page, I can talk about something else. But my self-characterization was not without reason.

Too often we listen to pundits or read columns only when we agree with them. I confess I have been guilty of this, but I am ready to move on and hope you are too.

I have less hope for Washington, which seems not even to want to debate issues for fear of being labeled anti-American.

This summer I watched some of the saddest debates in the history of this country. I actually watched as members of Congress debated a constitutional amendment to prohibit the desecration of the American flag. Nearly one-fifth of American children live in poverty and our leaders are debating flag burning!

In my life, I have met many impoverished children, but not once have I witnessed an American flag being burned. The worst part of this debate was the alarming number of representatives who voted for it.

Honestly, I just don't care if you burn an American flag. I am not going to restrict your right to burn a piece of cloth. Some say that generations of soldiers have died to protect the flag. If 2,500 American soldiers died in Iraq to protect a piece of cloth, we are in trouble.

It doesn't even matter if the flag is an important symbol of freedom and democracy. To over half the American population, crosses are important. But guess what? It is legal to burn a cross. And it should be.

People wouldn't burn them if it wasn't important to someone. It stirs up emotions, it starts political movements, and yes, it offends. But we don't have a right to silence those who offend us. If anything, we should hear them out. Maybe their opinion won't seem so alien after we do.

This summer I had a chance to be immersed in a setting that was unfriendly at best to liberals. I went to American Legion Buckeye Boys State in Bowling Green. What did I hear about? You got it, flag burning. Apparently, it was a good use of my time to hear a lecture on why we need such an amendment. I am not sure it was. I think I want my hour back.

I was also delighted to hear about how the American Legion is fighting the good fight against the American Civil Liberties Union. According the American Legion's vice president, the ACLU favors the "secularization" of the United States. I doubt it. Instead of acting like mature adults who have an interest in the next generation, respectable war veterans cheapened the debate by attacking the ACLU.

But there is one thing I did at Boys State; I heard them out. I couldn't fairly say that I disagreed with them until I had at least heard their arguments.

That is all I am asking of you this year: just hear me out. I encourage you to write letters or approach me in the hall. Tell me I am wrong and that I am the one who is cheapening at the debate. At least I will know someone is reading.