Teller and I are proud Americans. We consider ourselves to be patriotic and we got a little more patriotic about seven years ago. We spent time in Egypt, China, and India. Because nothing can make you love the USA more than overseas’ travel. And when we are overseas we are a humble by realization of how much of our prosperity and our happiness even our individual personality, some much of all of that comes directly from the liberty that are symbolized by this flag.
But even saw a couple of goof balls here in the flag on stage in Vegas there is been a weird kind of energy to the room. If the energy we are talking about, we talk about content you know with this piece of cloth on stage there is a lot to think about.
The Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments the constitution of the United States of America, this is not the real original Bill of Right. We can not afford that yet but all the words and more important all the ideas are on this paper. We have the second amendments which deal with rather explicitly and our last speech this evening and the first amendments which is usually a preview of the Freedom of Speech Amendment and speech have been defined rather broadly to include symbolic speech and therefore the Supreme Court has said we can do anything we want to this flag. The thinking seems to be in a what happen to flag physically symbolically is always protected by the Bill of Rights so we can take a piece of tender and a very eccentric magic wand. And we are allowed legally to do this, and it is okay. Because even though the flag is gone, the Bill of Rights remains.
(Clapping)
Well, we like to think that we add a little bit content to that bill, first it was an idea that Teller and I have been talking about forever. And then ask what happen if you we are to burn a flag, not to disgust, not a protest to anything, but rather a celebration the very freedom that flags symbolizes. But more relevant to our show is the ambiguity. The fact that you really know what is going on and when you leave here tonight you are thinking about our shows. We hope you will be, maybe you will go out and have some dessert nice speak slice of apple pie with your loam and your red meat and your handguns. We hope the idea of ambiguity comes up, did we burn a flag to be symbolically burn a flag. Or do we merely vanish a flag in a patriotic flash or fireworks it is all of those, none of those it is up to you. Most shows in movies and TV are all fake there phony their fiction and news in sports which is supposed to be real but Penn and Teller, we like to drive fast right on down the middle because sometimes we are showing you and telling you the truth as we see it to the bottom of our hearts. And sometimes we are lying, cheating and swindling. And it is up to you to figure that out. We can only allow you that freedom because we work in a free country. We tried our show in another country and country without our Bill of Rights kind of, for instance, “The Chinese Bill of Rights.” Well, things will be different but if there is one thing that a totalitarian government can not tolerate it is ambiguity.
They do not care very much what you believe as long as you all believe it together. So, it would not be enough just to show you that the flag was spying at the end of the trip not in that context no. I have to show you every step of the way make sure you are all thinking and feeling the exact same thing that you always know descent that you all united. Now once you have done that was it laid odd for you who you ever want take a piece of chemically treated flash paper and a very eccentric magic wand and we can do this. But it is a lousy trick. Because the Chinese Bill of Rights is not worth to acetate it is not print it on and that is why Penn and Teller is so proud to work in the United State of America.
(Clapping)
On the shore, dimly seen from the midst of the deep, where our foes potty hosts in dread silence reposes. But as we watch the breeze of the towering steeps, does it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses, not catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam. In full glory reflected, it shines in this dream because the star spangled banner along may wait for the land of the free and the home of the brave.
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