Was there ever such a parody of patriotism, combining the cheap sentiments of a greeting card with the antics of a soccer hooligan? Not content with, in effect, shouting down Bloc Quebecois M.P. Suzanne Tremblay two weeks ago as she rose to speak in the House -- shocking enough behaviour in those who call themselves democrats, without sullying the national anthem in the process -- Reform M.P.'s have since attempted to elevate the willingness of others to tolerate this boorishness into some sort of test of loyalty. That they have also tried to bully the Speaker into submission with the threat of a motion of non-confidence is almost an afterthought.

In defence of their sacred right to wave the flag and sing the anthem in the House of Commons, Reform and its supporters make three points. One, that this is nothing more than a simple display of patriotism. Two, that to forbid M.P.'s from doing so would be to limit their freedom of speech. Three, that for the Speaker to issue such a ruling would amount to toadying to the separatists, as it was the Bloc that complained the presence of flags in the House violated longstanding rules against the use of "props" in debate.

Let's take these in order. There is nothing wrong with a little flag-waving, first, so long as honest love of country is indeed the motive. The flags in the Olympic village that so upset Tremblay -- the starting point for all this silliness -- are above reproach in this regard: the intent was clearly to celebrate, not to offend. If Tremplay could not see that, that is her problem.

But to shove the flag almost literally in the faces of Bloc M.P.'s, as Reform responded, is merely to prove Tremblay's point. It is to use the flag as a weapon, with no other purpose than to give offense.

There is a particular irony in this, as the current flag was expressly designed to be as inoffensive a possible. Other nations choose their flags for what they represent; ours was chosen for what it did not: it was not British, not French, nothing that could be interpreted as having any connection to our past. No matter: even if it were a white flag of peace, it should not be used as Reform proposes to use it.

Is this to limit freedom of speech? Don't M.P.'s often indulge in slanging matches? Isn't that part of the robust give and take of a mature democracy?

Yes it is. But not everything is permitted. M.P.'s have many privileges: they cannot be sued for what they say in the House, for example. But with these come certain restrictions: they cannot call each other liars, among a long list of excluded phrases. The intent in either case is to facilitate parliamentary debate, and it is in this spirit that disruptive tactics like the use of props are banned.

Not only the House, but other social institutions have their own particular rules: in court, in church, even at a hockey game there are some things you can do and say, and some you cannot.

So long as you are free to express yourself how you please outside these places, it is difficult to argue that your rights have been infringed. There is a time and a place for everything, even the flag.

So let us take up the last point. No doubt many shameful things have been done in the past in the name of appeasing Quebec nationalists. But there is no shame in not going out of your way to thumb your nose at your opponents. It displays, indeed, a stronger sense of self-worth, a restraint that was once called dignity.

It is a brave show, at that, coming from Reform.

The party would not lift a finger to stop the separatists from taking Quebec out of the country, even on a vote of just 50 per cent plus one. But it will go to the wall to insist that the Parliament of that disfigured country be festooned with all the flags it can find. I'd prefer a quiet resolve to prevent secession to Reform's approach: defeatism, masked as jingoism.

The proper response to separatism is not bombast, but argument; not threats, but steadfast resistance. We do not need to insult or humiliate those who sincerely advocate the breakup of the country. We just need to outlast them.