Whose Flag Is This, Anyway?

Starting about the time of early Ronald Reagan, the Republican Right played capture-the-flag with Old Glory. If you were a true patriot, you gave all your speeches before massed American flags and wore the symbol of one in your lapel. And, of course, to be a true patriot meant also that you were a member of the Republican Right. No other Americans admitted to the brotherhood and sisterhood of patriotism.

Predictably, this would come to an accusation -- what substitutes for serious debate these days -- that Senator Barack Obama was not wearing a flag pin and therefore, ipso facto, was no patriot.

So, here's a modest proposal. All of us who support Barack Obama for president should now wear flag pins. This will signal that we are all just as patriotic as anyone on the right. And it will signal that we are all for Obama. If we all do this, then when we see a flag pin we will know we are seeing another Obama supporter.

Go right out now and buy a pocketful of flag pins. Give them to all your friends. Show your support for America and for Obama. I've got mine on. It's our flag too!

But, you might ask, what about those flag wavers on the right? That's their problem.

Comments

[XME]

If we get some made that are twice as big, will that mean we love America twice as much as they do, and we're twice as patriotic? Or maybe we can just wear 10 pins and be 10 times as patriotic. By the Right's standards, that's all it takes.

[AdobePhsyko]

This article is sarcasm right ?
Why should we all give in to this rediculous reasoning that wearing a 59 cent pin from China makes us patriotic. I'm tired of every Democrats' patriotism being questioned by the Repugs.
Some of us served in the military BEFORE Sept.11th, Some of us had the utmost respect for Firefighters BEFORE Sept.11th. And some of us Loved America way back when George Bush was skipping out on the National Guard and snorting Coke.
I DON'T NEED TO PROVE ANYTHING TO THE FASCISTS and Neither Does Senator Obama

[sowhatdemos]

AdobePhsyko See Profile I'm a Fan of AdobePhsyko
I DON'T NEED TO PROVE ANYTHING TO THE FASCISTS and Neither Does Senator Obama

Yeah, yeah, yeah, get over your self rightous attitude.

No, neither of you have to prove anything, but those flag pins can become a silent mantra and I think it's a great idea and I intend to buy some tomorrow.
Stop being so MAD!! In this world of corporate media a hair out of place or uneven fingernails is a big deal so realize that subtle cues work.
BTW you have to undermine facists without being obvious!

[outnow]

Let's wear 'em upside down.

[Furball]

My son is nearing the age where military recruiters will be banging on the door. I teasingly told him that as long as he wears a flag pin his patriotism will never be questioned. That is all that is required to show your love of country.

(I would be very proud of him if he enlisted, of course, preferably after college and with President Obama commander in chief.)

[sowhatdemos]

None of my business but I would be much more proud of him if he didn't enlist.
Americans need to get over that pride to serve crap and realize the military industrial complex has changed a great deal since WW2. The pentagon is a human fodder factory for experiments and changing the president is not a be all to end all.
Although I do love the Obama family and I want him as president as much as anyone. Obama can help but the MIC won't end with a change in the executive branch. The institution is too powerful by now for that..

But, hey,

OBAMA '08!!!

[AkiraBergman]

Nation states have gone out of puff, so are their flags. They are harboring too many crooks running from the law. A refuge for the greedy and the ignorant.

It is high time to promote a global democracy. Down with the nation states, long live the global democracy.

[Guitarsandmore]

Next time you pledge your allegiance, pledge it to the constitution! A flag can be carried by anyone and can mean whatever you want it to mean. The constitution actually says something, means something, and has the teeth to back it up.

[GreenT2]

All of us who support Barack Obama should now wear "nuke Iran" pins. That will signal that we are just as pro-military as anyone on the right. :)

[TheBlackCat]

Yeah, wearing a piece of plastic made in China is so patriotic.

You know what's ACTUALLY patriotic? Volunteering! Get involved in your community. If someone sees you fishing trash out of a river or building a house with Habitat for Humanity, it will be very difficult for them to accuse you of America hating.

Volunteer. Make a difference. F-uck flag pins. They help no one.

[lizr]

LOL- works for me! why let the bigots have all the fun?

[oncall]

Personally, I would rather wear an Obama button

[gage]

Everyone has missed the original cause of this stupid controversy. It's not that Obama doesn't wear pin--It's the explanation he gave this when asked about it:

"The truth is that right after 9-11 I had a pin," Obama said. "Shortly after 9-11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security."

He probably didn't mean it this way but he seemed to be implying that people who wear the pins are fake patriots. THAT'S why people got excited about it.

I don't care if anyone wears a flag pin or not. McCain doesn't wear one. No one is ever stopping you from wearing one. If it became a right-wing symbol, it's because some of you caused that by rejecting the flag--ignoring it, burning it, wearing it upsidedown, etc.

[wondering]

"If it (the flag) became a right-wing symbol, it's because some of you caused that by rejecting the flag--ignoring it, burning it, wearing it upsidedown, etc."

It's more likely the US flag became a right-wing symbol - and a measure of patriotic fervor - because some of you worship it too much. It's just a piece of cloth.

Patriotism is nothing more than an emotional response to an accident of birth (see my earlier posts). People who get their knickers in a bunch over the US flag foolishly believe that nations matter. Try expanding your world-view : if you must love a place, try loving Mother Earth - she could sure use it.

[gage]

"Try expanding your world-view..."

You have no idea. I love mankind, I love the natural systems that we're a part of, and I respect the flag that represents my country. And i've contributed a lot to all three in my life.

You could broaden your view and realize that patriotic Americans are not as provincial as you think. You really don't know us very well. You really don't.

[gage]

Unfortunately, nations do matter. It would be nice if they didn't, but they do. As a free woman, i don't want to live my life by the standards of China, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Cuba, etc.

There are plenty of thugs around the world who oppress their people and would be happy to expand their power if we let them.

[Pyfagorus]

I'm surprised nobody has yet thought to market a lapel pin that's shaped like a flag, but just has the word "Bitter" printed across it. I would wear something like that!

[lizr]

loveit.

[bentenrai]

Interesting. So if I was a terrorist and wanted to blow up the GOP convention, I'd just need to paint an American flag on a bomb jacket.

[KHAAANNN]

No, you have it wrong Mr. Hart.
The Republicans are NOT patriots and are not pretending to be, they are NATIONALISTS.
Their game is not "I love my country" their game is "My country is the ONLY country and should rule the world." It is petty, high-school-football jingoism twisted into a Nationalistic fervor. They are following the play book of Hitler, Goering, and Goebbels and it is WORKING.
The less educated a populace, the easier it is to sway them with Nationalism, that is why they gut the education system and refuse to pay for a Veterans college education.
Stupid people are easy to control and the narcissist, ME generation has lapped it up, thus the election of a criminal incompetent like GWB, TWICE!.
I think it was Mark Twain that said a long time ago; "Travel destroys bigotry, and nationalism."
Since most Americans will never travel more than 100 miles from their homes, they are RIPE for exploitation by this type of fear-mongering.

[JohnHKennedy]

I believe if We ARE Actually patriotic we protect and obey our Constitution. That comes first. I am a 43 year Democratic voter and I believe that our Congressmen have sold us out on stopping the Iraq War and on making Bush and Cheney accountable.

Suppose some person or group organize a

National BOYCOTT OF ALL CONGRESSMEN
IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION??

Urge Voters to vote for the Presidential Candidate of their choice, BUT

ASK VOTERS TO
NOT VOTE FOR
ANY CONGRESSMAN
FOR ANY OFFICE
FROM ANY PARTY
"""""""""-
You"ll get the President You Want

But the BOYCOTT of Congressmen
might Upset the Vote Totals enough
To Send A Message To ALL
Congressmen to
TAKE THEIR OATH OF OFFICE SERIOUSLY
To Protect Our Constitution,
"""""""""""""
AND TO IMPEACH When
It Is Obvious To ALL that
Crimes have been committed
By The Executive Branch.
"""""""""""""
They have ignored everything we have said or done to get them to obey the Constitution and at least hold impeachment hearings.
MY DEMOCRATS ARE ENABLERS AND APPEASERS OF BUSH & CHENEY

WHY NOT TRY THIS?

[rextrek]

The interesting thing is that these "Holy Flag Pins" are MADE IN CHINA!

[Rog49Thomas]

Since we're a theocracy, I'm wondering why lots of folk who claim to be good Christians aren't wearing cross lapel pins.

When you think about it carefully, it really is scary.

A side benefit is that we'd be able to tell the Catholics from the Protestants more easilyl.