I am sick and tired of the media pundits pointing fingers at Barack Obama and questioning his patriotism because he does not wear a flag pin on his lapel. At the recent Democratic presidential candidates' debate here in Philadelphia, the issue came up again, and more time was wasted on it.
We are involved in an unpopular and very costly war in Iraq. We are torturing our prisoners. The U.S. Constitution is under siege by those who have sworn to protect it. Our economy is in a recession. The housing market just tanked. Our jobs continue to move to India and China. But the media would rather talk about flag pins.
It is ironic that flag pins are equated with patriotism. After all, the rules of flag etiquette imply quite the opposite. According to a flag etiquette summary at flag.com, you should "never use the U.S. flag as wearing apparel, bedding or drapery, festooned, [or] decoration in general."
Furthermore, the rules continue, "Never use any part of the U.S. flag as a costume or athletic uniform. A flag patch may be affixed to uniforms of military personnel, firemen, policemen and members of patriotic organizations."
By patriotic organizations, I think they mean groups like the VFW, not members of a presidential campaign. The latter is not by definition a patriotic organization, it's a political one. Therefore, the flag pin becomes part of a political costume -- against the rules.
Now let's take a look at someone who does wear a flag pin as part of his political costume.
George W. Bush wore a flag pin in 2003 as he launched his war of aggression against a nation that posed no threat to us.
George W. Bush wore a flag pin as his inner circle approved the use of torture. And then he wore a flag pin as he looked into the camera and said, "We do not torture."
George W. Bush wore a flag pin as high-level White House officials outed a covert CIA agent.
George W. Bush wore a flag pin as he authorized the warrantless wiretapping of American citizens.
If that is patriotism, then patriotism is overrated.
But no, that is not patriotism. It is jingoism. And jingoism is something we should shun in a candidate for elected office.
Words speak louder than a flag pin. And actions speak louder than words. Let those be our guidelines in selecting our candidate of choice.
By the way, aren't those flag pins made in China?
http://www.maryshawonline.com
Mary Shaw is a Philadelphia-based writer and activist, with a focus on politics, human rights, and social justice. She is a former Philadelphia Area Coordinator for the Nobel-Prize-winning human rights group Amnesty International, and her views appear regularly in a variety of newspapers, magazines, and websites. Note that the ideas expressed here are the author's own, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Amnesty International or any other organization with which she may be associated.
In fact, it is well- known that media people are sellouts by nature. Henry Ford said,'The best journalist is the one that sells himself only once.' No, they just... make money.
by
Mark Sashine (51 articles, 19 quicklinks, 244 diaries, 3462 comments)
on Sunday, April 20, 2008 at 8:41:40 AM
George Step-in-the-poop-olous should be fired for pandering to right-wing bull and using his position in the last debate to badger Obama with stupid questions.
by
Papawhale (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 62 comments)
on Sunday, April 20, 2008 at 10:37:13 AM
They do not want us thinking for ourselves. They do not wish to hear our questions on governance, or taxes, war or health care. They much prefer to hide behind emotional issues of little or no value, such as who does or does not wear a flag pin. If they can get us worked up over so trivial an issue, to the point at which we forget to ask the serious questions, to do the heavy lifting needed for democracy, then they have won. They repeatedly use smoke and mirrors to throw us off the track. Who is getting a bid free government contract and why? Who is receiving billions in bailout money and why are we paying for their cupidity? Why do we not have universal single payer health care? Why are our kids and grandkids being starved of a good education under the pretext of not being left behind? Because they do not want a thoughtful, educated, attentive voting population, that's why.
They enjoy a complicit media, such as that presented by George S and Charlie G, to entertain us, embroil us, distract us. They use the national stature of the media to blind us. they use personalities like these to give weight to their presentation.
Those folks aware that George S represents the Democratic Leadership Council, one of the many horrors perpetrated on the Democratic party in recent years, know that he is nothing more than a talking head shill for the right wing of the party. His questions and subsequent revelations of sources for questions reveal the locus of his thinking, such as it is. They use inane pap to control us, control our thinking, command our votes. This is one reason why people are so mad at the MSM over their declaration that certain candidates were or were not viable, thereby making our decisions for us, as to who we would see in the final sprint for high public office. They only forgot the concept of democracy in their rush for power and money.
Let's stop supporting ABC and George S. and Charlie G. and all their ilk. There are only two issues they understand-power and wealth. Let's take both away from them all.
Boycott. Refuse the watch their shows, read their columns, buy the goods of the advertisers supporting them. Besides, we will need to make cuts in our lifestyle somewhere, in order to survive in the world they are making. Let's stop putting money in their pockets.
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Jack Harrington (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 312 comments)
on Sunday, April 20, 2008 at 11:29:34 AM
You err to call what is going on in Iraq a war. It is a neo-colonial occupation.
The sooner we all frame the argument in the context of our nation's history in its fight against British Toryism, the more surely we will distinguish patriots from traitors and be free once again...
Not a war? Tell the dead and wounded they were killed in an occupation, neo-colonial or otherwise. Bombs, bullets and tanks make a war. Japan, South Korea, Germany may be considered neo-colonial occupations, Okinawa, Hawaii, Puerto Rico. Iraq? A war.
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Jack Harrington (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 312 comments)
on Sunday, April 20, 2008 at 9:18:55 PM
and the dead and wounded are the Kissinger stated "Stupid" soldiers who are involved in a illegal occupation. The only military with tanks and "Precision" guided bombs and other "High-Tech" devices is the U.S.. And a travesty that the chicken-hawks who call this whole farce a "Noble" cause.
Al-CIAda is just a "Small" group of rouges, used by the Bu$h & Co. cabal to profit from its pre-emptive unending military offenses in foreign lands with huge reserves of oil.
Squeezing the average American of $ while prep-culling world population for WWIII, with Iran.
Those that don't want to obey the soon to happen Martial Law in the U.S. will be welcomed at a FEMA camp near them.
The USA has ceased to exist since before 9/11, as the citizens have desired to sacrifice liberty for security, with all the presidential directives and signing statements, it's just a matter of time before they are finally implemented. Bu$h & Co. refer to the Constitution which they swore to uphold as a "Piece of Paper".
Doesn't matter if it's Bu$h, Clinton, McCain or Obama, they are all the same players, just different sides of the street. The NWO has an agenda to get done, and your either with them or against them.
With the current candidates not providing a time-line for Iraq withdraw, pre-emptive strikes within sovereign nations, and a spiraling out-of-control debt combined with a depreciating $.
Things don't look good for America anyway you look at it.
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Stanimal (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 18 diaries, 493 comments)
on Monday, April 21, 2008 at 5:06:03 AM
7 comments
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