Lapel Pins And The Real America – Isn’t Real Patriotism Being Honest and Truthful
For years, I have placed my hand over my heart during the singing of the national anthem. It is just my practice. During my time in the military, I would offer a salute to the flag. It was just my way.
Several “speculation” pieces this weekend by bored journalists suggest that Republicans will go after Barack Obama because he doesn’t wear a flag on his lapel , and he has, at times, failed to place his hand over his heart during the national anthem.
That is the biggest pile of barnyard refuse that I have heard so far in this campaign, even worse than the trash leveled at John Kerry in 04.
First of all, for all of you liberal haters, I take no stand on any candidate, nor will I.
But I do take a stand against hatred spurred-on in high places, against racism used under the cover of broadcast extremists, against people who lie on a daily basis, Republican or Democrat, and against people who insist on symbols over substance.
Substance over symbols. I like that, even if I did write it.
I could care less if Barack, Hillary and John wear American flags on their lapels. I have no doubt about either of them defending America at any cost. I don’t think that you can judge a person on whether they are draped in red , white and blue, but rather on their penchant for truth, justice and the real American way borne out of loyalty, dedication to country, and caring for others.
In my world, you are judged by your actions, not by some phony test of whether you love America.
One exception – burning the flag is not what I call a great American action. It is disgusting.
So, I support any form of patriotism. I even support the concept of wearing your religion on your sleeve, your lapel, or in your campaign commercials, which Mike Huckabee does.
This is a free country and we are free to express ourselves, but no one is going to tell me or you how to do it. No one will tell us what to wear or when to wear it.
Comments(21)
“During my time in the military, I would offer a salute to the flag. It was just my way.”
*No it wasn’t “just your way,” you were ordered to like every other service member throughout American history.
I bet jack “heeello Larry” russell feels that it is his great American civic duty to proudly represent the Clinton supporter demographic by wearing his 9th grade GPA (1.02) on his lapel.
Oh I wonder how his schedule to exhale on March 4th is coming along. Big pie face Hillary and Little pie face Chelsea didn’t fare very well last time around.
As for all the questions about who loves America more, the short answer is nobody and everybody. There are times when we recognize that we are mostly doing good things as a nation. There are also times when we recognize that those foreign policy folks have run a muck.
A mean, jeez, Colin Powell is practically GI Joe, as he sure as heck wasn’t happy about being played by Bush and those phony WMD claims.
That is a weak and very UN-American argument. Let them try it and watch what happens. It is the kind of vile crap that keeps people like jack “heeello Larry” russell drolling faced-down over a commode. Hahaha.
Yeah, just smelling up more nonsense trouble.
OOPS! Typo! I meant to say, “I mean, jeez, Colin Powell is practically GI Joe, and he sure as heck wasn’t happy about being played by Bush and those phony WMD claims.”
I got distracted because I had to walk my jack russell.
Ready Set Go, thanks for walking him for me. Hahaha
Who’s more bored the writer of a boring piece or the reader? Someone hand me some smelling salts so that I can keep my head up long enough to finish this response to Larry’s rant. Where was I, oh yeah…. To respond to Larry’s argument that cymbals aren’t important let me just say this. Without cymbals where would the drummer in a rock band be. Without cymbals where would the orchestra be during the playing of the 1812 Overture. How many marching bands would there be without cymbals. I rest my case………………..
helloooo Larry,it’s great to be an american,even though some of the above same-unnamed baffoons think otherwise.
i wear my american flag pin everyday,and it wouldn’t hurt for barrack hussien obama and his wife michelle ‘i am not proud of america’ obama to put one on and show some respect,it’s just a symbol but why not.
alot of americans wear a symbol,and alot will go to fight for freedom,not like the dumb a** unamed idiot who we will find hiding in the ‘closet’-'not that there’s anything wrong with that’.
Great piece today Larry, and thanks for your service to our country. I had no idea you were a Veteran, and I must say it’s probably an unfortunate sterotype; that Jewish members of the media are not likley to have served, especially Vietnam era and later journalist.
After 9/11 we all wore lapel pins in NYC and looked sideways at anyone who didn’t. We all had friends who were killed in the towers and all admired the firemen and policemen who died trying to save them; overwhelminly Catholic Veternans with disproportionate numbers of Irish and Italian Ameicans. It was the children and grandchildren of brave WWII war heros that my father taught me about. As our government policies evolved post 9/11 the danger of blind patriotism became evident to many. Some lapel flag wearers even mistreated NYC cab drivers with too many consonants in their names- the anti flag wearer sentiment really got out of hand in some areas.
The fervor of post 9/11 patrotism was a good lesson about the value, power,and meaning of our flag. It was also a time that often underscored the danger of flag worship without critical thought.
“it’s probably an unfortunate sterotype; that Jewish members of the media are not likley to have served, especially Vietnam era and later journalist.
Dude, you need help.
Larry, do you have any good war stories?
STOP! We are all americans,some of what we do is honorable,some not so.If we all knew what our governmemt does all the time,maybe we wouldn’t like it.Just remember Lincoln’s words,You can fool some of the people all of the time,and all of the people some of the time,but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.Time is short ,wake up,before you elect the antichrist
How did Obama become the antichrist?
Pat– Whst’s wrong?
Larry
Relax dude. This one is not worth getting cranked up over…
We all have bigger fish to fry… yourself included.
Spidey
Spiderman, good call. Larry’s infatuation with pat has become an issue with him. If only we could break this bond that draws these two together.
You just might have saved Larry’s reputation with your advice. I personally
have a fish that weighs a ton and it is very hard to handle. It won’t fit in my fy pan………………………….
And it begins…
Just a weak trial balloon, like his attendance of a Madrassa during his youth. ‘Lapel-pingate’ is meant to test the waters of what muck will stick to the man from Illinois.
But the fun is just beginning, the repubs are just salivating at the chance to unleash the following names on the likely Democratic nominee:
Tony Rezko (indicted real estate man/slumlord…Obama supporter).
William Ayers (self-acknowledged Federal building bomb planter and key supporter for Obama’s first win in Illinois.)
Rashid Khalidi (Professor of Arab studies and director of the Middle East Institute at Columbia University and PLO activist. He was instumental in bringing
Iran’s Ahmadinejad last summer to Columbia.)
I can hear Karl Rove doing his Snidley Whiplash cackle just about now.
I wager the average Obama supporter has not even HEARD of these individuals. But you better believe the Swift-boaters have. I simply believe these issues will not be sufficiently vetted by the time the Domocratic Convention rolls around.
You can blame the rapturous Obama supporters for that. Question anyting he does and watch the fur fly. Tavis Smiley got a taste of that this weekend when he complained that Barack Obama (along with the other Presidential candidates, Clinton being the exception) did not attend his forum. He received death threats.
The Disciples of (Lee)Atwater couldn’t care less, and the press will capitulate.
The press and the right-wing will feed off each other, especially during the slow news months of the summer, falling all over themselves trying to get the latest smut and gin up controversy on who I believe is a fantastic leader and candidate.
At least Hillary Clinton has been vetted, she can’t even cry without someone thinking it’s strategy. And since there is little daylight between them policywise, why not support Hillary if you are a Democrat…she has shown she can take the bludgeoning that is SURE to come for either candidate.
Just my two cents.
marcanthony-your right on the money and i am buying what you are selling,these obama drama mama’s should re-think there view on Mrs.Clinton,she can handle the heat.
If Senator Clinton can handle the heat, why, oh why, does she resort to ‘scolding’ her opponent as if he was a naughty boy (you just wait ’til you get to Cleveland, buster…)
And how ’bout Mrs. ‘Ubama with her not feeling proud to be an American in her adult life until now, on the precipice of ‘history’?
No, I am afraid that Senator McCain is not the enemy of the Democrat Party – the candidates themselves are their own worst enemy!
It’s gonna be a fun political season – evenfrom half-a-world away!
Joe,
It’s called ‘hitting back’. What is Hillary supposed to do…stand there and ‘be above it all’, meanwhile she gets savaged and then get accused of being soft or not being able to effectively answer challenges.
As for Michele Obama, well gee, I don’t remember seeing her on the ballot.
Why is it when the wife of a candidate shows she has active neural transmitters she automatically has to go ‘Stepford’ on us? It was a slip of the tongue and she has since clarified what she meant.
She has an OPINION like most adults but it was just that…an OPINION. Hell before her clarification, I disagreed with her as well!
Will what Michelle Obama says (or thinks) get you or the rest of your unit home? What is more important, the candidate’s positions or their wives’…or husband?
Don’t misunderstand, Afghanistan is where we should be and if it wasn’t for President Chimpy, we would have
captured or killed bin Laden when this thing first started. Instead, we get lied to and end up in Iraq and with 4000 KIAs. Meanwhile, Afghanistan has a resurgence of the Taliban. Kabul is the most ‘stable’ city in the country and that ain’t sayin’ much.
I hate that you guys are busting your butts…the region isn’t on fire due to lack of sacrifice, honor or professionalism on your part. I just want to see you guys and gals home in one piece.
Keep your head down man, stay safe…
Jack,
I appreciate the kudos!
If Sean Hannety can scream at us from billboards: “Stop Hillary!” than I am convinced the far-right is TERRIFIED of her. If they are terrified, than I know I’m backing the right candidate.
marc-i agree Hillary is the best candidate ready to go to work on day one!
I’m concerned for Pat, that’s all.