Letter: Flag pins aren’t proof of patriotism

Thank you for your service, Mr. Bourgeois. You've summed up nicely why I switched parties a few years ago - the modern Republican party likes to talk a good game about family values, patriotism, and "freedom", but their actions don't support those words. Equating flag pins with patriotism, espousing "family values" while creating hundreds of thousands of refugees in Iraq, and spending borrowed money (borrowed from China in the form of T-bills) like a drunk sailor of shore leave while pretending to get tough of spending (and cutting comparatively sparse spending on social safety nets) are not the traditional Republican values I grew up with - they're just misinformed, greedy political aims. Louisiana's own "conservative" Governor seems to think that a _temporary_ surplus is sufficient cause to cut taxes that _will_ be needed if the state is to bring its education and infrastructure up to 1980s standards, much less modern standards. Meanwhile, those same misinformed people celebrate when a company (Ablemarle) is given $7 million in tax breaks to bring a paltry 35 employees to Louisiana. Would it kill some of these "conservatives" to actually, you know, conserve?

Oh, but flag pins are important! The flag pin is an important issue for me. I like Clinton and McCain because they do wear flag pins, and by doing so, they show style. Red, white and blue bling. Bling is important to the eye of the voter because real issues are things that don’t really matter in a campaign. I know this, and you know this. Now on the other hand, flag pins show a candidate’s position on issues. It shows whether they are for a war or accept lobbyist money. So listen here Mr. Obama, if you want to win, bring out the bling, and you’ll get them votes.

Show your Merikun patriotism: wear a made-in-China flag pin purchased at WalMart, the Chineses outlet store for good Murkuns!

No I think armbands and flag tattoos are patriotic. Anyone who doesn’t have a flag tattoo on their but is a commie! If you don’t wear the US Armband in public you are a socialist. If you don’t shed a tear when you see Ole Glory you are a fascist. The right wing has nothing but shallow rhetoric and backwards thinking to offer the American public. We need progressive leadership in order to maintain our position in the world and that is not going to come from some 70 year old who thinks we should be in Iraq for 100 more years.

Let Obama explain it himself: “You know I started wearing it again at that veteran’s event because once again I had been handed the flag by a veteran who said it was important. This is an issue that is a phony issue because I have never been opposed to a flag pin. I have worn flag pins in the past. When I was asked about it, I had worn flag pins after 9/11, and I have chosen not to wear one because I didn’t want to be perceived as wearing my patriotism on my chest but not promoting or advocating on behalf of veterans in a patriotic way. Some people took that as a slight against people who wore flag pins, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. It was a commentary on politicians and folks in Washington who sometimes are pretty good about saluting our soldiers when they come home but then don’t follow up with budgets that make sure their getting treatment for post traumatic stress disorder. So it’s a commentary about our politics, not about individuals who wear the flag with pride."

John McCain hasn't worn a flag pin in 70 days! Oh noes! What a stupid manufactured issue that shows how low our political discourse has gone.

According to the flag code, wearing a flag pin the only way a civilian can wear the flag. j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart. So it's really splendid of you all to sneer and slime, and otherwise criticize those who want to wear a flag pin as somehow being hypocritical. No, we can't tell what is in the hearts of the wearer, but we can tell what's in your heart. I guess those who are wearing the flag on their sporting uniforms are free from your condemnation.

ACtions speak louder than symbols.

LTC Bourgeois, thank you for your service to our nation. The fact B.O. does not wear a flag pin is not necessarily the issue. Pins and patriotism are not necessarily linked. However, I call into question the character of a man who will not place his hand over his heart when the National Anthem is played. I question a man whose mentor is as racist as David Duke, but only admonishes him after his poll numbers begin to drop; or whose spouse can now admit to being proud of her country only after her husband's popularity grew. I question the character of a man who wants to be the Commander in Chief of this world's most powerful nation openly express his willingness to "aggressive personal diplomacy" with terrorist nations. GEN Petraeus doesn't wear a flag pin on his dress green uniform, but he and every other Soldier wears a flag on their right shoulder. But does he really need to wear a pin representing the flag of the United States if he's uniform? You of all people should know how ridiculous a statement you wrote. It's not always about "right wing" and "leftists"; it is about character, something which the majority of decent Americans understand. The so-called "Former Republican" types who frequent these forums are marginalized and have no original thought. Their own unhappiness is what drives them, and as the old cliche goes, "misery loves company." There are plenty of Republicans who know mistakes have been made in the Iraq War; few will dispute that, especially those of us who have been. That does not mean, however, I'm willing to subjugate myself to a destructive way of thinking or give in to a destructive culture or set of values. No, it isn't just a commentary on politics; it's a commentary on the character of man who wants to be president, and the weakness of those who support him.

Paste a thousand pins on Obama and you still have Obama. He is NOT the one we need for president. But neither is Clinton. McCain?? Lesser of three evils there. Pins do not change them. I still think Obama is not who or what he claims to be. Transplant maybe?? Start at the top and work your way down!!! Beware, America--be very afraid of this one.

"he so-called "Former Republican" types who frequent these forums are marginalized and have no original thought." You might think so, but the fact that MS-01 and LA-06 congressional seats are now held by Democrats and Bush's 30-month long streak of 70% disapproval rate only shows the you are the ones who are out of touch.

LT Your smug sanctimony and hypocrisy are what make you and your ilk so laughably irrelevant. You must look in on these forums pretty often yourself to know the types who "frequent these forums". So the Coulters, Hannitys, O'Reilleys and Limbaughs of the world are all about spreading sunshine, huh? Does your misery enjoy their company? Don't tell about about original thought. You and all the ditto heads have rush and kind to quote and oversimplify, distort, smear and malign those they don't deem "American" enough for their standards (like your ilk gets to decide who's a good American and whose not.) There are no comparable talking heads on the left, not because a majority of Americans don't have similar ideals, but because the majority of Americans now know better than to follow platitudes and idealogues of any stripe. Even those who did are evidently changing their minds because your personal savior shrub now has a 70% disapproval rating. Your definition of character ain't codified law pal. Many more of us would make the case that shrub embodies a destructive set of values. Count me among the many "former republicans"

I agree with the flag pin argument, but I think that it is just icing on the cake after his wife insulting America, his preacher insulting America, and him insulting rural America. www.goodoleboybumperstickers.com

"What I was clearly talking about is that I am proud in how Americans are engaging in the political process," she said. "I mean, everyone has said what I said, in that we haven't seen these record numbers of turnouts, people who are paying attention, going to rallies, watching debates." - Michelle Obama Seriously. Take things out of context much, guys?

To begin, thank you sir (Lieutenant Colonel Stephen D. Bourgeois) for sacrificing your time for this fine country. It is truly your generation that has helped the vets of this war transition as peacefully as possible and that is a direct reflection of what you experienced from another conflict in Southeast Asia. I am not sure if you served in that theater, but surely you saw the effects of a divided country on the brave men and women who don’t have a say, but perform a job under the most unspeakable conditions and perform it well. So to that, I say Bravo Zulu. Secondly, regarding this guided discussion concerning the flag lapel and just who is patriotic: Your comments are actually logical, and neutral enough as to not encourage outright revolt by talking about them, so I will give a few of my own. I don’t believe that wearing or not wearing a lapel defines patriotism toward any cause. I heard a quote once and though I don’t know the author I will repeat it without trying to plagiarize: “Nobility is not a birthright. It is defined by ones actions” With that said, if a person wants to wear a pin, good. If their next door neighbor chooses not to, well then good. Maybe if the next president concentrates on such things as the economy, the foreign policy, the domestic policy, our education system, our global energy needs, health care needs for everyone, border security and immigration needs, privacy and personal liberty, and the like, then maybe those issues would be enough to replace a lapel, and we could have it in our heart to call him or her patriotic.