A Few Thoughts About The Flag

One of the issues that is roiling on the opinion pages of newspapers recently is Flag- burning.  There have been a few incidents since the election where some knuckleheads have set fire to Old Glory in protest to the results of the election.  Kind of a mixed message when you burn the symbol of democracy and freedom because the election didn't go your way.  Seems like a childish and unthoughtful expression for a US citizen.  Like burning a picture of your mother because you grew up with an ugly nose.

Trump could not resist tweeting: "Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag — if they do, there must be consequences — perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!" 

I believe one's opinion holds weight commensurate with the sacrifice one has made.   As a non-combat veteran, I  will yield to the strong feelings of any vet who fought and bled under the banner of the stars and stripes.

My own 2 cents about flag burning:  I vigorously disapprove of it, but I agree with the Supreme Court decision that protects freedom of speech.  (They have ruled that the Constitution protects your right to burn your own flag.  Not my flag or one owned by the government.)

I think flag-burners should be treated like any case of arson with regard to property ownership, damage and safety of the public.

I was proud to serve my country under the banner and will always respect the flag as a symbol of the ideals we share as patriots: Freedom, equality, justice.

But it's a symbol, not a sacred object.

I have to admit that I am not a purist on this issue.  I  recognize the valid feelings of those who are offended by certain odious expressions of free speech (Neo-nazi parades, disrupting funerals or other solemn occasion).  

I would suggest that a specific misdemeanor should apply to cases of "Justified Assault" - when someone is being so offensive that you just have to punch them in the mouth.  This offense should be punished by a slap on the wrist and an admonition not to do it again (wink, wink)

Pardon Me

Pardon me, but I am more offended by the Mississippi governor Haley Barbour's pardoning hundreds of bad guys who were convicted in a court of justice than I am over the US Marines who pissed on the bodies of the enemy who were trying to kill them a few minutes earlier. 

What is wrong with me?

No Country Redux

You probably think that you are one of the two or three people who read this blog. But I have news for you bucko: there are at least four people who read it, not counting me.

I know this because I have received anecdotal evidence from one of the "regulars" that he was talking with a female friend who read my "No Country for Old Men " post of last week.

She thinks I should stick to writing about work issues and leave politics to the pundati. As I understand it, she is a supporter of John McCain's creaking campaign, and she wishes that I would just STFU about how old McCain is.

It makes me happy to imagine that someone would read my musings and actually be annoyed because they are worried that my pearls of wisdom and insight might actually change someones mind - or vote.

Someone should tell her that this wisdom is lost to most surfers, so she needen't become distressed that wandering bubbas might find truth via the Google search engine. I think Google tends to "find" Internet postings that have a lot of commercial appeal. This is a problem for me, since, like John McCain, I do not believe in pandering to special interests. I do not "sell" ad space to gain revenue. I know what you are thinking: No one would advertise on a site that only gets four clicks a week. Maybe so.

Exploring the Internets can be harrowing. We writers frequently attempt to back-up our opinions with actual facts. In the old days, I suppose writers actually went to the library and looked stuff up. Hah, what a waste of time! Nowadays, professional opinionators need go no further than their handy desk top search engine. All Truth is out there on the Internets. If there isn't a Wikipedia entry on something, it probably isn't worth knowing - or believing.

The other day, I tried to see if Google would find one of the blogs that I posted with "tags" I searched "McCain, No Country for Old Men" and when I did not find my blog in the top 200 listings, I lost interest. Instead, I found this obvious ripoff of my previous entry which, remember, was dated two days earlier:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-scheer/no-country-for-old-men_b_99342.html

I would consider a plagiarism lawsuit against this Robert-sheer fellow, but that would involve talking to a lawyer. My daddy always said " Boy, don't never have no truck wit no lawyers. You gots to make you own justice." Well, sometimes justice is trumped by a desire to keep things simple. Besides, as my mother used to say, imitation is the highest form of compliment.

I know what you are thinking: The Sheer piece is so much better, well written and researched. Well, I think my mother would have said mine was better. Nah nah.

Speaking of Mothers, my wife tricked me into making breakfast this morning, suggesting that it was Mothers day. Hey, since I became an orphan, I don't pay any attention to the Hallmark Holidays. By the time I realized that it (Mothers Day) was actually next Sunday, my wily coyote bride of 40 years had already consumed the Land O Lakes Omega3 eggs, Banquet brown-and-serve sausages and buttered Arnold Oat Bran toast, and was sitting like a princess on the Sun-Shield screen porch quaffing her Starbucks Verona with that Mona Lisa smile on her face. (Maybe that will get me some Google hits).

editorial note: After pithy commentary on grammer and pronoun agreement by yet another faithful reader/commenter, I have re-written the earlier version. The comments have been removed to avoid confusion.