"Now don't you feel better?"

Not really. As a matter of fact it pisses me off to no end and I wouldn't piss on him if he were on fire.

And Obama wonders why people think he's un-American.

I think he just wasn't raised American enough to know any better. He's just truly ignorant and naive of the American people...not to mention other things.

Chloe, that could very well be true, but even the dumbest idiot out there knows what he is supposed to do. Not doing it is simply an act of defiance.

Being one born on the Day set forth for our Flag while my Father was stationed at an Academy and raised to believe there is no Flag that is a rival to ours; I beg Senator Obama - please exit your current stage and crawl back into the hole of which you so unfortunately crawled out.

Well, look at it like this. The entire point of holding your hand over your hert is to show sincerity to your oath; you are symbolically "swearing on your life". Three of the people in this picture have their hands over their hearts; Obama has his... well...

But give him credit, folks! He IS using both hands!

I hereby nominate DaveP's comment above as Best (and Funniest) Comment Of The Day!

Seconded!

All in favor?

AYE!

However, there is a reason why Testimony and Testicles have the same root word.

DaveP,you da man!

Even baseball players don't scratch their crotch during The Star Spangled Banner. Balls to America, eh, Barry?

To all above: I am quietly proud, I tell you; quietly proud.

Caption suggestion: "Jessie said he was gonna do WHAT!?"

There are some people that say there is no difference between the patriotism of the left and right. The Dalibama is patriotic, he was just waiting for Meadowlands to be played.

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/36/301.html

U.S. Flag Code for behavior expected during national anthem

You'd think he pushed a little old lady into a mudpuddle the way you're reacting.

Personally, I don't cover my heart when I hear the anthem either (at basketball games). It is just a song.

The USA is just a country. It's not perfect, the best, specially blessed by God, or any of that. It's my home, so I'm pretty fond of it. But get real, the flag is not a religious icon that we should worship; anyone who thinks that it is lacks critical thinking skills and a firm grip on reality.

Whenever someone waxes patriotic, you should be wondering what shortcomings he or she is trying to cover up. It's a way to stir up your emotions and shut down your rational faculties. I'm with Einstein on this: "Nationalism is an infantile disease. It is the measles of mankind."

Dani, you are free to feel and say all those things. Now when you salute the national colors, or place your hand over your heart during her song, you are not worshiping a flag or a song, you are paying homage to those who stood up and eventually lay down their lives so you can bash them freely. Additionally, you are paying homage to the country that ensures that you will continue to have the rights you so blatantly abuse.

That is what the left, and those who say it is just a song forget, and it is because of that they can be rightly called unpatriotic.

If it's not important, Dani, why are you bothering to comment on it?

When someone waxes unpatriotic, Dani, or pretends that their country is just a place they're from... one should wonder what kind of animal excrement they're full of, and what guilt impulse makes them peddle it in public. Cynicism towards one's home is not a virtue, no matter what you learned in PoliSci 101.

Honoring veterans is fine and good, but a ritual makes such observance trite and meaningless, especially when it becomes forced because all those who don't participate in precisely your prescribed way are bullied for their "unpatriotism". It becomes an act of conformity rather than a sincere expression of commitment, much like the flag fad that followed 9/11. (You remember how nobody wanted to be the first to take theirs down? Mine is inside where it's nobody's business but my own.)

I think you'd be quite hard-pressed to make an argument that the US has fought any war that involved defense or acquisition of any kind of American liberties apart from the war of independence and the civil war. Be honest about it: our military history is almost entirely a story of struggling for dominance of land in North America and trade overseas. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, it's just what you find if you look back on what happened.

I don't mean this to demean those who choose to be soldiers. They are serving their country just volunteer soldiers from most countries do, by fighting for the policies dictated by our political leaders. Their commitment is based on duty and honor, but whether or not they serve freedom is up to their political directors.

The attitude I see here, though, is neck-deep in a hateful obsession with "us-vs-them" animosity. This group is obsessed with separating the good guys from the bad guys and then sticking it to the bad guys. (Does that sound like the left, too? Yeah, the left is the same.) Ultimately, that's an exercise in self-indulgence that has nothing to do with patriotism or seeking the betterment of society.

That should be: "They are serving their country just LIKE volunteer soldiers from most countries do"

I think you'd be quite hard-pressed to make an argument that the US has fought any war that involved defense or acquisition of any kind of American liberties apart from the war of independence and the civil war.

Uh, Dani... during WWII the US was targeted both by Japan (remember Pearl Harbor?) and Germany (several U-boats were fired upon off the east coast of the US, with one sunk off Rhode Island).

I guess they don't teach things like that in US History anymore, more's the pity.

Dani,

It really is your choice whether or not you observe these "trite" little rituals. I actually consider it your right to do so.

Of course then there is my right to look at people like you with disgust and declaim your lack of patriotism to your face...or in a comment on a blog.

Take your 'trite' non-conformist attitude on this subject and shove it.

Now that I've let my blood cool down a bit with that litle vent...

Dani, it's called respect. Show it to your elders and those in power by using their honorifics of Mr., Mrs., Sir, Officer, Senator, etc. Show it to your country (and countrymen) by observing the forms of respect: hand over heart, silence or singing, and caps off.

Don't show respect to your country and I, as your contryman, will not show it to you.

"Honoring veterans is fine and good, but a ritual makes such observance trite and meaningless, especially when it becomes forced because all those who don't participate in precisely your prescribed way are bullied for their "unpatriotism". It becomes an act of conformity rather than a sincere expression of commitment, much like the flag fad that followed 9/11. (You remember how nobody wanted to be the first to take theirs down? Mine is inside where it's nobody's business but my own.)"

Not so much. It becomes trite and meaningless if you only do it because you are expected. But for those that get chills when they hear it, or pass by the national colors it and feel it, it is far from trite and meaningless.

If you do not want to, then so be it. Part of being a true patriot is showing that you are proud of what you are, even if it is unpopular to some, and what we have accomplished. If you are unwilling to show that you are proud of it, then you can not claim that you are one.
"I think you'd be quite hard-pressed to make an argument that the US has fought any war that involved defense or acquisition of any kind of American liberties apart from the war of independence and the civil war. Be honest about it: our military history is almost entirely a story of struggling for dominance of land in North America and trade overseas. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, it's just what you find if you look back on what happened."

You need to study your history some my friend.

CCG: We weren't just sitting there minding our own business when Japan attacked us and Germany declared war on us. We were generously aiding the Allied powers with Lend-Lease. Our involvement had nothing to do with defending our freedoms, it was entirely a result of our entanglement in imperial affairs overseas. If our personal freedoms are not dependent on maintaining a strong military and economic position overseas. (If you disagree, ask the Swiss what they think.)

Mark: I have nothing against our anthem itself, as I find it a nice song with rousing lyrics and a catchy tune. I like to sing it sometimes. Saluting is excessive for me, though, although I have no complaints if others do it. That kind of military-style pageantry reminds me of the trappings of military dictatorships, which is perhaps not surprising considering that the tradition was established, as far as I can tell, in the 1931. Back then, such things were in vogue and it was still common to hear praise for Mussolini and Hitler.

As for respecting my "elders", they don't salute the flag either.

I generally respect our political leaders: even when I don't respect their integrity, I can usually respect the grit and character that it takes to get into that position, and the extraordinary difficulty of the job that they do. I've been involved in the political process so I know how complex and unforgiving that world is. Nonetheless, I would dishonest if I didn't criticize their policies and conduct when I found it to be wrong-headed or irresponsible. A republic thrives on debate, not on yes-men.

My country has and deserves my respect but I have plenty of criticisms as well. IMO our great national flaw is an often-unjustified praising of our supposed strengths, along with a dramatic lack of perspective regarding how we fit into and relate with the rest of the world. In a word, hubris. That doesn't mean that our strengths shouldn't be praised, but they should be criticized so that they can be understood, and they should be understood before they are praised. I just don't see how salutes and pageantry fit into this rational process; it seems to me that they undermine it.

Matt: Obviously how you feel when you sing the anthem is a personal matter. You have not made any case, though, for why such patriotic expression has any value, inherent or otherwise, spiritual or pragmatic.

As for the question of military history, I have already offered specific examples. I notice that you make no specific argument to contradict me. I will offer some other illustrations:

Barbary Wars: Securing safety for US-flagged ships on the high seas. It's fair to throw this in
War of 1812: Land grab, we attempt to take Canada from the UK.
Mexican-American War: Land grab, we take advantage of weak and inefficient Mexican leadership and a border dispute in southern Texas to seize 1/3 of Mexico, the republic next door.
Indian Wars: Land grab. In order to colonize the west, we have to subdue the land's occupants.
Spanish-American War: Land grab. We take PR, Cuba and the Philippines just as they're on the verge of gaining their independence from Spain. In the Philippines we end up fighting the Philippine-American War to take control of the islands because Filipinos had other ideas.
World War I: Imperial entanglement. We enter the war just as it's ending. We lend the UK lots of money. In the end they don't pay us back.
World War II (already discussed): Imperial entanglement. We back the UK and the USSR financially against the Axis powers. Japan tries to take our Pacific Ocean colonies; we trounce them and help our allies trounce the European Axis nations. After the war we set up the British-American alliance and ring our new rival, Stalin, with hostile garrisons.
Korea, Vietnam: Part of the Cold War.
The Cold War: Essentially, a conflict between two competing economic spheres with different ways of doing business. Our side is called the "free world," but it in reality it can be generalized as a rich, free core (basically NATO + Australia) allied with a variety of dictators in countries like South Korea, Iraq and Chile. The other side is decidedly un-free; this side is eventually undone by their misguided economic system.
Iraq 1991: A "world police" operation. I think we can all agree that this one had nothing to do with defending American freedoms. The Kuwaitis were no doubt happy about it, though, especially the ones who owned all that oil. This war helped uphold the Cold War era principle that borders were inviolate and forcible annexations were a thing of the past.
Afghanistan 2001: Attempt to stabilize a chaotic region that had become a haven for undesirables who were terrorizing the locals and, in their spare time, cultivating global terrorism. We said they hate our freedom but really they hate our Middle East policies of the past several decades.
Iraq 2003: "Regime change" at the heart of the Middle East. This war was essential born of our frustration with our inability to shape the Middle East through an array of carrot and sticks. We decide that knocking down Iraq and then building it back up piece by piece will be the best way to bend the Middle East to our will. (Whether you view this as good or evil will depend primarily on your view of our will as benign or exploitative.)

To the extent that you believe that Afghanistan and Iraq have really diminished threats to the lives of US citizens, I suppose you could argue that those wars really have involved our "freedoms" -- principally our freedom to continue breathing, since that is the only freedom that terrorists can take from us without our cooperation. Obviously, life is an important "freedom" but it's not usually what we mean when we talk about defending freedom. We usually mean freedom of speech and the like, which random acts of violence can never threaten.

So, Dani, tell me this... would you prefer to live in a world where Nazi Germany had won?

No spin, please, just a simple yes or no answer.

"You have not made any case, though, for why such patriotic expression has any value, inherent or otherwise, spiritual or pragmatic."

I believe I did, but your not being able to see it tells me a few things about yourself.

"I notice that you make no specific argument to contradict me. I will offer some other illustrations:"

I generally agree with many of your examples. Save WWII. Yes we were economically starving Japan, and their attack on us was one of desperation. However they did have other options. And as for Germany. They were attempting to take over the world. I do not see how any sane man can say that our fight with them was not one for our freedom and sovereignty.

Yes Germany attacked us within our waters. Yes they attacked everyone. Had we not entered the fight they would have continued to push their fight to us, and eventually on our own soil.

Additionally. Japan's attack on PH was not the only one they mounted against U.S. soil.

Fortunately, those who disparage patriotism are still protected by those who feel patriotic.

Unlike others, I do LOVE living here in the USA (and yes, I've been to far too many other countries to easily count).

While understanding that the USA still has many areas for improvement, and still makes mistakes, I can (and do) tell people it is unquestionably the best country on earth. I wuld argue it's the best country in the history of man.

I enjoy telling my sons' school teachers what they would give up AND gain by moving to Canada, England, Japan, Oz, Germany, France, and China. And then ask them if they consider it worthwhile.

While Einstein's comments (no doubt colored by his experiences, and I'd love to understand the full context of the quotes attributed to him) have some validity with respect to BLIND nationalism, or BLIND patriotism, I prefer Orwell:

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

Oh, and the "rituals" are really quite important. They remind at least some of us of the bills that must be paid. Ignoring socially-cohesive rituals is disrespectful. It scorns those who "believe," as it were. Which is why Obama SHOULD be derided in this context.

If I visit synagogue (I'm not Jewish, but many friends are), putting on the kipa is not an "empty ritual" for a practicing Catholic, it's a sign of respect for others' beliefs.

When Pelosi visited the ME, she donned a head covering. Was that an "empty ritual" ?

I hope that those who disdain "empty rituals" never try to teach multi-culti classes.

Truth is, every cohesive culture has it's rituals. They bind us if we are members, and show respect and kinship if we are not.

But to remain aloof and ignore them is to say "I do not wish to participate in your culture."

It's akin to ignoring an outstretched hand offered, refusing to shake hands with someone because they are not aligned with you politically, economically, or otherwise.

To fail to stand during the Anthem, or otherwise refuse to engage in socially-recognized "rituals" places you either beside or above the USA, not as a part of it. A private citizen can certainly do so. But a presidential candidate should be excoriated for doing so.

Bravo, 1charlie2!

I think we have our post of the day for today... I concur with Mark, bravo, 1charlie2!

I could not have put it better myself. Chuck, I owe you a beer.

What a commie!!!!