Fontessa, it seems to me that what Obama did was reject the politicization of the flag pin. If the flag pin were an apolitical symbol of patriotism, none of the comments in this thread would be here.
The fact is that we, conservatives especially, no longer care what someone is going to do for the country or even whether or not his ideas fit with any set of principles – we only want to see the right symbols and hear the right rhetoric from the right people.
As I said before, it doesn’t matter what Obama does. If he had started wearing a bigger flag pin, the same people criticizing him now would be criticizing him for politicizing the flag pin or for hiding behind the flag.
Don’t forget, never forget that the flag is a symbol of the United States, not the US itself. I would hope that no one ever fought and died for the flag, but rather for what the flag stood for.
When we see people wanting to outlaw flag-burning or deciding that a Presidential candidate is unfit for office because he’s not wearing a flag on his lapel, what we’re seeing is the same kind of idolatry that informs monarchies. If the flag is the thing, what’s the use of the freedom and other ideals for which it stands? Why don’t we just do what the flag tells us to?
If it is actually America that we care about, why don’t we choose our leaders based on what they’ll do for the country rather than on what they wear.
