Oh hey, we got a new loyalty oath and it involves gratuitous display of the flag.

Perhaps we could have a question that goes along with it:

Are you now not wearing, or have you not worn in the past, a proper flag lapel pin?

What's that? I'm sorry, you're not a real American.

Holy tamole bat-person, any fool of a poser can put on a flag lapel pin. In fact, I'll go so far as to assert that anyone who believes this really means anything is one or both.

Sorta like asking someone if they're a Christian. Tell you what, you watch me for a while and decide for yourself. Anyone can say they are. In fact, there are some prominent people running about now who wear the pin and claim to be Christian who don't strike me as truly patriotic or Christ-like.

Not surprising, John Prine already covered this topic, pretty close anyway:

Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore

© John Prine

While digesting Reader's Digest
In the back of a dirty book store,
A plastic flag, with gum on the back,
Fell out on the floor.
Well, I picked it up and I ran outside
Slapped it on my window shield,
And if I could see old Betsy Ross
I'd tell her how good I feel.

Chorus:
But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
They're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war.
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.

Well, I went to the bank this morning
And the cashier he said to me,
"If you join the Christmas club
We'll give you ten of them flags for free."
Well, I didn't mess around a bit
I took him up on what he said.
And I stuck them stickers all over my car
And one on my wife's forehead.

Repeat Chorus:

Well, I got my window shield so filled
With flags I couldn't see.
So, I ran the car upside a curb
And right into a tree.
By the time they got a doctor down
I was already dead.
And I'll never understand why the man
Standing in the Pearly Gates said...

"But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
We're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war.
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more."

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

cmac--
We agree again.
Our society has lost all ability to reason, and think. Therefore we elevate symbols rather than substance.
On a slightly different track, I have a real problem with the whole " God and Country" mentality. As Jesus said, " You cannot serve two masters..." When push comes to shove, either loyalty to God, or Country ( or self) will prove itself the stronger loyalty.

__________________
1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

When he was questioned at the recent Hillary/Obama debate by a viewer, why he does not wear an American flag lapel pin, Barack Obama simply stated it was a "manufactured issue"

I think that was a good response.

People like George W. Bush and Richard M. Nixon - who committed illegal and /or outrageously heinous acts contrary to the national interest, ALWAYS wore American flag lapel pins, in a lame attempt to portray themselves as "patriots".

They did/do so consistently, blatantly and unashamedly that to some, the wearing of an American flag lapel pin by anyone in poilitics raises a "red flag" is IMMEDIATELY seen by anyone as a likelihood that they are doing something really bad or are trying to hide something

Maybe it is for that reason that Obama won't wear one; he knows it is a cheap ploy used by bad, corrupt Republican politicians, like Nixon and the Texas oil hustler, to mention a couple.

Probably that is what he wanted to say, anyway, but knew it would be impolitic to do so.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

"Patriotism is the last resort of the scoundrel" - Samuel Johnson


PATRIOTISM, n. Combustible rubbish read to the torch of any one ambitious to illuminate his name. In Dr. Johnson's famous dictionary patriotism is defined as the last resort of a scoundrel. With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer I beg to submit that it is the first.” -Ambrose Bierce

__________________
2002 E320 4-Matic
2008 Subaru Outback
2009 Subaru Forester

^^^^^^^^^^That VERY slogan, until recently, was CMAC2012's signature.

He knows.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Go figure - what are the odds?

Right on top of things as usual...

__________________
2002 E320 4-Matic
2008 Subaru Outback
2009 Subaru Forester

Of course, the the negative is not automatically true, either. IOW, NOT wearing a flag pin does not make you a patriot, either. Neither does simply criticisng the government make you a patriot.
Patriots?
Hell, we can even get statesmen. hell, we can't even get politicians who uphold their oath of office...." to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution froam all enemies, foreign and domestic..."
Why is it that the words, "Congress shall make no law....." seem to focus Congressional energies on exactly the thing they were forbidden to do?
Why is getting re-elected the first duty of every politician, instead of just doing the right thing?
Why am I asking you?

__________________
1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

I think all presidential candidates should demonstrate that they can bow it out their ass.

It's not OJT ability.

Patriotism. In his own words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl32Y7wDVDs


Cheer up, sleepy jean.
Oh, what can it mean.
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen.

I wish all candidates would speak so clearly of their beliefs.

The flag pin is part of the customary attire, like wearing a dark suit and understated tie. It means you are a member of a certain club where you have to be a team player to push through your agenda and get the things you want and stand for. Will his disdain for the flag pin sway opinions in Congress one way or another? Who knows, but why even make it an issue? Obama is putting his little tiff with the lapel pin before the interests of the country. Why can't he just wear the damn thing?

__________________
1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

I must say that Obama's "little tiff with the lapel pin" made me like him even more. The lapel pin is as kind of like those "support the troops" stickers (talk about hypocrisy) and I'm glad he refuses to wear one. Besides, even genuine patriotism can be bad if it's excessive and blind as it often leads to arrogance and complacency. I'd much rather have a leader who sees the flaws in our country and will work to fix them, then someone who sees the country through rosy glasses and insists everything is great and nothing gets done.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

You're an honest man, even if you are wrong about 40% of the time. ()

I was watching the Leher NewsHour today, Mark Shields pointed out that Sen. Jim Webb, who served in Vietnam doesn't wear a flag pin while Dick Cheney, who got several deferments in order to pursue his "other priorities" does.

A pin doesn't change what's in someone's heart or gut.

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Yeah, I want a president who caves into peer pressure over fashion accessories before it's an issue.

__________________
1984 300TD

Sounds good to me. SDI has succeeded in enriching numerous arms contrators and that's about it. It'll never work, because it's much cheaper to circumvent it than to build it.

Oh hey, here's Prine singing that song on youtube:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=m1qE2vJdDw4

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K