Flag Pins: Put To Rest

I think this guy, Roland Martin over at CNN.com, has the funniest-looking head ever.

But that funny head of his finally said something I agree with: enough with the flag pin nonsense.

Since it is clear that our nation is paralyzed and so not able to close our borders, feed the homeless, develop businesses in the inner cities and save people from having their homes taken by foreclosure due to ruthless mortgage companies, all because some folks don't wear a flag lapel pin, we need to lead a national movement to demand that Congress and the states make requiring officeholders to wear a flag lapel pin the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

That's right, folks. If Obama or McCain can't see fit to wear their patroitism on their proverbial sleeve, then we can't trust them to make the right decisions.


Martin nails it:

"That's what zealots do. They take something so simple, so personal, so voluntary, and absolutely lose their mind, trying to force someone else to do as them, and everyone else be damned...When I'm on the golf course and I slip my wedding ring into my golf bag, the Rev. Jacquie Hood Martin is still my wife...I may not be able to fit into the shirt I pledged in, but I will be a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. until the day I die...I am an unapologetic Christian, but you won't see a cross dangling from my neck or a James Avery charm bracelet on my wrist. Why? Because my love of Jesus Christ is in my heart.[emphasis mine]

Just like "patriotism" and loe of America. It's inside you, or not.

He closes well in his brief op-ed. But for God's sake, indeed, this part of the debate and all of the attention drawn to whether or not someone wears a flag pin is indeed just a distraction from members of Congress having to actually defend their shitty, partisan voting records.

I hope we have finaly hit rock-bottom. Then there's finally nowhere for our debates and priorities to go but up.