Patriotic Pin?

Does wearing an American flag lapel pin make you a better American? What about a flag flying in front of your house? Or maybe the bumper sticker with the flag and slogan "These colors don't run"? Patriotic sloganeering and symbolism are as old as the republic. It's come up this election cycle in the form of questions regarding Barack Obama.

Seven months ago, he had the temerity to say he didn't feel compelled to wear an American flag lapel pin. Suddenly there were questions about Obama's patriotism. They've lingered, along with the persistent false suggestion that he's Muslim. Lately, he's taken to wearing it more frequently, while it's been noted that neither Hillary Clinton nor John McCain wears one every day.

Aside from the obvious double standard, this American flag business has always given me the creeps. Wearing your Americanism on your sleeve has for me always been a cheap way to infer that those who don't aren't American enough. This reared its ugly head most often after 9-11, when motorists were confronted by people in parking lots and on public roads. Folks were demanding to know why there was no flag on people's cars. If you think it's far fetched, think again. It happened to my wife.

Perhaps some of these flag wavers are well intentioned. Many are veterans who are re-affirming their sacrifice, and I have no problem with that. Yet the notion that Barack Obama or anyone else has to wear a visible symbol of their nationality is to me trashing the very principles on which this nation was founded. If America is about freedom, how about freedom from judgment based on what you wear on your lapel?

Not to mention tolerance.