Insulting, yes. That's why I said sorry. Childish? I'd say it was positively sophomoric! That's about ten grades beyond your "sh*t smelling" comment. You probably think I'm some kind of "America Hater". Is that it? Sorry, wrong. I love my country, and the hairs stand up on my neck too when the Veterans float goes by on Memorial Day. I just happen to have a problem with Neocon pseudo-patriots who wouldn't be caught dead without a flag pin in their lapel while they wipe their ass with the Constitution. That kind of thing has sensitized me to the use and misuse of our country's symbols for purposes of manipulating people into voting against their self interest.Well duh. Of course you're an American. It's your deeply seated American tribalism that I dissed, right? If not, how about explaining what the problem is instead of hurling childish insults?Well, I am an American and I'm pretty sure Barak Obama is as well. You might want to consider applying for political asylum at the UN.Yeah, I'm just brilliance impaired. Apparently I dissed your deeply seated tribalism... Sorry about that.Kinda reaching for the clever retort, aren't we?I suspect the smell of his sh*t would likely exert the same effect on you as well.Obama's lack of a weird-ass quasi religious affectation over the freaking National Anthem (of all things) makes me want to vote for him even more.
Too clever for you, eh? How about this? The weird-ass quasi-religious fervour of many of Obama's supporters makes me want to vote for him even less.
You don't think referring to a traditional and rather harmless display of patriotism as "weird-ass quasi religious affectation" is insulting and childish? Do you think Senator Obama would agree with you? Personally I would not presume to fathom the sources of people's outward expressions of patriotism - regardless of their political affiliation. I do know countless men and women - many who have sacrificed much more than I have or ever will for the United States - have stood at attention with hand over heart for the national anthem. Personally, I feel deeply humbled.
After 9/11 the first person I saw (in person) wearing a flag pin was a co-worker. He was just returning from a John Kerry rally (this was in 2004.) I didn't think about the political aspect - I just thought it was nice and a bit touching. I resolved at that moment to wear a flag pin from then on during Veteran's day and on Independence day. Veteran's day came along and I wore a small flag pin (much the same as my coworker had worn) as planned. Shortly afterwards I was informed by this same co-worker the he considered such display of the U.S. flag jingoistic. He continued to remind me of this whenever the occasion arose (even though I only wore the flag once in his presence.) I never said a word. In any case, I apparently have a different view (and experience) from you regarding how patriotism has been politicized.
I just happen to have a problem with Neocon pseudo-patriots who wouldn't be caught dead without a flag pin in their lapel while they wipe their ass with the Constitution.
What did FDR do (e.g. internment of Japanese-Americans)? What about JFK (tapping the phone of Martin Luther King)? And they are big heros today. Would you say they were wiping their ass with the U.S. Constitution? Are they "pseudo-patriots"? Plenty of people make this sort of excuse, but many of these same people (probably most in my neck of the woods) were never comfortable with displays of patriotism in the first place - actually many of them are outright antagonistic to it and felt this way long before the "neocons." They should be thankful that Bush has given them a convenient excuse.
Edited by ludongbin, 02 March 2008 - 11:20 AM.