US 'flag epidemic' reaches peak on Fourth of July

AFP on Yahoo ^ | 7/4/06 | Chantal Valery

[wildwood]

"It's a little strange, this obsession of the flag," French author Bernard-Henri Levy wrote after traveling across the country.

interesting. my father was in the army during ww2 and when the AMERICANS liberated paris, a frenchie ran alongside my father's jeep, ripping open his shirt as he ran to reveal a french flag wrapped around his chest under his clothing, obviously a member of the resistance.

but apparently mr. levy is not familiar with the roots of such a "strange.. obsession."

[Robert A Cook PE]

The "elite snobbery" about the flag is not just in the "epidemic" headline: Notice that the writer shows that if REALLY loved the flag you would n't let it get run over or get ragged.

Therefore the (elite liberals) who hate the country (and the flag for which it stands) would never, ever dare dishonor the flag by showing it or by handing it out to others.

/sarchasm = the gaping canyon between truth and liberalism

[freekitty]

Yeah, there is nothing strange about our pride in our flag and country. It's the freedom that every person that comes in contact covets. I would say we have got a good thing. We just need to rid ourselves of the ones that would want to control us.

[don'tbedenied]

One of the things I enjoy is taking a foreigner to an American sporting event. Doesn't matter if it's a Phillies game or a high school football game in Des Moines--everyone stands up and sings our National Anthem. Nobody makes us do it, we just love our country.
Not to turn this into an immigration thread, but if the Mexican-Americans at their rallies would wave the American flag and sing the National Anthem in English with gusto, we'd be handing them citizenship as fast as we could. All it takes to really be an American is accepting the concept. America is an idea not a place.

[hsalaw]

"It's a little strange, this obsession of the flag," French author Bernard-Henri Levy wrote after traveling across the country.

It's not strange at all. We are proud of our country. No wonder the French don't get it.

[hsalaw]

Try the Disabled American Veterans. I donate to them, so get them in the mail, but they probably have a website you can check out. A very worthy organization.

[fight_truth_decay]

Driving through little towns in Maine, I found a shortage of American flags flying from town offices and or other municipal buildings. Local historical landmarks as well flew empty flag poles. Where they once were mounted on bridges, those same bridges were minus flags this year. Some smaller fire departments were bare as well.

A patriot in one small town asked for donations to place flags on light poles in memory of loved ones. Private business or citizens donated, as the town said they could not afford to purchase flags. This patriotic town citizen plans to raise more money next year.

The Fourth of July parade I attended had the majority of
patriotic floats, but the Global Warming People were out with the "new winter runway dress" by LLBean (LLBean had not endorsed, so don't stop shopping)-one man in a speedo on cross country skis, women with fake fur tops sporting shorts and bra tops. Pedal Power instead of dependency on OIL.

Flags and banners appeared mostly on private residences and scattered stores and eateries within these hamlets proudly remembering our veterans and our brave men and women fighting in the Middle East.

[Billthedrill]

Here's the flag I've been wearing today:

[goldstategop]

Except liberals who tend to be put off by all that flag waving. Fortunately, its a minority sentiment. Long may the red, white and blue fly over this blessed land!

(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)

[Little Bill]

Everyone in my NH town had a flag out today in my tour of the village, Except for the two commie Kerry supporters down the street from me.

[Zippo44]

"The Supreme Court ruled in 1989 that freedom of expression guaranteed by the US constitution includes the right to burn the flag, an act frequently observed during protests against the Vietnam War.

Last week, the US Senate barely rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that could have led to criminal penalties for desecrating of the flag."

I am convinced that a constitutional amendment is not necessary. The solution for the flag burning issue is simple and inexpensive. Each municipality or state should pass an ordinance, or add a law to the penal code mandating that physically assaulting a person who is at that time engaged in burning or otherwise desecrating the National Flag of the United States of America is a Class C misdemeanor punishable by no more than a $5 fine.

I and others of like mind would swiftly learn to gather at leftist protest sites with pockets stuffed full of $5 bills.

[festus]

"It's a little strange, this obsession of the flag," French author Bernard-Henri Levy wrote after traveling across the country.

Did he also comment on our strange use of things like soap and deodorant ?

[DennisR]

Amen to that!!!

[Notwithstanding]

What an assinine piece.

The author is jealous and envious that we have pride in our nation.

I contrast that to Europe where one rarely sees the natives displaying a national flag - except on their cars during World Cup like Packers fans do.

[Notwithstanding]

...I meant to say "like Packer fans do with Packer banners."