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Sen. Barack Obama, would-be President of the United States, showed a breathtaking misunderstanding of the symbolism of the American flag yesterday when he explained why he does not display the Stars and Stripes on his jacket lapel. Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Obama said, "I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest," because he felt that supporters of the war in Iraq had, in effect, appropriated lapel flags and were using them as a "substitute for I think true patriotism." And he wanted none of it.

One of the Muslim scholars removed from a US Airways flight on Monday today called for imams around the country to boycott the airline after employees refused to sell him new tickets for his flight home. On Monday, Omar Shahin and five other imams had gone to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to fly home to Phoenix after attending a conference in Minneapolis of the North American Imams Federation. Shahin is president of the group. But after passengers raised concerns about the imams — three of whom said their normal evening prayers in the airport terminal before boarding the Phoenix-bound plane...

MEXICO CITY – The Mexican government criticized New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's decision Friday to declare states of emergency in four border counties due to crime and migration, a move that free up funds to fence an area near the border. Mexico said the declarations "don't jibe with the spirit of cooperation and understanding" and ordered its consul in Albuquerque to meet with New Mexico officials "to promote appropriate actions by the officials of both countries." Richardson cited "violence directed at law enforcement, damage to property and livestock, increased evidence of drug smuggling and an increase in the number of...

A Matter Of Allegiance And Why One Might Wisely Withold It May 29, 2005 I wish to propose a salubrious anarchy, a deliberate renunciation of fealty to country, society, and government, an assertion of independence from folly and moral decay. Permit me to offer a taxing political idea: When a society ceases to be worthy of support, it is reasonable to withdraw support. The time, I submit, has come. Here I do not mean to urge crime or counsel treason, but to suggest quiet renunciation of the national disaster. Ask yourself how much of American life pleases you. The schools...

Editor's note: "The Political Skinny" is an inside look at Alabama politics prepared by the staff of the Mobile Register. The column is compiled by Political Editor Jim Van Anglen, who can be reached at :jvananglen@mobileregister.com or 251-219-5608.During "town hall" meetings in Baldwin County last week, U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile, most likely expected tough questions about President Bush's Social Security proposal.But the congressman probably did not anticipate that several constituents at his stop in Gulf Shores would spend much of the hour-long meeting criticizing his support of the Iraq war.To make his case, Bonner recounted his experience traveling to...

Tell me, when was the last time you saw a rickety boat leave this country for the shores of Cuba? Or throngs of wayward Americans seeking haven . . . in Mexico? Keep looking. While you're doing that, let me tell you about this: a gathering. Actually, it was a pretty big gathering, largely of foreign exchange students who had been assembled to air their views on how life is going for them thus far in this country. I thought it would be a rather perfunctory affair, and since I've had exchange students in my house from all sorts of countries,...

Ithaca was once called America's “Most Enlightened City”. But now, a group is using an Internet site to call it something very different-- "The City of Evil." The site is run by the group "Behind Liberal Lines." It lists reasons why Ithaca is the city of evil. It includes everything from the fact that the city once had a socialist mayor to the fact that Ithaca is home to Lucifer Falls. The site also takes a stab at local politics, bashing the strong-hold the Green Party has in the area and poking fun at political leaders. "What they said on...

Front: American Traveler International Apology Shirt. Back: "I'm sorry my president's an idiot. I didn't vote for him." In the six official UN languages.