Flagging Patriotism and Manufactured Controversies

For instance, the Rush thing goes on because now he had the gall to patronize (yes, that's what he did) Brian McGough on the VoteVet ad that was slamming him.

Look, I don't care for VoteVet.org. They aren't just a democrat associated veterans organization. They are barely this side of the IVAW. These folks were supporting Olberman's claims of Tillman's alleged murder and cover up. John Soltz actually tried to claim that his combat experience made him a forensic scientist and he could verify the wounds on Tillman came from a specific weapon, fired from a specific distance. In fact, he did so by doing exactly what they are doing now: taking a part of a report, interpreting incomplete information and insisting that one sentence from a medical examiner nullified all the other evidence.

There was no conspiracy to murder Pat Tillman. Some officers doing CYA after they didn't handle the release of information right was the only "conspiracy" that occurred. That was bad enough and certainly gave the military a black eye. No need for manufactured conspiracies here.

Political murder, no.

Military service does not equate to perfect people. It doesn't make them Sacred Relics, immune to criticism nor, apparently, to supporting idiotic conspiracy theories for political gain. John Soltz representing VoteVets on Olberman's show, supporting a conspiracy theory, pretty much ended any ideas on my part about listening to their ideas and told me what I needed to know about the organization.

Lay down with dogs, get up with fleas.

For Rush, my advice comes straight from my grandmother: when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

Best thing to do is to stop talking about it personally. I would have brought some real veterans on to talk about their service and their incredible sacrifices in defense of the nation. Turn off the "fakes" like Jesse MacBeth (who are just getting their jollies off of being talked about; the whole reason they faked their service records in the first place) and turn off the conspiracy theorists like VoteVet. Or, if you just can't resist, get some vets who follow actual "phoney" claims of service, like Matt from Blackfive, to talk about actual people that continue to be outed as not having served. Particularly, people like Chester Stiles who the media, without checking, reported was once a Navy Seal (he isn't by the way; but who pays attention after the fact?). Talk about how much harm that does to the credibility and honor of the people that really serve.

But, don't patronize these VoteVet guys and suggest some service member with a political axe to grind is "manipulated". That's just playing the same game that the Democrats and other "anti-war" people like to play when they suggest military people are deluded or brainwashed or otherwise unable to rationally contemplate their commitment to serve or their commitment to the mission.

I imagine this VoteVet guy knows exactly what he is doing. I'll say it plainly, he's a political hack. Anyone that disagrees with me, leave your comments below, but remember, this is written by "Kat" not "the Armorer".

On to the second subject of "Sacred Relics":

Over at Blackfive, the vet who cut down the flags because the United States Flag was being flown under the Mexican flag is getting a lot of play. Mostly the applause and support of a bunch of people who are concerned that Patriotism is failing in the United States. That may be so and I would even agree, but I disagree with John Broussard's actions and those that applaud him. I certainly won't be contributing to his "defense fund".

I have not seen any interview with this owner. Allegedly, he said it was "in support of the local populace" (the illegal Mexican immigrants that are being rounded up?). I don't know. I can't seem to find this alleged interview. I don't think it makes a difference in my opinion. But, for all the applause being thrown towards Mr. Broussard, I think his actions were actually misguided, illegal (petty larceny, damage to private property) and maybe even remotely racist. Yes, I said the "R" word.

When Mr. Broussard said "These people want to fight us." Who was he speaking about? He was tearing down the Mexican flag. Was that all Mexicans? Because, that is what he implied. And people are cheering him on. Does anyone know anything about this man besides he's a white vet that was angry about the flag? Any affiliations? Past history?

I'm not trying to throw suspicion on him, but, per my comment on VoteVet: lay down with dogs, get up with fleas. I think anyone supporting him should have something more than the scripted release of information.

Then, when some commenter at one of my favorite blogs puts "Mexican" in scare quotes, that is the equivalent of sneering that word in writing and something we regularly lambaste the media for doing when they want to describe something the military says happened and they disagree with. What do we call them? Anti-military?

My point here is that, regardless of the intent, when we act this way, we turn off people who might otherwise have agreed that border security is important, but who want to steer clear of any overtly, intended or perceived racially motivated organizations and actions.

That may not be the intent, but perception is everything and if I can perceive it as such, others can, too. I believe this kind of thing harms the conservative base and will drive supporters and voters away eventually. Plenty of folks want to dump the "amnesty" republicans, but I wonder if they are prepared for a Hillary who would do more and possibly worse?

I know, people feel provoked by "La Rassa" and similar organizations. I know that people feel provoked by people who desecrate the flag, fly it upside down and any number of other things. Shockingly, I happen to agree with the ACLU: Free Speech.

Please, don't assume you know what I believe about what the flag means or how it should be respected.

I can hold both ideas without going into apoplectic fits. I am also not provoked to do something illegal by such acts of disrespect or political speech. Free speech means we can counter it with more free speech, not break the law. Protesters who break windows at recruiting offices and vandalize war monuments are breaking the law. So did Mr. Broussard.

People could have protested outside of the establishment. They could have set up flags and handed out flyers talking about proper flag etiquette. They could have went down and given an interview to the news organization about what they believe. They could have used this event for something positive that not only reflected our patriotism, but also provided an opportunity to educate people about the issues from illegal immigration to appropriate flag etiquette.

they could have done a lot of things that are explicitly allowed under the first amendment and equally protected as this shop owner. Instead, the new hero of the right is making the right look a little like the fringe left: crazy, angry, scary people.

Yeeeaaaarrrggghhh! Did not get Dean elected. Remember that.

What informs my opinions on free speech are things like Wes Clark calling for "rated" speech; the attempts to re-instate the unfair "fairness doctrine", the backhanded attempts to have radio talk show hosts tossed off of AFN because the reigning party can't stand the idea that they don't get "equal time" to propagandize the troops with their defeatist rhetoric; Hillary's "media smatters" propaganda attacks in support of these attempts to limit the speech of others; Burmese dissenters being chopped up and tossed in the jungle, perfectly good democracies throwing their freedom away for 21st Century Chavismo Communism that institutes "re-education" in state funded schools and "nationalism" where non-state news stations are closed down because they resist the "revolution"; Hollywood activism with their giant, overpaid, undereducated megaphone; Chinese and North Korean dissidents in secret prisons; and, historically (breaking Godwin's law) a rather infamous picture of Hitler "consecrating" Nazi SS flags with the "sacred" bloody flag of the Munich Putsch.

All of these things I keep in mind, remembering that most of these things happen under the guise of "law". I don't believe we need any law that inhibits free speech. I don't believe we need penalties, fines or jail time for it. I don't want to give any would be dictator any little legal powers to imprison me because someday I might feel like this country has gone to hades in a hand basket and desire to show it by hanging the flag upside down or even burning it.

I have a last thing to say about the News Station involved: I think they went down there to film the flag for the exact thing that happened - manufactured controversy. News must have been awful slow that day. Then again, its what I've come to expect from the media. If they don't have anything good to write about, they create it. Journalist hacks.

Finally, Barak Obama gave some lame excuse for not wearing the United States Flag on his lapel. It was an obvious play to his constituency. The folks who most fear "ultra-patriotism", who most often desecrate the flag or decry it because it is flying over causes they disagree with.

His answer, though, was a weaseling cop out. A cop out that seems to go with his "embrace the world" point of view.

Not that his weaseling changed my mind. Wasn't intending to vote for him anyway. Not because of his lack of flag or his weaseling cop out. But, because I don't intend to be a citizen of the United Continents of the World or embrace dictators like Fidel Castro singing Kumbaya, roasting marshmallows over "Camp Happy World" fire pit filled with the bodies of people who want just what we do: freedom.

Another political hack.

If you want your kids to know about patriotism, honoring the flag and real heroes, don't look for the state or schools to do it, do it yourself. Do it for their future. But don't teach them to infringe on other people's rights because they think they are right.

Don't show them a video of an angry white guys with a K-Bar. Show them the proper way to hang a flag, salute the flag, pledge to the flag and put it away.

Someday, they may teach that to their kids, too.