Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Dobbs: Our flag belongs to all Americans
CNN ^ | 10/10/07 | Lou Dobbs

Posted on 10/10/2007 6:26:31 AM PDT by Freeport

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Lunacy among our public figures in this country certainly didn't subside over the weeks that I've been away from the broadcast. I've been no less than astounded by the incongruity, the contradiction, the specious and silly public statements by public and political figures over something like a flag pin worn on one's lapel.

Like many Americans, I began wearing a flag pin after September 11. I do so out of respect for those killed in the terrorist attacks, and in recognition of this country's war on radical Islamist terror. It turns out that some journalists and some presidential candidates are uncomfortable and even upset about flags on lapels. Their comments are both disappointing and bizarre given the very serious issues facing this nation. But maybe their superior and supercilious views offer a window into what ails us as a society.

Katie Couric of CBS News takes exception to "the whole culture of wearing flags on our lapel and saying 'we' when referring to the United States." We are Americans, right, Katie? I'm sorry, but how can anyone possibly be offended by acknowledging that our troops who are sacrificing so much for us are ours, and that we are their proud countrymen?

Sen. Barack Obama put away his lapel flag pin. The senator says instead of a flag pin, his words will be a testament to his patriotism. I don't know what's wrong with the senator or why he can find any discomfort at all, but that's his right as an American. But any politician of any political party who believes their words can be an adequate substitute for the symbolic power of the American flag is sadly arrogant and horribly mistaken.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: dobbs; flagpins; oldglory; september12era; usflag
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

1 posted on 10/10/2007 6:26:34 AM PDT by Freeport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Freeport

Lou...can it be? And this from someone at CNN !!!!


2 posted on 10/10/2007 6:28:33 AM PDT by Moby Grape
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Freeport

This whole issue is a non-story to begin with . . . Lou, please let it die in peace.


3 posted on 10/10/2007 6:29:01 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy

Like HELL it is. I expect OBAMA to show up with a ISLAMIC FLAG if anything.


4 posted on 10/10/2007 6:35:42 AM PDT by snowman1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Freeport

Did’nt Tom Brokaw stop wearing the lapel flag pin because he did’nt want to appear biased?


5 posted on 10/10/2007 6:38:11 AM PDT by jaydubya2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: snowman1

I quite agree. I noticed during the debate last night only a handful had flag pins on:

Fred, Tom, Rudy (looking back at the pictures I can’t see if Duncan had one one). Ron Paul had some pin on but I don’t think it was a flag.

Anyway, that (having a flag pin or not), to me, is a statement in itself.


6 posted on 10/10/2007 6:43:52 AM PDT by RedCell (Honor thy Father (9/6/07) - Semper Fi)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy
This whole issue is a non-story to begin with

who the hell are you to say it's a non-story? I think it's a story when you have someone running for the presidency of our country and is ashamed to wear the flag.

7 posted on 10/10/2007 6:45:11 AM PDT by my right
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: RedCell

I’d be shocked as hell if Hunter didn’t have a flag lapel pin. Every other time he’s appeared in public he’s had one.


8 posted on 10/10/2007 6:54:10 AM PDT by brothers4thID (Fred Thompson for President!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Freeport

Lou Dobbs is often a bitter old man, but he is spot on with this column. Good job Lou!


9 posted on 10/10/2007 6:57:30 AM PDT by Clemenza (Rudy Giuliani, like Pesto and Seattle, belongs in the scrap heap of '90s Culture)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: snowman1

Me too.


10 posted on 10/10/2007 6:58:48 AM PDT by apocalypto
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: my right

Let’s see here: I have some fundamentalist Muslims trying to kill me, the Chinese are trying to poison my dog, some witch wants me to pay for your health care, and Congress wants to muzzle free speech. And you want to debate flag-pins? Give me a break.


11 posted on 10/10/2007 7:01:11 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: RedCell
If you look closely, 'She Who Shall Not Be Named' wears this lapel pin on her Chairman Mao suits. ;)
12 posted on 10/10/2007 7:02:24 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy
And you want to debate flag-pins?

It surely seems to me that the flag-pin issue is tied closely with the ones that irk you. We are clearly seeing the destruction of this great Nation; and, everything seems to confirm this notion.

13 posted on 10/10/2007 7:06:55 AM PDT by GingisK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Freeport

Poor Lou. He doesn’t realize that his Lib buddies hate America. They are one-worlders who “imagine” there are no countries. Think Soros, Amanpoor, Clinton...


14 posted on 10/10/2007 7:10:38 AM PDT by Inwoodian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: GingisK

“Closely?” As in astronomical units?


15 posted on 10/10/2007 7:16:44 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy
I don't think that any issue of the Flag is a non-story.

I am in no way suggesting that you meant or caused any disrespect for our Nation or our Flag.

Within days of 9/11 I remember talk-show callers identifying themselves as liberals stating that they would never fly the Flag because it's come to represent the Republican Party.

The Flag of course is a symbol of one Nation. However, for years prior to our Civil War most people referred to America as these United States. For a hundred years after our Civil War our Nation was the United States. This is from Professor Huntington's book, Who Are We?

The point is (also from Who Are We?): Should the United States of America be a Nation united by the American Creed or as the deconstructionists would have it: "an association of racial, ethnic, and cultural sub-nation groups held together by the hopes for the material gains that can be provided by a healthy economy and a compliant government."

A "duty" free zone as I have called it without defining it.

The professor's analysis of what started happening in the 1960s (and why) was for me spellbinding. I remember the "Bring it all down, man" anarchic stuff of the New Left but their numbers were small and David Horowitz (Radical Son) had explained them.

The emotional divide that the professor discusses is more pronounced today than ever IMO; to me it clearly matters more than the usual Left-Right battle.

Thus when Mr Dobbs writes, The flag belongs to no group, to no party, to no special interest and to no corporation. Our flag is America's

many will respond that it's merely a colorful umbrella; and they likely feel just as comfortable with that umbrella as those who believe that the Flag represents the United States of America.

This divide is the salient factor of our generation IMO. It affects every other issue.

The lapel pins served to "undermine the anchors' positions as disinterested conveyors of news."

I remember that debate among the MSM employees. Disgusting that it happened IMO.

16 posted on 10/10/2007 7:33:51 AM PDT by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: brothers4thID
I’d be shocked as hell if Hunter didn’t have a flag lapel pin. Every other time he’s appeared in public he’s had one.

I would be too. But since we're on the subject of letting your words speak for your patriotism, if there's one man on this planet who would fit that description, pin or no, it's Duncan Hunter

17 posted on 10/10/2007 8:09:36 AM PDT by NurdlyPeon (Thompson / Hunter in 2008)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy
“Closely?” As in astronomical units?

If a Presidential candidate can't stomach wearing the flag of his Nation, then that candidate is clearly who I could NOT support. The behavior of those people is a direct measure of what they think and how they will govern. Yes, this flag issue is important. It is part of the citizens' early warning system.

18 posted on 10/10/2007 8:11:28 AM PDT by GingisK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: 1rudeboy

>>>>I have some fundamentalist Muslims trying to kill me
Check. No flag pin.

>>>>the Chinese are trying to poison my dog
Hmmm. No flag pin.

>>>>> a witch wants me to pay for your health care
Decoy flag pin.

>>>>> Congress wants to muzzle free speech

Mostly non-flag pin wearers with a few decoys thrown in.

>>>>>And you want to debate flag-pins? Give me a break.

Its just as easy to debate flag pins. Pretty much everything else is covered in that. The flag is a symbolic thing that represents our point of view. It’s pretty easy for me to identify with people who wear it and oppose people who don’t wear it. What Obama did was state very clearly, “I’m not one of ‘us’.”


19 posted on 10/10/2007 8:30:13 AM PDT by Belasarius (Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. Job 5:2-7)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Freeport
nor in any way confer a higher order of patriotism upon the individual wearing such a pin.

He's right but when the leftists made a point of not wearing the flag, they automatically confered that higher order of patriotism to those who wear a flag pin or fly a flag. Also, what no one else says - not even Dobbs - but the ones who refuse to wear the pin or fly the flag are either leftists or Dems, no Repubs.

20 posted on 10/10/2007 8:35:44 AM PDT by 7thson (I've got a seat at the big conference table! I'm gonna paint my logo on it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson