CHARLEY REESE: Promiscuous use of U.S. flag must end

Columbia Daily Tribune (MO) ^ | Thursday, November 15 2001 | Charley Reese

[ouroboros]

Charley Reese makes his case in clear, concise prose. "It's not important to me if people agree or disagree with my point of view," he says. "What I hope my column does is provoke people into thinking about issues, about the world, and their place in it."

Reese, a conservative columnist, does not mince words. In his column, which King Features Syndicate distributes three times a week to more than 150 newspapers, he does not hesitate to take a stand and back it up to the end. In 1985, after being horrified by acts of terrorism around the world, Reese said succinctly: "The wise thing to do with a terrorist is shoot him."

Charley Reese was born Jan. 19, 1937, in Washington, Ga. He was raised there, in eastern Texas and northwest Florida. By the time he was 19, he had worked as a janitor, printer, cub reporter, civil servant and caption writer for Plant News Pictures, Ltd. in London. In 1955, he began his career at the Pensacola News in Florida as a cub reporter. For the next 10 years, he worked at various newspapers, honing his craft by reporting everything from sports to politics. Between 1969 and 1971, he worked as a campaign staffer for gubernatorial, senatorial and congressional races in several states.

He joined The Orlando Sentinel in 1971 as assistant metro editor. He later became assistant to the publisher, then columnist and editorial board member. He retired from the paper in July 2001. He has traveled to Europe and the Middle East on assignments, all the while maintaining his distinctly American style of journalism.

Reese served two years of active duty in the Army and received an honorary doctorate from Webber College in Florida. He has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and voted the best columnist in Florida by both the Florida Press Association and the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors.

He is the author of four books, including "Great Gods of the Potomac," and was the ghost writer of "The Eleventh Hour" by Gen. Lewis Walt. An American foundation commissioned Reese to write a study of the Swiss national defense system. Reese has won numerous journalism and civic awards. His column is read by decision makers around the globe. A column he wrote on the House of Hope, a home for abused teens, prompted President Reagan to write a personal check for $1,000 to the organization.

Reese makes his home in Florida. Now divorced, he is the father of three grown children.

[beekeeper]

Reese is over the hill. He seems to be on the same wavelength as Harry Brown. I am a vet and will fly the flag, and appreciate all who do. Yes, some do it improperly, but that is a matter of education, not prohibition.

[ChemistCat]

I was at Sam's Club the other day and noticed huge heaps of flag-covered t-shirts. Next to the shirts were stacks of ball caps that said NYFD and NYPD on them. I felt the same queasy feeling Mr. Reese writes about. Thanks for posting.

[LarryLied]

Hey Charlie, the government and you do not own the rights to the flag. The American people do. As individuals. We'll damn well fly it anywhere we see fit. Unless you are able to pass a law to stop us that is.

[Real Cynic No More]

I agree with you. Charlie has gone off the deep end.

[Leto]

The Flag has been adopted spontaneously by the people as a sign of solidarity since 9-11. No harm here. Charlie need to take a prozac and relax on this one.

[firebrand]

He sure misses the point, doesn't he.

[Cachelot]

Reese would probably rather see a green halfmoon. Or a swastika. Big surprise.

[egarvue]

Just goes to prove that some people are never happy. I for one am glad to see the flag, everywhere. For so long this country has suffered through the Leftist nightmare of USA bashing that its like a fresh breeze is blowing through this country.

On my way to work today I passed a grizzled old biker flying two huge flags off the back of his red, white, & blue flag-scheme painted hog: a Stars and Stripes, and a POW/MIA flag. I made the assumption that he was a Vietnam vet, and has more than earned the right to fly the flag however way he wants. He certainly didn't object to making a display of the flag, or object to the dozens of flag bumper stickers we passed on other cars. I figure that's good enough for me. Someone send Charlie Reese some flag stuff, and have him celebrate along with the rest of us.

[ouroboros]

bump

[ladyjane]

Charlie - did you run out of things to write about? What's wrong with displaying the flag? I especially like getting a little flag at the very top of the whipped cream on my chocolate mousse! That's mousse, not moose! But you could put a flag on a moose too!

[LibWhacker]

Charley's losin' it. I agree with him that the flag should be treated with respect, etc., etc. But the First Amendment also applies to businesses as well as individuals. You might as well try to regulate all forms of advertising.

[Cynderbean]

I like seeing the flag. To me it says "America" whether it is on a pole, a shirt, or a mug. It's a way I think that everyone can show their support no matter where they are or what they're doing.

It's sad that the sight of our flag would cause bad feelings of any kind in Americans : (

[Brett66]

Yeah! We can't have people acting free and stuff! The government needs to crack down on us!

[ChemistCat]

There's nothing wrong with displaying the flag...I just think that the merchandising of 9/11 is on a different moral plane than the merchandising of Harry Potter. Yet somehow there isn't enough difference.

But what the heck, fresh carrot homemade cake out of the oven can make an uncurmudgeon out of anyone.

[A.J.Armitage]

I agree that having a tattered flag flying on a car is just tacky, but there's no need for a law about it.

[A.J.Armitage]

Especially if the moose has cheese.

[dead]

The federal government should by law reserve the design of our flag for its exclusive use.

Maybe the dumbest idea I’ve heard so far today. But the day is young, and it is a Friday.

[Ratatoskr]

What the heck is the matter with Reese lately? He used to be pretty consistently great. This war sure has brought out weird things in people.

Sure, people are breaking flag etiquette left, right and center. But I think they're flying the flag with the best intentions in the world, and I was so inexpressibly grateful with people rejected that stupid lapel-ribbon idea (gad, that ribbon thing is so "Gay Pride/AIDS/Breast Cancer Awareness Day") in favor of our original and best symbol. Let them alone, I say.

[sola gracia]

Reese raises some interesting points that should be considered longer than most of you considered them before posting your venomous replys.