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Monday, March 3, 2008
Does flag pin measure patriotism
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jack Kingston, a Republican congressman from Savannah, has pointed out that Barack Obama has balked at wearing a flag lapel pin adopted in the aftermath of Sept. 11. With everybody else doing it, Kingston said, “it’s curious that suddenly there is a guy who doesn’t want to do it.”
Obama has acknowledged quietly removing the lapel pin, writes AJC Opinion columnist Jay Bookman, because he said, the pin “became a substitute for, I think, true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security.” READ BOOKMAN’S COLUMN
Bookman writes, “It is dangerous to define patriotism as going along with what everybody else says and does. Sometimes, patriotism is measured not by a lapel pin, but by a willingness to air your doubts and dare to be different, for the good of your country.”
Should a flag pin be used to measure patriotism?
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