On Barack Obama and patriotism
Published: July 11, 2008
Much has been written, in the columns of this paper, regarding how one displays patriotism, especially those who wear a lapel pin — or in the case of the presidential candidate, Mr. Obama, the lack of
one. This entire thing is nonsense.
As a two-time Vietnam Veteran, I can forgive Mr. Obama for not wearing a lapel pin. I do however; question his character and his patriotism for different reasons. His character comes into question by his
involvement with the Right Reverend Jeremiah Wright. It is true that Mr. Obama attended the church where Reverend Wright was pastor and in which he was married and his children baptized.
After twenty years, he denounced his association with the reverend after first defending him. Does not that matter in determining ones character, or is someone going to accuse me of being a racist?
Equally troubling to me is Mr. Obama’s lack of patriotism for this GREAT country of ours — not by the lack of a flag lapel pin — but his explanation of why he doesn’t follow protocol when the National
Anthem is played. According to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Section 171 —During the rendition of the National Anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are
expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Something most Americans have known for years, we teach our kids and accept as part of our American heritage.
Mr. Obama’s response — “As I’ve said about the flag pin, I don’t want to be perceived as taking sides.
There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American Flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be
swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song ‘I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing.’ If that were our anthem, then I might salute it.”
WHAT DID YOU SAY?
A. VIC POILLUCCI
Woodbridge
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Reader Reactions
Thank You jVA!
For posting this interesting bit of info on the writer. I hadn’t heard of vpap before.
I find it ironic that the Potomac News moderates and reviews comments on this message board before posting. If only they exercised similar restraint before publishing LTEs in their paper, we may have been spared Mr. Poilucci’s error-filled letter today.
I googled several sentences from Mr. Poilucci’s last paragraph, where he “quotes” Barack Obama as denouncing the Star-Spangled Banner.
Every sentence brought up the same first-hit on google:
http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/did_obama_say_the_national_anthem_conveys.html
I hope the staff of the Potomac News, as well as the readers of this message board (assuming this message is posted in a timely manner) will take a few minutes to read the factcheck article linked to above. You will learn that Mr. Poilucci’s claim is not true, and that Barack Obama did not say what his letter claims.
Whatever happened to journalistic integrity and ethics?
To the editorial board of the Potomac News:
I know these are Letters to the Editor and, therefore, reflect only the opinion of the writer but, come on, don’t you at least have a responsibility to your readers and the community not to publish letters that aren’t based on verifiable information?
The last paragraph of this letter is a lie, easily debunked—as many here have already demonstrated—with a one-minute google search.
I cannot believe that this letter didn’t raise any red-flags within your editorial staff. It didn’t occur to anyone there to verify before publishing?
Now Mr. Poilucci’s lie is out there, and it’s been read by countless thousands of your readers, many of whom, unfortunately, now believe that Barack Obama would like to get rid of our national anthem.
I’m sure you’ll publish a letter, maybe two, refuting Mr. Poilucci’s letter. That’s not enough. A lie and a smear such as this one deserves a front-page retraction—hopefully with some insight as to how your editorial process broke down as it regards this letter. I might also suggest a lead editorial, as well, retracting and refuting Mr. Poilucci’s claims. And use sources, please.
You have my permission to publish this letter in your paper.
Obama wants to continue his same path, smear his opponent allowing his supporters do the dirty job running dishonest campaign ads. Mr. Obama is hurting himself for his lack of principals; flip flopping in so many issues that the core left is getting upset. Obama as any other politician wants to lecture about change, of course, his continues change of directions, and giving absurd comments that really shows his lack of experience. Beside to be a community organizer and one year in the Senate Barak Obama has no experience to be in charge of the highest Executive position in this country and be the commander in chief of the US Armed Forces. I do not care about Obama’s pin , but I care about his pastor, his church where teach black values, his proud terrorist friend, his relationship with the corrupt Tony Rezco, his wife for the first time is proud of her country and because I am bitter I cling on my gun and my religion. Au revoir Monsieur Obama.
“It is not a “lack of patriotism” but a lack of understanding on Sen. Obama’s part that is causing this Liberal to vote for Sen. McCain. “
I love the irony here. willow703 chastises Obama’s lack of understanding while falling hook line and sinker for this complete nonsense.
You are absolutely right, VoxVeritas. I would encourage everybody to write in to the Potomac News and complain that they published this letter.
Look at all of the smart people on this message board who read that quote and didn’t think it sounded fishy. Just assumed that it was true.
While you’re checking the facts, be sure to take a look at this concerned citizen:
http://www.vpap.org/donors/profile/index/10230?end_year=2008&filter_cmte=all&filter_cmte_radio=all&order=amount&start_year=1996
Clearly, an unfiltered opinion.
What an idiot! This is a well known piece of email smear garbage.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/459/
I have to question Poillucci’s character for slandering somebody in a local newspaper without checking his facts. Moron.
I have to agree with Sen. Obama. There are many people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression, Osama bin Laden, Hu Jintao, Vladimir Putin, Hugo Chavez, Robert Mugabe, Muqtada al-Sadr, & all those guys in al-qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah.
Of course, the writer never watched “o’er” any ramparts & the “bombs bursting in air” were not American bombs, but British bombs; as were the glaring red rockets.
I’m a Coke drinker & I like the song,but I’d change it to say, “I’d like to teach the world to live in perfect harmony.“
I don’t wear a flag pin, nor do I wave a flag, although I have several. The most precious of those flags has not been unfurled since that November day, 35 years ago, when it was removed from the coffin of my elder son, A U.S. Marine.
It is not a “lack of patriotism” but a lack of understanding on Sen. Obama’s part that is causing this Liberal to vote for Sen. McCain.
Thank you for your service Mr Poillucci and ‘welcome home’.
Mr Obama is typical of politicians during an election year race. They customize their stance to their audience, no matter what they believe or have said to another audience. Politicians are politicians and honor or integrity will never touch their hearts.
One problem of many that I have with obama is his willingness to stoop to such low extremes during this race. He puts his wife on stage to make a speech then whines when people comment about her speech. Once she opens her mouth about ‘finally’ being proud of America she is fair game.
Then he muddy’s himself and his family by using his children in a televised interview.
He complains and/or warns America to, “Leave my famiy out of this” but he himself is the one who is bringing them into ‘this’.
Pitiful!!!
You must be correct, Mr. Poilluucci.
Patriotism is really displayed by torturing innocent people and starting wars of choice because, well, because you can. Patriotism is displayed by ignoring the rule of law, spying on anyone you chose, putting profits of corporations owned by foreign companies over the safely and health of American citizens, and fouling public lands for the profits of your friends and family. Patriotism is also displayed by showing the utmost contempt for other nations and cultures, including close allies, to the point of personally mocking the leaders.
By those standards, President Bush, VP Cheney, and many others in this current nightmare of an Administration, are very patriotic.
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