This whole Obama/american flag lapel thing.

[clevername]

no one's saying those who wear patriotic pins aren't patriotic.

What's being said is that there is a large portion of those who wear patriotic pins who are just doing it for show. There's no actual thought put into it. There are also those who may be wearing the pin who might have their own interests at heart instead of the interests of the country.

Making a statement by going against that grain, taking flak for it and still not wearing the stupid pin, is admirable, in my opinion.

[Socnorb11]

no one's saying those who wear patriotic pins aren't patriotic.

What's being said is that there is a large portion of those who wear patriotic pins who are just doing it for show. There's no actual thought put into it. There are also those who may be wearing the pin who might have their own interests at heart instead of the interests of the country.

Making a statement by going against that grain, taking flak for it and still not wearing the stupid pin, is admirable, in my opinion.

I don't get it.

To me, it seems like Obama is refusing to wear it, and the only reason he's refusing to wear it is "for show". Going against the grain just for the sake of going against the grains doesn't accomplish much, in my opinion.

I do like Obama, though.

[Arthur Dent]

To me, it seems like Obama is refusing to wear it, and the only reason he's refusing to wear it is "for show". Going against the grain just for the sake of going against the grains doesn't accomplish much, in my opinion.

I don't think he said not wearing a pin would accomplish anything. In fact, that's basically the reason for not wearing it. He's saying he favors patriotism through action rather than the symbolic patriotism that is used to substitute for it. You don't need a patch on your arm to have honor.

[maddash]

You don't need a patch on your arm to have honor.

Thank you, Lt. Kaffee

[Leroy]

You don't need a patch on your arm to have honor.

Thank you, Lt. Kaffee

Beat me dangit.

[Arthur Dent]

You don't need a patch on your arm to have honor.

Thank you, Lt. Kaffee

Ten-hut. There's an officer on deck.

[Socnorb11]

To me, it seems like Obama is refusing to wear it, and the only reason he's refusing to wear it is "for show". Going against the grain just for the sake of going against the grains doesn't accomplish much, in my opinion.

I don't think he said not wearing a pin would accomplish anything. In fact, that's basically the reason for not wearing it. He's saying he favors patriotism through action rather than the symbolic patriotism that is used to substitute for it. You don't need a patch on your arm to have honor.

Great line!

But I still think he'd doing it for show. He can show patriotism on his arm AND show patriotism through action. The two don't have to be as mutually exclusive as he's making them appear.

[ghostrunner]

For me, ceasing to wear it calls more attention to it, and makes me wonder why he wore it in the first place if he feels that way.

And why would public perception of the pin have any effect on whether or not you decide to wear it? Either you're sincere and have a good reason to wear it or you don't.

[KyCardinalFan]

I don't think he quit wearing it for show. If he had, he would've had a better prepared answer than the rambling one he originally gave.

[heyzeus]

Did Obama call a press conference to announce that he was no longer wearing a flag lapel pin?

Or did a clever reporter ask him "hey, where did your flag pin that I once saw in a picture go?" Then dozens of other clever reporters started asking him the same question over and over and over and over and over again until he had to formulate an official response?

The answer to that question determines whether Obama intended to call attention to himself regarding the pin. I'd bet you dollars to bagels that it's scenario 2.