A SOLDIER'S PERSPECTIVE
THE WEB'S LEADING MILITARY BLOG SINCE 2004
We have hit the season of holidays, some somber, like Memorial Day on Monday, and others celebratory, like the 4th of July. I sent out an email to bloggers I know and I’d like to repost the contents here. I see more and more stories like this and it distresses me. We shouldn’t have to make or amend national laws “allowing” people to fly their American flag. *sigh*
————
Hello,
My name is Wendy and I’m writing on behalf of myself and James Hooker, the Grammy award winning artist.
With Flag Day coming up on the 14th of June and the 4th of July fast approaching, we’d like to see a national, viral movement to celebrate our country and those special holidays with the playing of James’ song The Pledge. It is reminiscent of Ray Charles’ America the Beautiful in its heartfelt sentiment.
All over this country, it has been increasingly un-PC to say the Pledge of Allegiance and to wear anything with the flag on it. We’d like to see Americans show their pride in their country and to quit being ashamed of being a patriot! The Pledge of Allegiance is not just to the flag, but to our republic, our country, our motherland. It would be awesome to hear that song playing and looped while Old Glory flies over yards across this nation.
I’ve attached a small sample of the song for your review, and if you could please publicize it on your blog or radio show, the song can be downloaded at iTunes here.
Please help us push this out to every American. I will be contacting my local country stations to request the song be played and it would be great to see that suggestion put out there also. I suspect the top 40 stations won’t play it because it’s ok to talk about hookups and getting wasted, but not ok to show a little patriotism. On country stations, they tend to appreciate where we live and how hard our military works to keep us safe.
Even if you just forward this email on to your friends and family, that would be great. The more people that are reminded of Flag Day and the pledge of allegiance, the better.
Thank you very much for your time.
Regards,
Wendy
You can listen to the sample I attached by clicking the link below and either saving it to your desktop or listening via your web software that plays mp3 files.
(35) Readers Comments
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CJMaze
Video “The Pledge”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFPav-4Ggcw
Karen Teeter
Amen on it being akin to blasphemy for us to have to fight for the rights to put flags out and show our patriotism. Remember, the kids at the Morgan Hill, CA. school that were told to take off or turn inside-out, their tshirts with American flags on them, on some Mexican Holiday that turns out it isn’t REALLY a holiday IN Mexico?!
As we approach our annual “Memorial Day” I plan to keep viewing the wonderful videos on Youtube about this important day. I also want to note that Memorial day is also a day to remember those recent Veterans that have given so much in our current wars, besides the ones that have made that Ultimate Sacrifice.
I found out about another amazing 501c that has had at least 1,500 volunteer pilots that have used their own planes and resources to fly our wounded warriors, and sometimes their families where they needed to go.
Here is a six minute youtube about what http://www.veteransairlift.org is doing. HUGE contribution they are doing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6PdB2Jk2rw
God bless and be with each and everyone of you that are serving our nation, and to these that are serving you warriors.
NY-David
Any chance we can stop perpetuating the myth that many Americans don’t want to say The Pledge or where the flag?
Cool song, by the way.
NY-David
SK
I have to respectfully disagree, and say that there are MANY (at least in my experience) who do not want to say the Pledge. It shames me to admit it, but family members who are teachers, believe that teaching our children the Pledge of Allegiance is the same as indoctrination by Hitler. They and their friends have been very vocal about wanting to have The Pledge abolished from elementary schools. You don’t even want to know how they feel about our military, and those who choose to serve. For the record, I think they’re idiots.
LL
Myth 1
Myth 2
Myth 3
Myth 4
Myth 5
Myth 6
Myth 7
I’m getting bored now.
Get my point?
And I think I said it is becoming increasingly un-PC. Some of those have to do with the fact that boards don’t want to “offend” anyone. Get over it or get out.
NY-David
LL,
You make very good points, but I consider your examples an extension to Warhol’s “everyone gets 15 minutes of fame” where it originates from either some idiot trying to do the right thing as in the Oregonian trying not to offend the Muslims or idiotic source, such as NewsMax or Fox which already has an agenda to exclude certain sides of the debate.
Thanks and have a blessed Memorial Day.
NY-David
Steve
So you claim to be a libertarian, but you want more laws? We already have a flag code. It’s 4USC, Chapter 1 section 8. And you know what, many of those “patriots” who are so offended by the PC police are wrong to be wearing it for any reason.
(d) The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery….
(i) The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever…
(j) No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.
So the next time you work yourself into a lather because some clown wasn’t allowed to wear his Old Navy shirt ask yourself, should the image of the Flag be on something you’re going to throw into the laundry with your underwear?
LL
No, I did NOT say I want more laws and I challenge you to point out exactly where in that post I said I wanted more laws. The article I linked to said the wife is working to amend the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005. I said we should not have to make or amend laws for stuff like this. Big difference.
Again, you miss the point of the post and I suspect you have a reading comprehension problem.
If you don’t like the song, don’t buy it.
Steve
Yea, but then you posted links to 7 “myths”. Some of which are examples of people wearing the flag in violation of the Flag Code (which as a libertarian, you should want abolished) and good taste. Personally, I would like to see the flag displayed less and when it is displayed, with the proper respect. I don’t think every fast food place, dry cleaner and car dealership needs to be flying a flag.
As a libertarian you should be against the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005 AND any amendments to it.
Those people chose to live in that apartment, they signed a lease with the rules and regs clearly listed. Are they really that insecure that they need to display a three by five foot flag in the window? Since it can be seen from the outside, do they properly illuminate the flag at night or do they take it down and properly fold it every day? Couldn’t they get the same feeling of pride by displaying a much smaller flag? See, they want to make a statement and get their name and picture in the newspaper.
The same is true of all those people who bought condos or moved into controlled neighborhoods. Then they have a fit and run to the federal government to make a law for them. Aren’t there more important things for the government to be doing?
SK
Steve, I’ve read your arguments and agree that some of your points are valid. I actually sat on an HOA Board for several years, as well as owning rental homes. From my experience in dealing with attorney’s, part of the problem does come from us being too PC. If we allowed someone to fly a U.S. flag, respectfully and properly, we were threatened with law suits beacause we did not make allowances for others to fly their flag from Mexico, or one with Winnie the Pooh. Many problems stem from our law makers, who in turn make management companies look like the bad guy. However, I do think there’s a problem when management makes a choice to disallow our nations flag to be properly displayed, because of “diversity”. If any resident finds objection to our flag, they are living in the wrong country.
Having said all that, while I can appreciate and even agree with some of your points, your tone and wording make you look as though you are attacking LL personally, and take away from your argument.
Steve
Well then I guess LL shouldn’t have commented on my reading comprehension. You reap what you sow. But thank you for jumping to my defense…not.
I suspect “PC” is conservative speak for “liberal”. Why would you use the Mexican flag as example? The Confederate Stars and Bars would have been a much better example. Where I live, I have never seen anyone flying a Mexican flag. I do see the Confederate flag quite a bit.
A management company has the right to keep a property looking the way they want. As CJ commented on a different topic, “No one is holding a gun to their head” to make someone live there.
A real Libertarian, as LL claims she is, would have no problem with the management company making such a rule, it’s their right as a property owner. A Libertarian would not seek government intervention. The market would win out. If people stopped renting there because they didn’t like the no flag rule then the bottom line would suffer and the company would go out of business or change the rule.
Again, why do they have to have a 3′X5′ flag in the window? Is that somehow more patriotic the the 3″X5″ flag I have on my desk? Are they vision impaired?
SK
“I suspect “PC” is conservative speak for “liberal”.
That is the equivalent of me saying that I suspect “Steve” is liberal speak for “jackass”.
“Why would you use the Mexican flag as example? The Confederate Stars and Bars would have been a much better example.”
WRONG. Once again you jump to conclusions. I used the Mexican flag AND Winnie the Pooh as examples because they were exactly what was discussed between the attorney and myself.
“A management company has the right to keep a property looking the way they want.”
A management company DOES NOT have the right to keep a property looking the way THEY want. You are sorely uneducated. A property OWNER has the right to make that judgement, including in an HOA. There are CC & R’s that are written and attached to a development, by law a Board or Mgt Co enforces them UNLESS a percentage of homeowners vote to change them. Management Companies for both HOA’s and apartments follow the dictates of property owners and law, even in an HOA, as most often Board members are also home owners.
“A real Libertarian, as LL claims she is, would have no problem with the management company making such a rule, it’s their right as a property owner.”
A management company is NOT the same as a property owner. Mgt Co’s are hired to do a job. No more, no less.
“Again, why do they have to have a 3′X5′ flag in the window? Is that somehow more patriotic the the 3″X5″ flag I have on my desk? Are they vision impaired?”
I have no idea if they’re vision impaired. The article says he’s a veteran, maybe he was also wounded or is disabled. Although that’s completely irrelevant.
Steve
And about the song. Tell me if I have this right…The singer while born in America, chooses to live in Ireland. Like those other super patriots, Lee Greenwood and Sylvester Stalone, he did NOT serve in the US military, but he doesn’t mind making money of real Americans.
Someone trying to make money off the Pledge Of Allegiance is just wrong. I wonder how much money Julia Ward Howe made off The Battle Hymn of the Republic? How much of the profits are going to him and vs how much to a soldiers or veterans organization? And how gullible are you for pushing it on your readers?
SK
Please stop making assumptions and rude remarks about people you don’t know. I have never served in the military either, does that negate everything I’ve done over the years to support our troops? Does it invalidate every dime I’ve given to charities which support our men and women in harms way? My husband makes a decent living because those men and women have kept us free, but he never served. He’s been asked before to work in another country, does that somehow lesson what he offers in way of support? I’ve sent packages to men from Ireland and the UK who were serving with our troops, yet I don’t live in those countries. Someone from their homeland could easily question my motives, yet I stood to gain nothing.
James Hooker has been around for a long time, he is looked at by those I know who are serving, or have served, as a friend and supporter. By trade, he is a song writer and musician. Can you just accept that maybe he is a good and honorable man? We all have different strengths and a wide variety of things to offer in way of support. Music is what he knows and has to offer. For that he deserves our thanks and respect, not snide remarks and unfounded accusations.
Steve
I wasn’t aware Ireland had soldiers in either of our current conflicts.
SK
I doubt you’re aware of soldiers from several other nations serving with our men, but LL and I have both sent support for them. A young man from Africa served honorably with our friends from the National Guard. There are several that I have been requested to send something to who are serving with our men, but are not from the U.S. or other countries that are “involved”. Just because you aren’t aware of them, doesn’t mean they don’t exist.
Steve
I wonder why he lives in Ireland….
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8245598.stm
Oh,so artists living in Ireland don’t have to pay taxes on earnings from their “art”. How convenient, not only does he not support our troops with his taxes, he doesn’t support the troops in Ireland either.
NY-David
I think Karen’s letter, while well intended, is also off the mark about her view of country music not being like “top 40″, which talks about hook-ups and getting wasted. I will remark of popular country song talks about it being “quarter after one, I’m a little drunk and I need you tonight.
While you are stopping to perpetuate the myth that because of several idiots, flag-waving and patiotism in general are down the tubes, you can also stop the myth that country music leads in the morality contest.
Have faith in your country. The world is not ending.
NY-David
NY-David
I correct myself. I was refering to Wendy’s letter, not Karen’s.
NY-David
James Hooker
My Dearest Darling Steve, aka, Dumb Ignorant Wretch.
ExPat? Me? I HATE the word and despise the use of it until one RENOUNCES his or her citizenship. I am exercising my rights to occupy, by MY FREE CHOICE, the territory´s of THREE Countries: The United States Of America, County Tipperary Ireland, and Mallorca Spain. Taxes? THREE countries have their hooks in me. Ireland? I´M NOT AN IRISH CITIZEN! I DON´T QUALIFY, you moron. Spain? THE SAME ANSWER AS IRELAND!
Yes, I know I´m shouting, but tree stumps have teeny weeny ears.
As to your magnificent statement: ¨Someone trying to make money off the Pledge Of Allegiance is just wrong.¨ I inform you here and now, that I gave FULL credit to Francis Bellamy whose words are now in the public domain. These words make up the chorus. The verses, I wrote MYSELF!
Money? When was the last time you donated 10% of your GROSS income from a project, that you WORKED very hard on, to a charitable organization FOREVER!
You are beyond belief.
Steve
Wow, name calling, is that any way to speak to a veteran, disabled in the service of his country? In which branch of what service for what country have you served? What was your draft status?
I sure hope you’re not using any of that socialized health care they have in Ireland and Spain.
Have you read the policies of this blog…
“The administration and authors of ASP reserve the right to moderate any content submitted for any reason including, but not limited to, profanity, personal attacks, and disruptive behavior. Dissenting views are always welcome as long as those views are expressed in a mature fashion.”
I believe I have expressed my dissenting views in a mature fashion. Your name calling is a personal attack and just because you put in a couple of astericks, doesn’t make it not profanity.
Although, I have never heard of you before, I would expect better from a wordsmith of your calibre. Especially since you’re living in the land of poets. After all, profanity is the crutch of the conversational cripple.
SK
While I sincerely appreciate and thank you for your service, you do NOT get to take the high road here. While you may not have called JH names or used profanity, you most certainly implied things and called his character into question. It can’t surprise you that he’s angered by what you posted. Your being a veteran, disabled or not, does not give you a pass when you try to belittle or discredit others, especially without getting the facts.
James Hooker
I´ve repeatedly, all over the internet, expressed that my not wearing my countries uniform is the ONE regret, among many, I´ve yet to shake. I was lucky – high assed lottery numbers. I will apologize for the profanity, but, that apology goes to CJ and everybody else here whose brains aren´t vapor locked. As for ¨personal attacks¨ In my defense, I feel I responded in kind. I might be wrong. People can become quite incensed in a mature fashion.
I have private worldwide health care insurance.
Thank you,by the way, for your service to OUR country. She´s a beautiful girl ain´t she?
Oh. Until today, I never heard of you either.
Peace
Note to self: dnftt
SK
It seems a bit remiss that no one in comments has thanked you yet, for all that you’ve done and continue to do for “our troops”. You’ve written some wonderful tributes to the men and women of our armed forces. I thank you, for being a true supporter, not just another guy with a car magnet.
Hugs,
S.
Steve
A “high assed lottery number” didn’t prevent you from walking down to the recruiter and signing up now did it? I guess Samuel Johnson was right when he said,”Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier”.
Come to think of it, there was no draft when I joined up, voluntarily, against my parents wishes. If you now regret having a high lottery number, how was it “lucky”?
When you say, “three countries have their hooks in you” are you referring to the taxes you’re expected to pay for the privilege of living in a country? You make it sound as if they are extorting you.
So then, for your charitable contributions, do you take the tax write off? After all, the greatest charity is that which goes unrecognized.
As for personal attacks, I didn’t call you any names, I didn’t say the song stinks don’t buy it. I raised some questions because I am suspicious of anyone trying to push a viral marketing campaign. Besides, “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel”, yes, Samuel Johnson, once again.
And I’m not a troll, I’ve been a regular commenter on here for some time.
SK
Steve, before I stop reading this drivel I have a couple of other points to make. You keep coming up with more things to poke at and though I know you were addressing JH, some of the things you bring up affect me as well.
I don’t know how old you are, nor does it really matter. But I do know a ballpark figure for JH, close to many other men I know who fit into the Viet Nam era. It’s easy to say he should have walked down to his recruiter, that’s exactly what my brother and cousins DID. Every. single. one. regrets. it. Not because it was wrong, but because of the PERCEIVED outcome and how they were treated when they came home. Unless you were around to see and feel the way things were then, and to volunteer during those years, don’t judge those who chose not to. JH didn’t say he dodged the draft, did he? At my age and his, there are many things I thought “lucky” when I was 20, that I might feel regret about now.
As for taxes, I absolutely feel that it’s extortion every time I see how much is taken out of my husbands check, then given to a neighbor who chose to have 5 kids, different dads, and never married. No, I don’t think that should be considered as payment for the privilege of my being a U.S. citizen.
As for ANYONE’S charitible contributions, that’s really none of your business, or anyone else’s for that matter. If it weren’t for tax write offs, I don’t know of a single business that would give huge corporate donations. Almost every Veteran I know has benefitted from those donations in some way. So for you to write with such disdain regarding that type of tax deduction is hypocritical at best.
Lastly, I cannot see where anyone refered to you as a troll, other than yourself.
Steve
“Every. single. one. regrets. it. Not because it was wrong, but because of the PERCEIVED outcome and how they were treated when they came home.”
But JH had no knowledge of that at the time, right? I didn’t mention anything about being a draft dodger, funny that those words came from you, how apropos.
Why are you getting all pissy with me? They want a viral marketing campaign, I’m helping them out. There hasn’t been this much action on this blog for awhile.
dnftt-do not feed the trolls! So pray tell, to whom was he referring?
Let the man fight his own battle.
SK
“Let the man fight his own battle.”
Funny, you posted comments on a blog. You seem to feel you have the right to comment on any author, post, or comment at any time, yet I don’t. Didn’t realize this was your blog.
“But JH had no knowledge of that at the time, right?”
Sorry, but that war lasted longer than a week. You don’t think guys who turned of age in 1970 knew what was going on?
“Why are you getting all pissy with me?”
I have not been pissy. If I were, you would KNOW. I have tried to cordial and respectful, you do not respond in kind. From a single post I have watched you insult my friends, make unfounded insinuations, and jump to conclusions time and again about them and me.
“dnftt-do not feed the trolls!”
I’m sorry I didn’t know what that meant. Apparently you’re familiar with it.
James Hooker
Many thanks SK. I do have some fridge magnets. I would tell you what they say, but, you know – the no cussin rule and all.
Much love
James
SK
Ooooh, that is a pesky rule at times. I’m sure LL would agree. I’ve sent more than one apology to CJ and Marcus over the years, but they know me well so they tend to be forgiving
NY-David
Mr. Hooker,
I’m not a fan of your music, but I admire for effort and intentions.
God speed.
NY-David
Terri
Sounds to me like Steve and NY-David aren’t proud to be Americans. I myself as an American citizen, born and raised and I’m angered when an American Citizen can’t fly our Nation’s flag if they wish. Funny, I didn’t misinterpret what LL said or what SK said they way you two have, in all the posts you’ve made.
To you I can only say this: Brave men and women, like CJ and Marcus and countless others have fought, bled and died for our right to display our flag. If you don’t like the fact that someone is proud enough of this country to want to display our flag, then maybe you should move elsewhere, where they tell you when you can wipe your a@#, among other things. Just sayin’…..
LL
There’s so much poo-flinging up in here and most of it has nothing to do with the post, but I’m going to address some of them anyway.
1–Yes, I’m a libertarian (little L) and I actually do believe that there are too many laws and property owners have rights to do as they please with that property without interference from the federal government.
2–Researching title codes brings up the legal argument that there is no government agency or department that can enforce on civilians the usage of the flag or flag images. That being said, common sense dictates that people should respect the flag and again, I’m not about legislating respect, morality, any of that other stuff because you cannot make people comply. People should do it out of pride and love of country.
3–Steve, this is directed specifically at you. For someone who admits he knows NOTHING about James Hooker, you sure do take liberties with implying impugnments against his character and motivations. He has been around in the milblogosphere for years and is well know to big dawgs like the Greyhawks at Mudville Gazette, Blackfive, I think I even saw something from Michelle Malkin about him once. So you have some nerve saying anything about someone you know nothing about. No one is holding a gun to your head asking you to buy the song nor forward the information. You come here voluntarily and if you choose not to act upon a request from a writer on this blog, that is your right. But it is NOT your right to imply that we are gullible for asking the readers here to support Flag Day by playing the song nor by supporting Soldiers Angels, who will be receiving 10% of all proceeds of the sale of the song, in perpetuity, nor it is your right to cast aspersions upon anyone else reading or commenting on this site.
4–This one also is for you Steve. You must think very highly of yourself to state that you are helping here by your inane attacks. All commenters here have been reading this site for years. And doing a search through comments, it looks like it has been your hobby to attack writers on here for at least a couple of years. Add in that I suspect, but don’t know for sure, that you also comment from an email address that is tied to some sort of marketing website, you might even have a longer history. Using different email addresses does not change your IP address. Just an FYI.
This is the last I’m saying about this topic. The post is up for people to choose to either support this effort and the Flag Day/4th of July celebrations and we appreciate any help in this effort, but as said above, no one is holding a gun to your head to do so.
Thank you and have a lovely weekend. Keep in mind Monday is when we memorialize those who we have lost over the years.
Marcus
I’ve turned comments back on for just a moment to say my peace as an administrator.
Steve, you have no clue who Hooker is and I do not appreciate your attacks on him that were poorly researched (if at all). You will not chickenhawk him just because he didn’t serve.
Stop being a pain in the ass. My only warning to you.
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