Be the Standard Bearer

It looks like a Peter Max tribute gone wrong. This is far from pleasing, with the blood-smear-like stripes and sheepish "O" with lines a bit too crisp to match the rest of the design. The colors are faded, like his posters and peeling bumper stickers. The thing is just ugly, but it's far more than that.

The U.S. flag code is usually ignored, save for the most patriotic and of course, the military. Most of it isn't even known to the average person. The code isn't punishable by law and thusly, viewed as more of a suggestion by most. Our flag code prohibits defacing of the flag, use of the flag on merchandise and even clothing. Olympians draping the flag on their shoulders has become accepted, but such things are discouraged by the code. What Obama's cronies have done here is not a 're-design' of our flag, as it has only 7 stripes and is the wrong colors, but rather a vague representation. That, in itself, isn't the issue as this is done quite often. The issue is the "O".

Anyone who argues in defense of Obama's throw-away campaign fund-raising poster is unlikely to get the offense. They see an 'inspirational' image much like Shepard Fairey's HOPE poster. They don't see the implications, the fact, much like this flag from earlier in the year, that Obama is the focus in an emblem of this country. Obama is the focus, the grounding element. This, dear reader, is huge.

Since his nationwide debut, Obama has been setting himself up as the leader of a political cult. He's 'branded' everything, put his creepy "O" on all he surveyed. Obama sees himself as the owner of his position, something only on privileged loan to him. He sees himself as appointed royalty when any political office is one of subservience to the American people (or it's supposed to be). To Obama and those around him, he is America. There is no need for the 'generic' patriotism of the past, Obama is here and we have a face to worship, a person to place above all others.

What's lost on Obama's acolytes is that the American flag is a symbol of all of us. It is a timeless banner of freedom and sacrifice. It affords everyone the opportunity for valor and independence. To place any one person in focus in reference to the flag is an assault on everyone. Venerating any one person or the idea of one person in a political sense is just a hop, skip, and stumble into dictatorship. The flag came first because freedom came first.

There may be some who believe America to be incapable of recovery. There are some who believe the cult of personality is too strong. I don't believe that. Though frightening in its implications, this 'flag' is a misguided stab at notoriety that won't last past November. It will be tossed out or end up at yard sales or thrift stores. The intention behind it, however, is a bit harder to sweep away. It's important for us, those who know what the flag truly means, to fight for those ideals. We cannot give up and run from the war. Since the founding of our great nation, standard bearers have carried our flag into battle. They have run headlong into the firefight and been cut down, but someone was always there to grab our banner from the mud and keep running. Be the standard bearer and hold her high; this fight is far from over.