Rob, It is an international forum, but our international subscribers overreach if they presume to tell us how to treat our national symbol. If they don't like our national policies and actions, so be it. They have a right to their opinions and hostility.
Our non-US subscribers should know some things about the US flag. First, as our service men die and come home for burial, their parents and families see the flag covering their coffin as part of the final ceremony at grave side. It is a symbol of our country's gratitude for their sacrifice. Second, the US veterans of World War II are a band of brothers. The war experience molded their thinking and their attitudes as very young men. They are the oldest generation here in the US. These men lost their friends and brothers in North Africa, Europe, and the Pacific Theaters of the war. The flag draped coffin was a symbol to them and still is. As these men die now in their old age, and their brothers come with a flag to cover their coffin at the grave side and honor their service and willingness to risk their lives and youths to serve the national interests. My sister has the flag that covered my father's coffin. I have the flag that covered my uncle's coffin, my father's brother. My cousins have the flag that covered my other uncle's coffin, my mother's brother. Other cousins have the flag that covered their father's coffin, my aunt's husband. The men all served in WWII and lived to died of old age (70+). The familes agreed to honor their service by inviting their 'brothers' with the flags. Like Paul says, it is what it is. Regards, Bob S. On 1/7/07, Digital Image Studio <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On 08/01/07, Bob Sullivan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > The flag became and still is a symbol of support for our young men and > > women who are serving in the armed services. Polls say less than half > > the people in the US support the war in Iraq, but I'd bet that 95% > > support their children or neighbors who are on duty in that country. > > Showing the flag is a way to show that support. > > > > Am I a jingoist because I love my country and am grateful to those who > > serve it to protect us? > > I guess everyone just has to be aware that this is essentially an > International forum WRT subscribers and that political sensitivities > exist and what constitutes a patriotic symbol to one may be an > offensive symbol to another. The recent "our country" references were > very short sighted IMO. > > -- > Rob Studdert > HURSTVILLE AUSTRALIA > Tel +61-2-9554-4110 > UTC(GMT) +10 Hours > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://home.swiftdsl.com.au/~distudio//publications/ > Pentax user since 1986, PDMLer since 1998 > > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > PDML@pdml.net > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
