This may be nit-picky to some, but for me it is so stunningly ignorant of the code of protocols surrounding use and care of the American Flag. And offensive to those of us who believe that those flag protocols set a high standard of respect for the Flag and what it stands for.
This morning's NYT Online has a photo essay on the primary season. There right here in the middle is this photograph:
Which brought my mind back to this photograph from a few years back:
What the hell is with GOP politicians autographing the American Flag? For all of the crap that has been thrown Barack Obama's way (about whether he wears or doesn't wear a flag pin, whether he has his hand over his heart, etc.), in terms of fundamental respect for the Flag, none of what he's done or failed to do compares to the flat-out desecration of the American Flag by the current president and the GOP nominee.
To wit - The United States Flag Code, 4 U.S.C. 8(g), states as follows:
The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.
I realize that at political rallies people can get all whipped up into a frenzy, and that this is particularly moreso for the people directly along the ropeline who are meeting the candidate (or the President). I've been on that ropeline, and have experienced that adrenaline rush.
But if you are a candidate for President (or are the President), and someone asks you to autograph the American Flag, the correct response is to respectfully decline.
In our popular culture, respect for the flag is often an antiquated concept. Most Americans have no concept that the flag ties and jackets and boxer shorts they wear, the flag lawn chairs they use, the flag napkins and paper plates...that all of these things cheapen the Flag because they make it commonplace, ordinary. The purpose behind the Flag Code was to make use and display of the Flag extraordinary and noteworthy...to make and keep the Flag special.
But a presidential candidate is not "most Americans." S/He should be expected to possess a great knowledge of the nation, its traditions, its ideals, and its symbols.
Seeing that John McCain - who's whole campaign is based on portraying how "American" he is - doesn't have the common decency to not desecrate an American Flag at a campaign stop...it's sad, and hypocritical.