Oh hey, we got a new loyalty oath and it involves gratuitous display of the flag.

Perhaps we could have a question that goes along with it:

Are you now not wearing, or have you not worn in the past, a proper flag lapel pin?

What's that? I'm sorry, you're not a real American.

Holy tamole bat-person, any fool of a poser can put on a flag lapel pin. In fact, I'll go so far as to assert that anyone who believes this really means anything is one or both.

Sorta like asking someone if they're a Christian. Tell you what, you watch me for a while and decide for yourself. Anyone can say they are. In fact, there are some prominent people running about now who wear the pin and claim to be Christian who don't strike me as truly patriotic or Christ-like.

Not surprising, John Prine already covered this topic, pretty close anyway:

Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore

© John Prine

While digesting Reader's Digest
In the back of a dirty book store,
A plastic flag, with gum on the back,
Fell out on the floor.
Well, I picked it up and I ran outside
Slapped it on my window shield,
And if I could see old Betsy Ross
I'd tell her how good I feel.

Chorus:
But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
They're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war.
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.

Well, I went to the bank this morning
And the cashier he said to me,
"If you join the Christmas club
We'll give you ten of them flags for free."
Well, I didn't mess around a bit
I took him up on what he said.
And I stuck them stickers all over my car
And one on my wife's forehead.

Repeat Chorus:

Well, I got my window shield so filled
With flags I couldn't see.
So, I ran the car upside a curb
And right into a tree.
By the time they got a doctor down
I was already dead.
And I'll never understand why the man
Standing in the Pearly Gates said...

"But your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
We're already overcrowded
From your dirty little war.
Now Jesus don't like killin'
No matter what the reason's for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more."

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K