Anybody else find themselves rolling their eyes any time they see an American flag these days?

[R B Garr]

66. No! Watch some John Wayne war movies and they'll straighten you out.

Seriously. I kind of get where you're coming from, but the past couple of days we've gotten on a John Wayne war movie kick -- so far, In Harm's Way and They Were Expendable, and we've been looking up some of the battles around that era as we're watching. It brings you back to the sacrifices so many made for that Flag. I know that may sound corny, but we've really gotten a lot out of it. But he's ex-Navy, and I'm a Navy brat, so those memories kind of help with the bigger picture instead of the phony pablum you're referring to.

There's also a National Geographic special about the Battle of Midway that we've started watching. It really makes you realize what was at stake and how much personal sacrifice was involved.

I know what you mean, though. It's hard to watch the GOP'ers usurp a national symbol for their rah-rah political gain and other commercialism, etc.