Flag Day

Busy day. Just got back from an unannounced 9-hour visit to Delaware and I have to brief Congressional leaders on the comprehensive political, social, economic and strategic conditions there.

I'm not really sure I'm qualified to brief anybody after such a brief hit-and-run stay, particularly since I spent the entire time there in one room of one building, in the middle of the night, isolated and insulated from whatever was going on outside. But, hey, I went there, so I guess that makes me an expert now.

* * * * *

The Dixie Chicks' new album Taking the Long Way, was released yesterday and remains No. 1 on Billboard's Top Albums chart.

But of course Billboard is not the only measure of an album's popularity, and we should note that the Chicks' latest is only No. 137 on Diebold's Top Albums chart, which uses the latest electronic touch-screen technology to tabulate record sales. Diebold explains the discrepancy between their rankings and Billboard's as the result of weaker than expected sales in Florida and Ohio.

* * * * *

Happy Flag Day, by the way. Today we celebrate the worship of the map at the expense of the terrain.

I am, once again, flying a Gadsen Flag, which is regarded as a bit out of fashion. Bush's 21st-century America seems to regard "Don't Tread On Me" as quaint, outdated and irrelevant -- just like the Geneva Conventions.

* * * * *

So I'm sitting there at work posting all of the paper's high school lacrosse pics into a photo gallery when I notice something odd.

What I don't know about lacrosse is a lot, but from these photos it seems like the boys teams all wear an awful lot of protective equipment -- full helmets with face shields, big ice hockey style gloves, shoulder pads, etc. The girls teams, on the other hand, wear goggles and a mouthpiece, and that's it. No helmets, no gloves, no shoulder pads.

Are the rules different, or are the girls just that much tougher than the boys?

* * * * *

Quote of the day from the paper:

"When we're on the deck it's almost like we don't live in a neighborhood."

This was said proudly.

The next big trend for exurban housing developments? McMansions with moats.

* * * * *

"I think the jury is still out on WMD," says my congressman, Rep. Curt Weldon.

Joe Sestak is running against Curt Weldon. Sestak's resume is impressive:

Prior to leaving naval service after 31 years and returning home to Delaware County, I attained the rank of Vice Admiral after having had a series of operational commands at sea, including Commander of an aircraft carrier battle group of 30 U.S. and allied ships that conducted combat operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan. I have a Doctorate in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University, and served as the Director of Defense Policy in the White House during the Clinton Administration.  Since graduating from the Naval Academy, I served my nation with great pride and commitment.

Sestak is also not a patronage pimp, he hasn't staked his credibility on the existence of nonexistent WMDs, and he has never helped to crown a convicted felon as Messiah and global emperor.

Here's hoping all that counts for something come November.

Comments

[Jeff G.]

Allegedly, Girls lacrosse is supposed to be non-contact (a la Basketball) while contact (within the rules) is allowed in Boys Lacrosse (like Hockey).

Though usually there are a couple of rough hits in girls lacrosse each game anyway....

[Ray]

It depends, Fred. When you were in that room in Delaware, did you get to look into anybody's heart? Examine a few souls?
Of course, there wasn't even any need for any of that, when you could have just checked with your gut. In the long run, you'll save yourself a fortune in airfares that way. (Incidentally, if you're looking for something to do with the money you save, my colon runs an excellent pension advisories service. I heartily recommend it.
And so does my heart, naturally.)

[forestwalker]

Wow. And I thought I was represented by the United States' Worst Congressman

[Christy]

I think girls are just that much tougher than boys.

[orangemike]

Here's what my favorite Senator [and he is MINE] has to say today about this holiday and its meaning:

Today is Flag Day, a day when we embrace our American heritage and salute the accomplishments of our forefathers. I think this is an appropriate time to begin a discussion of what it means to be a patriot in America today. For too long, our political leaders have wrapped themselves in the flag as a way to evade criticism and attack dissent. It's time we, as Progressive Patriots, celebrate the idea that love for your country means honoring the freedoms for which our founders fought, it means taking responsibility for improving our country, and it should always mean standing up to those who would weaken us.

I am a Progressive Patriot because I believe we can, and must, fight the terrorist threat while also protecting the freedoms that make us Americans. It's important to remember The Bill of Rights and the Constitution were not repealed on 9/11.

I am a Progressive Patriot because I believe that our health care crisis can not be solved with marginal ideas like health savings accounts. I believe all Americans should have a guarantee of access to quality, affordable health care.

I am a Progressive Patriot because I believe Democrats are the true fiscal conservatives who have demonstrated the ability to be responsible caretakers of public funds.

I am a Progressive Patriot because I believe that we need an "Apollo" style commitment to reducing our reliance on foreign oil and developing alternative energy sources.

I'm with Russ on this one. I can love my country without despising anybody else's; and I continue to do so.

(As to lacrosse: the Cherokee traditionally play it with nothing on but a pair of shorts; guess the white high school boys are just weenies.)

[e. nonee moose]

The next big trend for exurban housing developments? McMansions with moats.

Actually, having a house with a moat sounds kind of neat... :)

[twig]

Today we celebrate the worship of the map at the expense of the terrain.

You rock.

[grenadine]

russ and frozen custard are the top two reasons to live in WI.

[rm]

Same reason girls' softball players slide into second wearing shorts.

[LL]

I see your Dana Rohrabacher and raise you Ernest Istook, James Inhofe and Tom Coburn.

[Francis]

If you want to play boys lacrosse without a helmet, you're either braver than I am or certifiable.

[Emma Goldman]

Women's' lacrosse is (supposd to be) non-contact, as the first commenter noted; men's lacrosse is specifically a contact sport (like hockey or football), so padding is necessary. (I realize rugby players would disagree, but they're another breed entirely.) The women's game also doesn't (or, at least, didn't; they may have changed the rules) have out-of-bounds lines--there ARE no boundaries. When the men's team and women's team at Oberlin used to scrimmage with/against each other, that apparently was the more difficult thing for the men to wrap their heads around.

Oops; extra apostrophe there, right off the bat.

[L]

The US Navy is now flying the "First Naval Jack" on all ships. So someone still treasures the sentiment, if nothing else. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Navy_Jack

Is there any parallel anywhere to how Americans fetishize the flag? Banners and standards always were of high symbolic import on the battlefield, but in civillian life?

[bulbul]

guess the white high school boys are just weenies
[no_offense]Sounds funny coming from a country where the most popular sport is "football" which is basically just rugby played by a bunch of pussies in full body armor :o)[/no_offense]

Is there any parallel anywhere to how Americans fetishize the flag?
I would say no. The closest thing to the American worship of the flag I have ever seen is either Slovakia/Czech republic during a world hockey championship, the Finnish "lipputuspäivä" - which is basically any national holiday - or certain British holidays. Admittedly, the British honour the Union Jack, but they do not worship it. And they would certainly never allow anyone to desecrate it the way Fox News does.

Joe Sestak, hm. Šesták is a pretty common Czech/Slovak surname and he is from Pennsylvania. Any info on his ancestry?

[Duane]

I think our flag is basically a symbolic stand-in for royalty.

[dr ngo]

Quote of the day from the paper:

"When we're on the deck it's almost like we don't live in a neighborhood."

This was said proudly.

I take it that you find this view odd or offensive, and I wonder why.

Some people are true urbanites, who rejoice 24/7 in being immersed in a all-embracing community, a "city that never sleeps," etc.

Some are at heart creatures of the wilderness, wanting no more sight or sound of human "civilization" than is necessary for their survival.

Most of us are ambivalent. We like the city in moderation; we like nature in moderation. I, too, would enjoy feeling from time to time "almost" like not living in "a neighborhood," provided that whenever I chose I could also walk out my front door into my neighborhood and pick up something at Sipps Coffee Shop or the Thai Cafe.

I'm not particularly defending moated mansions (assuming that moat service is even more expensive than pool service), and I appreciate the fact that tastes differ. I just don't appreciate the implication - and forgive me if I'm inferring what was never intended - that everyone should want to feel surrounded by other people all the time, and wishing otherwise makes one a Bad Person.

[Axiomatic]

Can you then hire moat boys to clean your moat?

[Dahne]

I think I like that "Don't Tread On Me" flag because it's one of the rare cases of snakes getting some respect. Poor little guys. Such a bad reputation. They're not evil or malevolent; all mine ever wants is to hang out in a hollow rock.

[Nicole J. LeBoeuf-Little]

Does "living in a neighborhood" equate to "being surrounded by people all the time", such that Fred's dismay at someone not liking the former sounds like evangelism for the latter?

I thought he was shaking his head over someone's glee at not to having to be anyone's neighbor--all senses of the word implied.

Once upon I time I lived way out in the sticks of southern Oregon. Our next door neighbors were half a mile down the hill one way and half a mile up the hill the other way. It was a quiet area that made one feel pleasantly isolated in the wilderness. And that was nice. But at the same time, we absolutely lived "in a neighborhood." The postmaster lived at the end of the street (about a mile down) and graveled the road every year, and everyone chipped in for funds. The downhill next-door neighbor offered us use of her shower when our well went dry at the end of August and traded cat-sitting duties with us. Another person on the street traded computer troubleshooting tasks. We said hi to each other at the post office and waved as we drove past each other on the gravel road.

In a neighborhood. Being neighbors. But not "surrounded by people all the time." There's a difference.

[Colin]

Hello Fred Clark,

I'm writing from Open Source, a public radio show based in Boston and
distributed around the country. We'd like to put some of your blog prose on the radio.

Last year we started what we hope will be a yearly tradition for us called
"Blogsday." Based loosely on Bloomsday, which celebrates "Ulysses" as an
evocation of the whole world in a single day (in Joyce's case, June 16,
1904), the idea is create a mosaic portrait of our country out of excerpts from
blog posts written on the same day. (In our case this past Tuesday, June
6th.) You can find more information here:

http://www.radioopensource.org/blogsday-2006/

After assembling this year's excerpts we bring in two accomplished and agile actors to read them. I'm writing now because your post "This is when I must beware" caught our eye
and we're interested in using it on the show, which will air live on
Tonight from 7-8pm EST. Sorry it's such late notice, but we just found your blog and thought it was hilarious. Citations of pundits and writers aside, your commentary on the day of the beast was great (and the link to the Rapture Site was priceless).

We can't pay anything -- this is public radio after all -- but we can
guarantee a respectful treatment, a national radio audience, and a link on
our blog.

A quick reply would be very appreciated. We're currently knee-deep in our
favorite posts for Thursday's show, and would like to know as soon as
possible which ones will be available.

Best regards,
Colin Baker
colin@radioopensource.org

[Duane]

Hold out for a gift bag, Fred.

[bulbul]

Somewhat Re: Dahne: I wonder if the snakes have their own version of the St. Patrick story...

[pharoute]

"The Catholics moved in next door so we got out before the property values fell."

[cjmr's husband]

While Colin Baker may not have been the best Doctor Who ever, you have to admit that he did know how to deal with a Cyberman.

[cjmr]

pharoute,

WTF?

[Jeff]

Snakes: "In a few years, this place won't be worth small potatos. I have a Modest Proposal: Let's hoof it for the Island of Reptillian Awesomeness."

[Dahne]

bulbul: You know, they might.

"We were just minding our own business swallowng rodents when all of a sudden there was this angry man with a stick..."

[Kevin J. Maroney]

Rugby fans like to insist that rugby player are "tougher" than American football players. They're fooling themselves. Rubgy requires more all-around fitness, because it is played (more or less) without breaks and with much less distinction between player roles than American football. They're generalists. Professional American football players are chosen for, and train to, specific tasks; the ones who are trained to run very fast run faster than their rugby counterparts, and the ones trained to pound the living hell out of their opponents are much bigger, stronger, and just plain nastier than anyone in rugby can afford to be. Without padding, every American football game would be a symphony of crippling, career-ending injuries.

[Mnemosyne]

(As to lacrosse: the Cherokee traditionally play it with nothing on but a pair of shorts; guess the white high school boys are just weenies.)

Ahem. And where might a girl be able to watch a game played this way? Strictly for anthropological purposes, of course.

[pharoute]

cjmr: sorry I was trying to go with an early 20th century complaint against immigrating Irish, "here comes the social (drinking) clubs, the crime, etc" I guess I confused snakes with WASPs.

[Jay Denari]

I thought he was shaking his head over someone's glee at not to having to be anyone's neighbor--all senses of the word implied.

I heard it more as an objection to those people who would isolate themselves from contact with the various elements of society they might see as "less" than themselves, i.e. wealthy arrogance.

Of course, such an attitude isn't entirely a wealthy affliction. Years ago, I lived in Phoenix. I liked a lot about it, but one thing that struck me as almost pathological was the fact that there are walls around almost every individual house. I know that's partly a Spanish architectural style thing, but many non-Spanish style homes did it, and there were numerous gated communities that made a clear point of expressing their sense of aristocracy.

Once I returned to New England, it really struck me how physically open communities up here are. One of our own coined the phrase "Good fences make good neighbors," but there are actually very few fences between homes here, very few gated communities, and a lot of variety in home styles (as opposed to acres of uniformity there).

[bellatrys]

Now, now, Mnemosyne, you know we aren't Visually Stimulated.

Ssshh! You'll give the game away! You don't want them to realize taht women are looking at them and judging them based on appearance and thinking about their hottness - then they'll get all self-consicous about their bodies and start covering up and acting wierd.

[Jeff]

bellatrys:
I don't think we men will get to the point where we think that if you're ogling our derrierre or our pecs that you're violating us. I could be wrong.

[Merlin Missy]

Jeff:

Odd. I thought that was what the "Gay Panic" defense was entirely about: men afraid of being ogled by someone.

[cjmr]

That's not what we're ogling... (leers evilly)

[Axiomatic]

The people want more Left Behind.

[cjmr's husband]

I thought she just said she was NOT ogling the Left Behind. Or the Right one, either.

[Chuck]

Dear Mr. Slactivist,

I think you are awesome. Please write more.

Chuck

[Juno888]

..I think this is an appropriate time to begin a discussion of
what it means to be a patriot in America today.

[85% Duane]

Double Gitmo - that's what!