Candidates and Lapel Pins

As one that doesn't have cable television, I'm generally immune from the 24-hour commentaries of insignificant issues that are made out to be urgent by those seeking to fill air time. One of these matters that appears to be have been discussed during this campaign season is whether we should expect our candidates to wear American flag lapel pins while they are out campaigning.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has received much grief about his failure to wear the U.S. flag pin on his lapel and, as a result, has appeared periodically with it on his suit jacket in recent weeks. Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell wrote a thought provoking article in this morning's edition entitled, "Wearing a flag pin doesn't prove a darn thing." It is worth the read.

When this topic comes up, I can't help but think back to the Seinfeld episode where Kramer gets a beat down while participating in an AIDS walk for his failure to wear a red AIDS awareness ribbon. Here's how the scene goes down...

WALKER #1: Hey, where's your ribbon?

KRAMER: Oh, I don't wear the ribbon.

WALKER #2: Oh, you don't wear the ribbon? Aren't you against AIDS?

KRAMER: Yeah, I'm against AIDS. I mean, I'm walking, aren't I? I just don't wear the ribbon.

WALKER #3: Who do you think you are?

WALKER #1: Put the ribbon on!

WALKER #2: Hey, Cedric! Bob! This guy won't wear a ribbon!

BOB: Who? Who does not want to wear the ribbon?

New scene - Kramer surrounded by Cedric, Bob, and the other walkers.

BOB: So! What's it going to be? Are you going to wear the ribbon?

KRAMER (nervously): No! Never.

BOB: But I am wearing the ribbon. He is wearing the ribbon. We are all wearing the ribbon! So why aren't you going to wear the ribbon!?

KRAMER: This is America! I don't have to wear anything I don't want to wear!

CEDRIC: What are we gonna do with him?

BOB: I guess we are just going to have to teach him to wear the ribbon!

Wearing a U.S. flag pin doesn't prove that I love America, nor does wearing a WWJD bracelet prove that I love Jesus nor wearing a yellow "Live Strong" bracelet that I'm against cancer. Now if someone wants to wear a pin or a bracelet or a t-shirt promoting a cause, that's great. But those that don't should not be judged for it. I would hope that in something as important as electing a new president we would place more emphasis on a candidate's stances on issues important to us and our country than on their fashion choices.

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