People who get uppity about the US flag. People who make cell phone calls during movies. Cannibals. Sometimes it’s hard to decide which are the worst examples of humanity.

Right, so this thing of people freaking out flag burning, the pledge of allegiance, or flag pins is really tiring. I suppose a rant about how Christians are instructed not to worship idols would be off-topic (sorry, there’s a difference between physically following a banner, say, into battle, and actually taking offense at someone not wearing a pin of that banner). Also, can we acknowledge that very, very few people know the full lyrics to the Star-Spangled banner, and that the Pledge has only been around for about half the existence of this nation. So, for example, George Washington did not say it? Please?

But here’s how I think of the flag. It’s a symbol of our nation, particularly of the unity of the states under the Constitution. Unity of purpose is what the flag seems to most represent. At least to me. And yes, it’s a reminder of those who have died fighting for this nation, both those who fought for good causes, and sadly but importantly, those who gave their lives for ill-conceived wars engaged to meet the goals of a few politicians.

So, politicians using the flag as part of their campaign is pretty contradictory. Let’s face it, most campaigns focus a lot on divisions, highlighting them even when they’re inconsequential and increasing those divisions. Is a politician where a flag pin really respecting that flag or what it represents? I don’t think so.

In fact, for the flag obsessive that are always wanting to propose some admendment to respect that flag, here’s what I propose: “No person may use the US flag, images of it, or references to it, during the course of any campaign for elected government office.” Because these games of (and admittedly it’s often not the politicians themselves engaging in them) “I’m more patriotic than you because I wear the flag pin, or say the pledge, or whatever,” aren’t promoting unity, or indeed any of the many things that are great about the US. No, those dirty and silly games are among the greatest disrespect than be shown to that banner, or to the nation which it represents.