Is a South Carolina Sheriff Defying President Obama?

The Pickens County Sheriff has decided his police department won't be lowering their flag to half-staff in honor of Nelson Mandela. 

I'm kind of surprised that this story made CNN, but it did. It's seems like a nothing of a story, really. Some guy isn't going to lower his flag for Nelson Mandela. Ok. So what?

And this angle of this county sheriff "defying President Obama's order" is ridiculous. The President can order the military to lower their flags. The President can order the FBI lower their flags. He can even order US embassies and the Agriculture Department to lower their flags.

But Pickens County? They don't take orders from the President of the United States. The President can't order the Pickens County Sheriff to do squat. Seriously. Where does a journalist get off saying crap like this?

You can debate whether or not it's proper to lower the flag for Mandela, but ultimately it's a judgment call, and it doesn't really mean anything. It's a symbolic thing. But I'm sure that this won't stop everyone from saying the guy's a racist or something.

San Antonio Vacation

The loyal readers may have noticed that I haven't had a recent entry. That's because I've been traveling down to San Antonio, Texas for vacation. Coincidentally, San Antonio is where I was born. Specifically, at Brooke Army Medical Center.

Yeah, there's a Lone Star on my birth certificate, and I was raised in South Carolina. So that kind of explains me. Basically, I hate to be to be told what to do, but I don't give up on things - especially if it's a lost cause. Not a bad trait in a lawyer.

Anyway, I've been taking time seeing the Alamo in detail and enjoying the plethora of breweries in the San Antonio area. There is a huge contingent of German immigrants who brought beer with them, so I'm enjoying a nice selection of local Texas-German beer along with an (occasional) margarita.

If you didn't know, Col. William Travis (of the Alamo) was a South Carolina boy. Here's his famous letter from the 1836 siege:

Commandancy of the The Alamo

Bejar, Feby. 24th. 1836

To the People of Texas & All Americans in the World—

Fellow Citizens & compatriots—

     I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna — I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man — The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken — I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls — I shall never surrender or retreat.  Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch — The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days.  If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country — Victory or Death.

William Barrett Travis.

Lt.  Col. comdt.

P. S.  The Lord is on our side — When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn — We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves. -Travis

I got to see David (Davy) Crockett's rifles, Bowie's knives, and Travis' swords. What an amazing place. One of the most interesting monuments was the monument given by the Japanese before WWII. It's an amazing epic poem that a Japanese history scholar put together to honor the the Alamo. When you think of the Japanese culture of how surrender is dishonorable and how they preferred death over surrender, the Alamo is a classic Japanese battle where the Alamo defenders chose to die against overwhelming odds.

Also, I got to see this flag:

This is the flag that began the Texas war of independence.

Chapin Teacher Suspended for Stomping on American Flag

An Honors English teacher in Lexington/Richland District 5 apparently threw an American flag on the floor of the classroom of students and stomped on it. Wait, what?

"He drew a couple of symbols, like one of them was a cross, and he said, 'What does this represent,' and everybody said, 'Christianity,'" said Copeland.

"Then he proceeds to take down the American flag, and said, 'This is a symbol, but it's only a piece of cloth. It doesn't mean anything,' and then he throws it down on the floor and then stomps on it, repeatedly."

First of all, what is going on in Honors English these days? Aren't they supposed to be struggling through The Canterbury Tales; The Great Gatsby; Absalom, Absalom!; and other...you know...books? What book did this relate to?

Also, I don't think you can say "this is a symbol" and they say "it doesn't mean anything". That's actually the whole point of a symbol. Symbols represent things. They mean things. Stomping on the American flag means something. It's perfectly within your rights to do so, but when you stomp on a flag, you're expressing yourself. The act means something because the symbol means something. I guess this knuckle-head, wannabe-teacher wanted to express himself. He did. Now he's suspended.

When I was in school, we used to say the pledge of allegiance in the morning. Do they still do that?

Happy Labor Day

It's a wonderful American holiday - hope you had fun.