It seems, in my 40 minute nasty commutes, that I can always count on the people driving along with the biggest flag pasted on the back of their car or flying from their antenna to be the biggest and least respectful jerks on the road.

I don't think it's restricted to flag wavers though. It people that just have to run around imposing their viewpoint of the world on other reluctant audiences with their bumper stickers, their fish symbols, their little icons of their family members, their "My child is an honor student at Podunk Elementary", their Playboy bunny mudflaps. I think I've had just a couple of bumper stickers in my life and they were never satisfying mostly because I'm just too fickle. Three days after I put them on I see something else I'd rather be saying. Been there done that sets in.

There's something about folks that have this need to constantly raise their hand in class and scream "Look at me. Look what I know and believe" that I think indicates a real lack of self-image.

The most patriotic people I know have no compelling need to wave the flag around even on holidays. They know their love and devotion to the country is not out in your face but in their hearts, minds, and actions where it truly belongs.

Art