FASCINATING HISTORY - AT 6:25 P.M. ET:  Many Americans are furious that President Obama bowed down, deeply, to the Japanese emperor.  The White House has shrugged it off, much to its own disgrace.

But there's a wonderful history here - a history of the tradition that Americans don't bow down to foreign royalty.  Don Smith, of the Tucson Citizen, writing in a column called Fort Buckley, informs us:

In the 1908 Olympics in London, American athletes of Irish ancestry “urged” the flag bearer not to dip the Stars and Stripes in the Games’ opening parade, as the US team passed by the British royal family. (According to a PBS documentary on the Irish experience in America, narrated by actor Aiden Quinn, some of the Irish American athletes promised the flag bearer that, if he did dip the flag, he’d be in the hospital before nightfall). The flag bearer was convinced, and the Stars and Stripes stood tall and proud as the American team walkedWOND by the King of England.

As the story goes, there was an uproar. In response, Martin Sheridan, US team captain (and a native of County Mayo) reportedly said that the flag of the United States “bows before no earthly king.” Historians dispute whether Sheridan really said this…but nevertheless, it’s now part of our tradition. To many Americans, it remains a symbol of national pride that the Stars and Stripes is never dipped to foreign powers.

Well, the President of the United States, when he’s representing our country in his official duties, IS the Stars and Stripes. Both he and it are symbols of our nation—its heritage, values, traditions and pride.

Our President is the guardian of those traditions and that spirit, not their owner. They are not his to do with as he pleases.

COMMENT:  Absolutely correct.  The president is guardian of our traditions, not their master.  Someone has not informed President Obama.  But, after all, what can you expect of Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers?

November 16, 2009