Christina Aguilera and the American Flag

Our flag has been desecrated

The Reporter set my mood for the day Sunday with its front-page article ("A clamor for peace," The Reporter Dec. 9) accompanied by a photo of a red, white and blue flag on which a "peace symbol" replaced the usual 50 stars found in the American flag.

A "peacenik" and her daughter held this "flag" while flashing the two-fingered "peace sign," which in World War II was a "V for Victory" sign used by supporters of our military members.

To this retired military member, the "peace symbol" on the "flag' represents the footprint on an American chicken running in circles to avoid military service in the Vietnam era.

The foes of the Iraq War have every right to speak against the war or whatever seems to float their boat, but they do not have the right to deface our symbol of our country, the design for which is set forth in government code.

The so called "one-finger salute," such as the one the peace demonstrators received, was once one of the most offensive of gestures, but in this world today, it is merely an expression of contempt, which is an appropriate response for many to the offensiveness of the so-called "peace sign" of the Vietnam era.

Obscenity for obscenity may just be appropriate in this non-verbal display in front of our City Hall. The horn-honking may not be a sign of support, but may be to attract notice of the "one-finger salutation."

Shame on Congressman George Miller for supporting this group of peaceniks bearing counterfeit symbols of speech on public grounds, where the real symbol flies proudly a few feet away.

In this town of retired military members and Travis Air Force Base workers, The Reporter needs to remember that subscribers pay its wages and a large percentage of us are military-minded. The flag desecration as a front-page story was not a smart ploy. Just a suggestion.

Bob Hind, Vacaville