'Splain It To Me, Please

 I recently retired (yea!) from my last career as a sales associate in the hardware department of Smith and Edwards Co. in West Jordan. Let me say from the start, I have a lot of respect and love for this company, and for my fellow employees at the store. Nothing I am going to share with you now is meant in any manner to cast disrespect upon that company.

The hardware department sold flags of various types, including all branches of the military as well as American Flags, along with flagpoles, mounting brackets, etc. We did not sell Confederate Battle flags, flags of foreign nations, or political flags/banners.

My fellow associates and I noticed a somewhat disturbing pattern in our sale of American Flags. As you are aware, it has become very common for individuals to fly American Flags (and some others)  mounted to staffs on the back of pickup trucks. Two or three times a week, we would have customers ask for American Flags, of which we had two brands. One was made in America, one in China. The Chinese variant was less expensive that the "Made in the USA" flag. Sad to say, most of the younger customers in their MAGA hats would take the Chinese flag because of the cost difference. Older customers tended to prefer American Flags "Made in the USA," those wearing veteran's caps would gladly share their stories of being in the service and under fire for America's flag. Yes, some of the older customers were wearing MAGA hats, but they were buying American made flags.

So, I guess I don't get it. MAGA-Make America Great Again- by purchasing Chinese made American flags. America First-unless it is cheaper to purchase an imported item.  

Talk is cheap, and slogans are plentiful. Putting your money where your mouth is, well, that is a different story. 

Thoughts, anyone? 

Thanks for reading; your comments are encouraged and welcome. Just click the word "comment" in the white box below. 

R.M. "Bob" Hartman

If You Want To Fly It, Respect It

 A few days ago, I went to a local hardware store to pick up some project material. As I was leaving the store, I was glancing around the parking lot, as is my custom; I check to see what vehicles are moving in which direction, etc. Basic situational awareness before I put my car in gear. 

My attention was drawn to a diesel pickup idling at the vape shop next door. It had an American flag on a staff mounted to the back bumper; the flag was drifting in the slight breeze. In Utah, an American flag on a truck is not unusual at all; what caught my eye and disgusted me beyond belief was the condition of the flag. This emblem of our country, which you and I were taught to respect and honor, was torn, dirty, and covered in diesel exhaust. I was tempted to take a picture with my cell phone, but before I could, the driver of the truck exited the vape shop-yes, he had a MAGA hat on. I didn't think it was a good idea to get into a confrontation, so there is no picture. 

The United States National Flag Code, which became law in 1942, lays out the rules for the proper display of the American Flag; here are two rules from that Code: 

The Flag should not be on display outdoors in bad weather.

Clean and damage-free flags should always be used. Dirty, ripped, wrinkled or frayed flags should not be used. Also, when flags are damaged, they should be destroyed in a dignified manner. 

I realize, given the political strife and division current in our country today, that many people feel the need to express their patriotism, loyalty, and virtue by displaying the American Flag.

I wish the driver of that truck would show his respect for the American Flag as prominently as he shows his loyalty to the former president.   

Thank you for reading; as always, your comments are welcome and encouraged. Just click the word "comment" in the white box below below.

R.M. "Bob" Hartman

Source: https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/1892936/dos-and-donts-for-displaying-old-glory/ retrieved on October 19, 2024

My Nominee for The Most Stupid In State Award

When it is time to hand out the "Most Stupid In State" awards, I am nominating Morgan Republican Rep. Kera Birkeland. Her incredibly transphobic bill, improperly titled “Sex-Based Designations for Privacy, Anti-bullying and Women's Opportunities" has unleased a world of problems for the State Auditor, Republican John Dougall, and his office. You see, the bill changes the legal definitions of “female” and “male” to categorize Utahns by the reproductive organs of their birth, and restricts which bathrooms and locker rooms trans people can use in any government-owned buildings. (Schools, county recreation centers, swimming pools, etc.) When a violation is sent to the State Auditor's office, they must investigate then notify that entity that a violation has occurred. If the violation isn’t resolved, the auditor must refer the issue to the Utah Attorney General’s office, which can then impose fines up to $10,000 “per violation per day.” In the 72 hour period that followed the release of the reporting website, over 4,000 complaints were filed; the number of complaints  two weeks later exceeded 10,000. According to Dougall, none of the complaints were legitimate. The person committing the crime is not punished, unless they commit lewd or voyeuristic acts.  

So there you have it. Ms. Birkland created a bill, which requires a huge unplanned expense for the State Auditor's office, to satisfy the MAGA Utah Rabid Right's unhealthy fixation on bathroom usage. How many thousands of taxpayer dollars will be wasted on this bill will probably not ever be released to the public. 

It does create a distraction for the public, however, taking attention away from some of Utah's real problems: our bad air, underfunded education system, a much needed expansion of Medicaid, fentanyl addiction, homelessness, affordable housing, water supplies, infrastructure, the list goes on and on. 

Ms. Birkland could have focused her energy and the State's money on these problems, but no. Instead she is focused on which bathroom people use.

As always, thank you for reading; your comments are important, regardless of whether you agree or not! 

R.M. "Bob" Hartman