Let he who is without an American Flag cast out the first thought...What?

I received the following email about a dozen times today.  What should I think?

ABC News Joins Obama - Bans American Flag Lapel Pins

           Barbara Walters said that this was going to hurt ABC bad. As you know, she works for ABC.

                    YESTERDAY THE BRASS AT ABC NEWS ISSUED ORDERS FORBIDDING REPORTERS TO WEAR LAPEL PIN AMERICAN FLAGS OR OTHER PATRIOTIC INSIGNIA. THEIR  REASONING WAS THAT ABC  SHOULD REMAIN NEUTRAL ABOUT 'CAUSES'.

           SINCE WHEN IS PATRIOTISM TO BE DISCOURAGED?

           I URGE YOU TO BOYCOTT ABC AND ITS SPONSORS AND AFFILIATES.   WE ARE SLOWLY LOSING EVERYTHING OUR COUNTRY STANDS FOR AND

           EVERYTHING OUR MEN AND WOMEN FOUGHT AND DIED TO PRESERVE!  PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO AS MANY AS YOU CAN.

           THIS HAS BEEN VERIFIED THROUGH:

           http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/a/abcflag.htm

           THIS ONE NEEDS TO BE CIRCULATED...QUICKLY

What should I think?

I think that I should think before forwarding this.  It is one of those emails that once again plays upon ignorance and emotion.

What?  A Marine and a pastor who won’t immediately jump on the Obama-Free Press Bashing Band Wagon:  Who’d a thunk it?

First, ABC news did not join Barrack Obama in any campaign.  This lumping together of somewhat similar actions into a Presidential-Free Press Consortium or Conspiracy is what has put otherwise good hearted Americans at the bottom of the garbage heap of critical thinking.

Next, the press is patriotic when it seems the least patriotic.  It is the watchdog of government.  The watchdog has been tamed, taught tricks, and otherwise manipulated by greed, hunger for power and prominence, and other corrupting factors over the years; but it is still the best we have.

The press poses an interesting paradox. 

The very government that the free press must be critical of is the same government charged to protect its rights to be critical.  No free press would want the very instrument of its protection to succumb to any force—internal or external—that would remove this protection.

It is a delicate balance that exists only in controversy. 

The press and the government charged to provide for the common defense so that the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States remains intact must be frequently at odds.  There is nothing unpatriotic about that.

You may or may not like our current president.  That’s your prerogative.

You may or may not like ABC news.  That’s your prerogative.

Your reasonable act of patriotism is to thank God and thank two centuries worth of selfless Americans that you can disagree with your political leaders and have a free press to be upset with.

Think more.

Bash each other less.

Put others before self.

That will move us more towards patriotism than forwarding another email.

Click like, forward the link to this article to 10,000 of your most intimate friends, and hold your breath until you pass out; or not!

Wear your lapel pin if you like.  Mine has both the National Ensign and the Marine Corps Colors.

Let’s just agree to think before we forward.