A word on immigration and neo-nationalism

Apart from the war, immigration is the most explosive issue on the menu, at the moment, and assimilation is all too often confused with patriotism.

With the Fourth of July less than a month away, it pays to revisit flags and flag wavers. Thankfully, despite the best efforts of many to endow it with magical, or supreme powers, a flag is just a piece of fabric; a symbol, yes, but not something sacrosanct. If only those who approach the flag with reverence approached the Bill of Rights the same way, what a great country this would be.

After all, when you think about it, more people have died over flags than from cigarettes, coffee, smog, cars, drugs, and booze combined. When was the last time a war was fought over a martini?

I think Betsy Ross should have inscribed: "Caution: May Be Hazardous to Your Health" on every flag she designed.