GUNS Magazine Odd Angry Shot

COLUMNS

JUNE 2008

THE “HUH” FILES

You know this feeling, don’t you? When you have so much to say; when you’re so bemused or repulsed you can’t even let it out for fear of exploding, choking, or launching into maniacal laughter, and all you can do is go “Huh,” shake your head, then wander away to seek a cool dark place and a cooler, darker drink? If you do, here’s something to huh! about, and if you don’t, well, let’s see if we can get a huh! out of you …

In Reno, Nevada, Vietnam veteran Jim Brossert took offense to a local business owner flying the flag of the Republic of Mexico over a United States flag. Now let’s get this clear: They were not on separate poles, with the Mexican colors in a higher position. The Mexican flag was not merely a decoration related to products or services offered by the business. This was the flag of another sovereign nation being flown atop our national colors.

The business owner declared he was flying Mexico’s flag to show “solidarity” with the Hispanic community. Following raids by federal authorities scooping up scads of illegals, “pro-immigration” protests had taken place throughout the area.

Local law enforcement and news stations received angry calls from residents (presumably including some rare, endangered US citizens) about this display, but no action was taken. The situation was described as “tense”. At the scene, some people simply stood and gawked. Others scuttled away, possibly feeling something was wrong, but Gee, what can you do? Brossert knew. With a US Army-issue knife, he cut the Mexican flag down, then stood his ground and declared, “I’m not going to see this done to my country.” Jim didn’t seem to be terribly concerned about offending anybody’s tender sensitivities. He even believed flying another nation’s flag over ours on American soil was against the law. And it was, once upon a time …

The Nevada chapter of ACLU was quick to respond, pointing out several federal court rulings which have effectively transformed our former “flag laws” into a set of “display suggestions.” An ACLU press release reminded readers of the 1989 Supreme Court ruling that “we even have the right to burn our own flag, which had been outlawed by 48 states.” Such acts are protected as “freedom of expression,” a phrase you won’t find in the Constitution.

The Reno Police Department stated Brossert would be charged with theft if the store owner files a crime report. Huh …

In other sorta-related news, jails across the country were served with notice from federal authorities prohibiting the use of Taser devices on Mexican illegal alien criminals awaiting trial and possible deportation. It’s still OK to use Tasers on American citizen prisoners when they get outta line, but sheriffs and city jailers who refuse to comply will face losing federal funding. Let’s see … Violent homegrown crooks can be “Tased”, but violent illegal alien crooks cannot. Huh.

A Little Revisionist History

Last September, Israeli jets struck deep into Syria and bombed what they described as a secret nuclear weapons facility — which Syria denies having. In the United Nations, the usual assortment of howlers commenced screaming about Israeli aggression against peace-loving Syria. Denials flew until, in a meeting of the UN General Assembly’s disarmament committee, a Syrian representative slipped during an anti-US and Israel tirade and made reference to the bombing of Syria’s nuclear facility — you know, the one that didn’t exist …

Higher ranking Syrian officials insisted their guy had been misinterpreted and never said “nuclear”. He couldn’t and wouldn’t have mentioned a nuclear weapons facility, because it didn’t exist, right? The UN dutifully changed the official record, striking that reference, and announced “Action will be taken” against the interpreter “… to the fullest extent of the UN rules …”

Later, aerial photos of the site were submitted to an international group of independent nuclear scientists. They concluded the structures shown were consistent with a North Korean-designed gas-graphite reactor and pumping station capable of turning out nuclear weapons. One physicist, a former UN weapons inspector said, “I’m pretty convinced Syria was trying to build a nuclear reactor.” Hey, that was prob’ly just storage for sand toys and lawn chairs — ask the UN. Huh …

A Memorial Medley

Remember when the ruling student council of the University of Washington voted against erecting a memorial to World War II Marine air ace, POW and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington? I recently heard they’re considering a memorial to Jimi Hendrix, a rock guitarist famed for his hot riffs and use of hallucinogenic drugs, who died of an overdose in 1970. The council felt Pappy Boyington was not a positive role model. And Jimi Hendrix is? Huh …

But then, if you want to see a statue of Vladimir Lenin, don’t look in the old Soviet Union. Virtually all of them there have been toppled and scrapped. There’s a nice one, though, near U of W, in Seattle’s Fremont Square. On the other hand, if you’re looking for memorials to Ronald Reagan, there are dozens in the former Soviet satellites. A massive bronze of RWR graces the main square in Warsaw. Lots of ex-Soviet subjects revere him as a champion of freedom. They don’t read US newspapers. Huh …

And if you’re a fan of Che Guevara, the inspiring, dashing pin-up boy of the radical Marxist set, he seems to be enjoying resurgent popularity. Look around and you’ll see his resolute revolutionary face, complete with red-starred beret, on T-shirts, posters and bumper stickers. Recently our America-hating pal Hugo Chavez dedicated a striking new monument to him at a highway scenic overlook in Venezuela. Within two weeks local peasants destroyed it, leaving messages saying they didn’t think a bank-robbing murderous faux-political bandit was a good example for their children.

I just saw a striking image of ol’ Che today, and it was not in Havana. If it’s still posted, follow this clumsy link — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POkHs4Xwo5M
— to see a lovely news clip about the opening of the Barack Obama Campaign office in Houston, Texas. As the camera follows jubilant staffers into the office, you’ll see two objects posted on the interior wall. One is a small photo of Obama, their candidate. The other, much larger, is a Cuban flag with Che’s famous image blazoned on it. There was no comment about this in the coverage, and I can only think of one:
Huh …

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