Clark sets Shelton straight, again.

This obviously has no place in the news, as I'm sure producers and editors will agree.

*

"I believe in the right to disagree in dialogue, but the flag has a special place," he said. "It should stand above politics. It should stand above dissent."

The only thing that should stand above politics, IMHO, is the Constitution -- the IDEALS that ARE America. And as far as ANYTHING standing above DISSENT, I personally think it is folly to do so.

It's a shame that we can't treat basic human dignity with the same reverence in this country as we do for a simple piece of colored cloth.... :shrug:

from his witnessing people die and suffer in combat situations for what it represents to him, you never know.

Clark is a guy who has honored and defended that flag for close to 40 yrs. i understand why he has this opinion, many folks also have it.

this has been an issue for some that support Clark. from what ive read many dont agree with it but most of them wont let 1 issue distract from them voting for the general.

the president cant make a change like this on his own, its a vote from congress. from listening to Clark on other issues involving dissent and political voice i have zero problems with him holding this idea.

I should know, because I've taken the same oath as he did.

I, (state your name), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of Second Lieutenant, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of The United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter. So help me God.

Note, there is nothing in this oath about the flag. There is nothing about the country's leaders. The whole oath is centered around one concept -- THE CONSTITUTION.

Despite all of the flag idolatry that occurs in our nation, it is important to remember where the real spirit of America lies -- in the IDEALS expressed in its founding documents. As soon as you lose sight of those ideals, the physical characteristics of America no longer matter. The flag becomes a worthless scrap of cloth. It is the IDEALS represented within those documents that provide the complete foundation that makes any of these other symbols have any true meaning.

Thanks IC!

glad to assist

Clark was ready to talk more about the disagreement when asked about it at the Merrimack County Fall Harvest Dinner in Bow yesterday. It revolved, Clark said, around the different roles that he and other generals had felt the country should take in Europe in the late 1990s. Shelton and others felt the country's interests lay not in the Balkans but in the Middle East and Korea, he said. But Clark had wanted the United States to take an active role in preventing ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.

"I spoke up loud and clear until we got our policy right," he said. "Now, 1.5 million Kosovo Albanians have returned to their homes, and (Slobodan) Milosevic is in the Hague standing trial for war crimes."

He was right and Shelton was WRONG. I'm so glad he has explained this. Now maybe people can see General Shelton for the Bush shill that he is.

Those in power ought to respect the opinions of others, Clark said, but he added that people shouldn't burn flags to express their discontent. When one listener asked whether Clark would support a constitutional amendment banning flag burning, the retired general said he would, if the American public supported one.


Glad he clarified with that last point...."if the American public supported one. That makes me feel better. :7

--Clark is saying "this is not my big issue, if it becomes a big issue, this is where I am at on it."

IMHO the only people who want to make this a big issue are the Republicans, to divert attention from the thousands of wounded servicemembers coming back from a war that has no strategy for getting them home nor any good purpose for continuing.

...and the media, to keep the pot boiling. Grrrr.

Yeah, issues of Shelton's character and integrity.

it is time he either puts up or shuts up. For him to go "silent" after sleazy innuendos says alot about his own (Shelton's) character and integrity, imo!

He's made his jab already. And the fact that he didn't elaborate when asked, turning it into a smear of innuendos, already spoke to his integrity.

stay silent, if I were Clark I would make sure that every time I was on TV, giving a speech or doing a newspaper interview, I would set the record straight on Shelton just like in this article. Do it until the media stops repeating Shelton's remark. He needs to get the truth out there and Shelton and the media sure as hell aren't going to do it for him.

I'm sure a lot of people, myself included, had questions about this. I'm hoping this is all the story. As for the flag, I can understand a life-long military man, especially a General, feeling that way about the flag. Is that a disqualifier? Not for me personally.

Glad to see he's not letting the right run their smear campaign without standing up to 'em! Keep it coming, neuter those liars!

Rock on Wes.

Julie

He shouldn't Shelton or any other RW whore say anything about him without coming back at them! And shame on Edwards for keeping this repuke on as his "advisor."