Made in America -- Or Else

When the Boy Scouts put American flags in yards throughout my neighborhood on Wednesday, I didn’t check to see if the flags were made in the United States. They might have been manufactured in China, Taiwan, or Mexico. Honestly, I don’t care where the flags were manufactured. All I know is that they added to the patriotic feeling in the neighborhood as we celebrated our nation’s independence.

If I lived in the great state of Minnesota, however, I’d have to care where the flag was made. At the end of the year, a new law goes into effect that makes it illegal to sell American flags that aren’t made in the United States. Those who sell foreign-made American flags could be faced with a $1,000 fine or 90 days in jail.

The Founding Fathers must be rolling in their graves.

The new law was the brainchild of Democratic state congressman Tom Rukavina who, bursting no doubt with American-made pride, said: “The biggest honor that you can give the flag is that it be made by American workers in the United States of America.”

Actually, the biggest honor you could give the flag is actually abiding by the principles it symbolizes – freedom and liberty – not cloaking yourself in the American flag while acting like a communist dictator or petty tyrant.

The irony of passing a law that forces retailers to sell only flags that are made in the USA is apparently lost on Rukavina and the other legislators that supported the measure. Having the freedom to purchase a flag made in America or one made in China is a foreign concept to them.

It’s easy to get upset at smalltime state representatives like Rukavina. But his well-intentioned bill is small potatoes compared to what other freedom-grabbing politicians are doing.

  • In Brandon, Ore., Scott Cook’s income-producing timberland is being taken by the city via eminent domain so it can be sold to another businessman to expand his golf course.
  • A law, signed by then-governor and current Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, took effect in Massachusetts this week that requires all residents of the state have health insurance
  • The U.S. Senate recently passed an energy bill that forces automakers to improve their fuel efficiency standards.
  • Other politicians want to legislate what shows radio stations can broadcast or how many stations an individual or company can own.

Freedom or liberty anyone?

Politicians on both sides of the aisle don’t understand it. Most pay lip service to our liberty and rights but often use the first opportunity to restrict them. Of course they do so under the guise that they’re making our lives better. Supporters of the Minnesota law said it would help save American manufacturing jobs.

Of course if people understood what true liberty and freedom was, they wouldn’t elect politicians like Rukavina who have nothing better to do then dictate whether the flags we buy are made in the United States or another country.

Before you know it legislators will be demanding that only American made flags be displayed.

Oh, wait. Arizona is already doing that.

As of last Sunday, each junior high, high school, and college classrooms in Arizona are now required to display an American-made Old Glory. Flags made outside the United States are not allowed to be displayed.

Apparently the great minds in the Arizona legislature think displaying the American-made Stars and Stripes will make Arizona students bleed red, white, and blue. It seems that flags are a more effective way to promote patriotism than actually teaching things like the Constitution.

“Nothing is more embarrassing to me than a plastic flag made in China. This replica of freedom we should respect should be made in this country,” Rukavina said as he passed out miniature flags at Independence Day parades in his district.

In reality, nothing is more embarrassing than a politician giving lip service to freedom while supporting laws that do the exact opposite.

American politicians should know better.

Unfortunately, most don’t.

***

Enjoy what you read? Subscribe to the Abel Keogh email list. Be the first to learn about new essays, book updates, and other exclusive information.

This essay was originally published on FreeCapitalist.com. You can read all of Abel's FreeCapitalist essays here.

My Kids Speak Bulgarian

I haven’t spoken Bulgarian on a daily basis in 10 years. Were I put in a room today with someone who only spoke Bulgarian, I’d probably have a hard time understanding them, let alone putting together a comprehensible sentence. The last time I attempted to speak it with a native Bulgarian was on my honeymoon with Marathon Girl. We ate at a Bulgarian restaurant in Las Vegas and I managed to order a meal and carry on a basic conversation with the waitress. The waitress was so floored that an American could speak Bulgarian, she rewarded Marathon Girl and I with some complimentary Bulgarian deserts after our meal.  The only word Bulgarian word I use on a somewhat regular basis is stiga (pronounced STEE-ga). Translated it means Stop it! or Enough! When used on context, you say it to a misbehaving dog or other animal. You never say it to a person. At least that’s what Bulgarians told me.

Of course how one is supposed to use the word doesn’t stop me from using it at my kids when they’re fighting or misbehaving. If they don’t settle down I’m more than likely to use the world stiga than “Knock it off!” or “Quit fighting!” For some reason the word just works better in my mind for the point I'm trying to make to the kids.

I didn’t realize that the boys even understood the context of stiga (or how much I used the word) until Aidan and Steven were fighting over a toy last week. Steven was upset that Aidan wouldn’t share and tried to take it from Aidan. A mighty struggle ensued. Once Aidan realized Steven wasn’t going to give up the fight for the toy he yelled “Stiga, Steven!” at which point Steven backed down.

After I got over my initial shock that Aidan said a Bulgarian word, I took him aside and explained to him that stiga wasn’t English and that most people wouldn’t understand what he was saying. I then told him I’d try to speak English when I was talking to him and Steven.

Of course that little talk did nothing to dissuade Aidan from saying stiga several times since then. And I still catch myself using it even though I quickly follow it up with a “Stop it, boys” or “Quit fighting.”

The whole incident has been another reminder for me what an example parents are to their kids and how we constantly do things that they pick up on – even if we’re unaware of it. I should be glad that it’s just a Bulgarian word my kids have picked up on. If I was a swearing man no doubt Aidan and Steven would pick up on that too. I’d much rather have them stay stiga than swear words.

Hopefully any other bad examples I’m unconsciously setting for them aren’t becoming part of their daily habits too. If they are, not doubt they'll show up very soon.

Small Shopping Carts

The grocery store near our home has about a half dozen miniaturized shopping carts. They’re about a third the size of a normal shopping cart and are perfect for children to use who are too short or small to “help” mom and dad by pushing the big shopping cart. Every time I take Aidan to the store, I hope that a small cart is available because it keeps Aidan from engaging in mischievous three-year-old behavior. I was relieved to find one last night when Marathon Girl and I did our huge monthly shopping trip. Instead of having to worry about Aidan running all over the place, we just give him a cart and he and I take part of the grocery list and go shopping. Not only does this cut the amount of time we spend in the store by about a third, but it actually makes grocery shopping a fun experience. Aidan and I race down an aisles, food put it in the cart, and race down another one to get more food. When his cart is full, we empty the contents into my bigger shopping cart and go find more food.

So last night after I put him to bed, I asked him what his favorite part of the day was.

“Buying food,” Aidan said.

“I like it when you help Dad buy food,” I said. “You’re a good helper.”

“Can we buy food tomorrow?” Aidan asked.

I explained to Aidan that we didn’t need to buy food everyday but next time I needed to go to the store he was more than welcome to come and help.

I don’t know who came up with the idea of making small carts for kids, but I hope the person’s a millionaire. Those carts have made grocery shopping something I actually look forward too as opposed to just another chore. The person that can do that should be richly rewarded indeed.

Hope you all have a safe and memorable Independence Day!

Live Free or Die Hard

 

Yippie-ki-yay! John McClane is back.

It’s been a long time since Hollywood came up with a decent action movie. Fortunately, Live Free or Die Hard helps reestablish a genre that has been on the recent decline.

The story begins when McClane (Bruce Willis) is assigned to pick up hacker Justin Long (Matt Farrell) and take him to FBI headquarters in Washington D.C. Thinking it’s just another routine assignment to pick up a computer nerd, McClane unenthusiastically goes to Long’s apartment only to find himself involved in a shoot out with people intent on killing the suspect.

After some intense and very slick action sequences in which McClane takes care of the bad guys, the pair heads off to Washington D.C. Once they arrive, the entire city begins shutting down. After a brief talk with the FBI, they conclude an Internet terrorist group is bent on shutting down the entire country by taking over the country’s vital computer systems.

But McClane’s not letting a bunch of computer geeks shut down the United States. What follows is two-hours of some of the most original and innovative action sequences in an action movie. Whether it’s taking down a helicopter with a police car, driving a 18-wheeler over a collapsing freeway system, or escaping from an SUV before it plummets down an elevator shaft, McClane shows that nothing can stop him from getting the bad guys.

Action and adventure type movies are never big on creating characters that the audience will actually care about. But that’s okay. There are just good guys and bad guys in this film. But like any good action movie, the audience will root for the hero and cheer when bad guys meet their demise – never mind the fact that the bad guy’s motives for shutting down the entire country are a little weak and the plot a bit implausible.

Willis is one of the most underrated actors and delivers another great performance as the hero who always keeps his cool even if the world around him is falling to pieces. He knows just how to deliver the script’s one-liners and come across as a regular guy who wants to save the world.

My only real complaint is that they killed off the best bad guy, played by Maggie Q, too early in the film. Q’s character was the most interesting of all the villains and it would have made the move better to see her in final climatic fight with McClane instead of the lackluster mastermind played by Timothy Olyphant.

Live Free or Die Hard is a perfect way to escape from the summer heat, reality, or any in-laws that may be visiting during Independence Day. Fans of action-packed, shoot-‘m-up movies will love the latest Die Hard installment and audiences will leave the theatre excited that once again John McClane saved the day.

Let’s hope Live Free or Die Hard is the first in a series of improved action/adventure movies that will come out of Hollywood.

*** stars (out of four)

Book Update II

The final edits for Room for Two were accepted by the editor yesterday. • It goes to press July 15. • I get to see the cover art next week. (Crossing my fingers that I like it.) • I should be in bookstores sometime in September though I’ll be selling copies on my website sometime in August.

Part of me can’t believe that I’m pretty much done with it. Even though it was three years ago, it seems like yesterday I started writing Room for Two, and just dreaming that it would be published.

All my hard work and perseverance has paid off.

My dream is about to become a reality.

Flowering Cacti

The most beautiful thing I saw while on our vacation to Idaho was a patch of flowering cacti. Most of area in Idaho we vistied was very green: lots of trees and farm land. But while taking a walk with Aidan and Steven and I discovered a patch of cacti that was in full bloom. It was the last thing I expected to see and maybe part of the reason I found it so beautiful.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Exercise is often two steps forward and one step back. Since February I’ve been working my tail off to bench my own weight. I’ve made great progress. Last Friday I maxed out at 190 pounds (that’s approximately 86 kilos for all those who prefer the metric system). It was a personal best and only five pounds away from my weight when I started the whole weightlifting program. Needless to say I was ecstatic about the accomplishment.

My elation was short lived, however, once reality set in.

When I started this aggressive weight lifting program I weighted 195 lbs. Since then I’ve added 15 lbs. of muscle to my body and top the scales at 210 lbs. (I should add that Marathon Girl is very happy with my added mass.) After maxing out at 190, I initially thought I was just five pounds away from reaching my goal. Then I realized I was 20 lbs. away from it.

~sighs~

If I end up in hell, I can see my punishment being trying to bench my weight. Every time I get close, it will turn out that I’ve added on a couple extra pounds of muscle to my body and have to try again. This will, of course, go on for all eternity.

The good news is that while I’m alive on Earth, when I finally do manage to bench my weight, I’m going to be benching an amount I never thought would have thought possible.

I Finally Mailed that Suspicious Package

I finally mailed that suspicious package the post office returned the other day. After a 15 minute wait in line, I was finally able to speak to a mail clerk about the problem. I gave her the package and told her I would like her to inspect it and have it mailed. The clerk looked at the package and read the note the post office had attached to it. “I’ve never seen this label before,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”

With package in hand she left and returned a few minutes later with someone who I assume was her manager or supervisor. He started to explain to me that they because of increasing terrorist threats, they couldn’t just take packages with stamps on it and that in the future it would save everyone a lot of hassle if I’d just take a few minutes and show any future packages to one of his trusted employees. Then he stopped in mid-sentence and looked at the package.

“There’s only enough postage on this package to ship it by ground,” he said.

“That’s right,” I replied. “It was less expensive that way.”

“Then there’s nothing to worry about,” the supervisor said. “These restrictions only apply to air mail – not anything shipped on the ground. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”

The supervisor them removed the warning label from the package and tossed in a nearby mail cart and told me it would be sent out that afternoon. (Sorry, Gabby. I guess the package won’t come with a police/military escort after all.)

I don’t know what I should be more worried about: the fact that they don’t screen their ground mail for suspicious packages or the gross incompetence of the people supposedly screening their mail.

Either way, I’m thinking about using the post office that’s closer to home to mail anything in the future than the one close to work. Aside form this incident; I’ve had some recent bad experiences with the post office near my office.

For example, if I return a Netflix DVD and it goes through the post office close to home, it always arrives the next day. However, if I send it from work it takes two, three or sometimes four days to arrive at the Netflix receiving facility.

Both post offices are roughly the same distance from Salt Lake and the one close work is supposedly a post office hub which means things should arrive sooner, rather than later. But when does anything work the way it’s intended to when you’re dealing with a government monopoly.

I am NOT a Terrorist

Let’s be clear on one thing: I am not a terrorist. I don’t condone blowing up innocent people or hijacking airplanes and crashing them into buildings. Terrorists are incredibly evil and I generally support efforts to eradicate them from the planet. The world would be a much better place without them.

I bring this up because apparently mailing books can get you in trouble with the U.S. Postal Service. Who knew?

Last week I did my first book purge and mailed three books off to those who wanted the books.  Yesterday one of the books – the Matthew Iribarne book of short stories – was returned, opened, with an ominous warning attached from the U.S. Post Office:

“We regret that your mail is being returned to you because of heightened security measures. All domestic mal, weighing 16 ounces or over, that bears stamps and all international and military APO/FPO mail weighing 16 ounces or over, MUST be presented to a retail clerk at a post office. Postage that is affixed to the returned mail may be used for re-mailing the item."

Apparently I made the mistake of metering the package on my own instead of standing in line for an hour and checking it with the trusty U.S. Postal clerk. And all I wanted to do was save time by not waiting in line.

Although I appreciate the warning and will check future packages that weigh 16 ounces or more with the post office before I send then, I can’t help be a little concerned over their screening procedures.

See, this is the second book weighing more than 16 ounces that I’ve sent in this way. The other book, Skinny Dip, was mailed two days before the book of short stories and it hasn’t been returned. Somehow that book wasn’t considered a security threat. (Actually, I don’t know if it made it past the post office inspectors. Maybe they destroyed it with one of those bomb destroy robots in route to the Midwest. Jo, please let me know if it arrives.)

So, Gabby, I’m checking the package with a mail clerk today and resending it. I don’t know when it will arrive but it might come with a police and/or military escort. Please let them know I’m not a terrorist and all I mailed you was a book of short stories.