There is an internet campaign making the rounds via email and blog claiming that Barack Obama is unpatriotic. One claim is that he’s actually a Muslim and that he was sworn into the Senate on the Koran. Another claims that he refuses to say the Pledge of Allegiance. And yet another claims he is a racist Christian. And finally, that he refuses to wear an American Flag lapel pin. One of these claims is true.

He is not Muslim, much less a member of the strictly orthodox Wahhabi sect as one email has alleged. He was sworn into the senate on his own personal Bible. Senator Keith Ellison from Minnesota, however, is Muslim and was sworn in on a Koran owned by Thomas Jefferson. Being Muslim has no more bearing on patriotism than being Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, or Atheist. In a country founded on freedom of religion, the charge itself is unpatriotic.

Apparently he will not only say the pledge, but feels comfortable leading the Senate in the pledge on live cable television. No lack of patriotism there.

A racist Christian perhaps? Again, no. The church he belongs to may be pro-black but apparently not anti-white. Since when has being proud of your heritage become unpatriotic? If it is, we need to cancel all the summertime ethnic pride parades and festivals. Need to kick St. Patrick’s day to curb also.

He does, however, refuse to wear an American flag lapel pin. He told an Iowa television news reporter that such symbols

“became a substitute for, I think, true patriotism.” He added: I decided I won’t wear that pin on my chest. Instead, I’m going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great and, hopefully, that will be a testimony to my patriotism.”

He later told an audience during a campaign stop in Iowa:

“Somebody noticed I wasn’t wearing a flag lapel pin and I told folks, well you know what? I haven’t probably worn that pin in a very long time. I wore it right after 9/11,” Mr. Obama said. “But after a while, you start noticing people wearing a lapel pin, but not acting very patriotic. Not voting to provide veterans with resources that they need. Not voting to make sure that disability payments were coming out on time.”

It is true that Barack Obama won’t wear an American flag lapel pin. The question remains, is it unpatriotic? That depends on how you define patriotism. I’ll address that in my next post.