"So, you are saying that if you wear the pin, you are pretending to be a patriotic American? Pretending???"

No, I'm saying that the pretending is that there's some correlation between "patriotism" and accessories.

"Obama IS a patriotic American, so there is no pretending here. Let me break it down this way so you can understand me: I am a Christian, but I seldom wear a crucifix. If I were to become pastor (leader) of the church, I would wear a crucifix because it is part of what a pastor wears."

An excellent point, and gets right to the heart of the matter. Christianity is a very long, extremely diverse tradition. One of its central faultlines is precisely what you mention here: the issue of idolatry and the role of symbolism.

Some sects are radical iconoclasts (Calvinists, for instance) and distrust visible symbols as necessarily hypocritical, as distractions from the spiritual truths of Christianity and the Word.

So no, it is not part of what a pastor wears. You are misinformed.

It's part of what some pastors wear.

Likewise, some aspiring presidents wear flags, while others can legitimately choose not to.

You see?

"I would not be pretending to be a Christian, I AM a Christian."

No, but you would be pretending to be an iconophile (one who reveres icons, or symbols of faith more generally). If you were, say, a Quaker and were called upon to wear a cross to demonstrate your Christianity, you'd probably object to being made to pretend that wearing the cross or crucifix is relevant to your faith when it's not.

"The pin is an American flag. Obama is running for the highest office in the land. Like a priest or a nun who wears a cross, it is simply showing the belief system one embraces. That's all. There's no lie if Obama wears the pin, and he is not selling out, but if it helps put voters at ease who don't know this man, then I'm all for it."

Again, you're profoundly misinformed as to the rich variety of expressions of faith. Your analogy is therefore bankrupt.

"And speaking of damage to society, when McCain wins, I'll think about you."

Ok.

Sorry, Ann, I'm not sure I've been as clear as I'd like.

I'm trying to say that Obama's whole point is that symbols of patriotism do not make a patriot.

That in fact, symbols of patriotism can mask the most unpatriotic of behaviors.

Of course, it's tricky, because he did give his address surrounded by flags and yes, I suspect he will say the pledge of allegiance with everyone else.

So it's not as if he's any kind of purist or anything, but imo, it is deeply important that the point he is making be heard, namely, that just because George W. Bush wears a flag on his jacket doesn't make him above reproach.

That in fact, there is no necessary correlation between patriotic rhetoric and use of symbols and patriotism itself.

To wear such jewelry just to comfort certain people is, in fact, disrespectful pandering to them.

He is asking them to judge him not by his jewelry, but by his character, his mind, his positions, etc.

"I don't truly believe Sen. Obama when he speaks on Unity and Hope. And now I doubt him even more seeing the religious mentor he had chosen for the past twenty years."

It's fair that this raises doubts for you. In fairness, though, I would urge you, if you're really interested in forming an informed opinion, to try to find a more fair and authentic picture of "the past twenty years" rather than seizing on one sermon delivered in an extraordinary time, one of tremendous stress, meant for a particular congregation.

For his part, Obama agrees with you. Remember, he said (from memory), "If all I knew about this man was that one sermon, I'd be put off too."

He then went on to offer what he considered a more balanced view of the twenty-year association.

Whether you choose to accept that or not is another matter, but if you're actually trying to think your way through all this to arrive at an informed opinion, shouldn't this factor in?

As far as Wright's ministry, I've read several very heartening assessments of it, including social work and messages of love and hope and self-reliance.

So even if you find the one sermon troubling, I do hope you'll put it in perspective. Having done so, you might find on balance the one sermon outweighs all the other stuff.

That's fine, just please consider doing some more research, if it means that much to you.

"The problem is the discrepancy between the two versions of Obama... the one that chose Rev. Wright to listen to.. and the one spouting flowery speeches of hope and unity. Which one is the REAL OBAMA?"

Obama is not a cardboard cutout, he's a human being, as we all are.

We contain multitudes, you know?