Just what we’ve always wanted: the Pope as a Japanese anime superhero. Bizarre, but fun.

Enjoy it on the Phatmass site at http://www.phatmass.com/more/superpope/.

Earlier this week when I was in Washington DC, I was able to meet Sen. Barack Obama. He was very approachable, but much more stiff in person than he comes across on television.

In their zeal to express their patriotism, many people inadvertently dishonor the flag of the United States of America. Case in point: shirts that are made either from a flag or designed to look like a flag:

The United States Code provides guidelines for the proper use, handling and display of the flag. Among these guidelines are:

The flag should never be used as wearing apparel…
– United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, §176 (d)

If you own this style of shirt, please do not wear it. And if you see someone wearing a flag shirt, please gently explain the guidelines and encourage them to study in more detail how to show proper respect for Old Glory.

My father prepared a helpful brochure a few years ago, which he distributes free of charge. I’m making it available here as a free download:

Old Glory: A Guide to the
Proper Use and Display of
the Flag of
the United States of America
(PDF, 1.3 MB)

Also, USFlag.org is a helpful resource.

God bless America!

Today’s Townhall.com Commentary:

Thankful for the Fourth
David Aikman

I am an immigrant deeply grateful for US citizenship. When I arrived in the US a few decades ago, an English friend of mine used to say that July Fourth was England’s Thanksgiving Day. His joke was that on July 4, 1776, England was free of responsibility for America.

My friend was joking, but I think he was closer to the truth than he realized. Every single foreigner who has immigrated to the US since 1776 should consider July Fourth a day of Thanksgiving. Without America having become prosperous, free and strong, those of us born outside it would not even have wanted to come here. But it did, and we did.

As an immigrant, of course, I enjoy America’s Thanksgiving. But I give special thanks for the Fourth.

I recommend subscribing to this great daily email at townhall.com.

In honor of our Independence Day:

Prayer for Our Nation

Dear Lord, we call our country “one nation under God”
when we pledge allegiance to our flag.

May we always remember that we are subject to you.

Help us always to recall that a nation is great
only so long as it worships you as its author.

Remind us that no nation can truly prosper
unless it acknowledges its dependence on you.

Give us the grace to remember always that the true sign
of strength for any nation or person is how well we treat
the weak and helpless among us, and make us truly
thankful for all you have given us throughout our history.

Amen.

Taken from this week’s bulletin (PDF) from the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta.

This photo was taken earlier today at Reagan National Airport. Apparently there isn’t much demand for Hillary merchandise these days in Washington D.C.