Lapels are a fashion addition to certain pieces of clothing worn by men and women alike.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacket_lapel

There are three basic forms of lapels: notched, peaked and shawl. Notched lapels, the most common, are usually seen on business suits.[1] Peaked lapels are more formal, and nearly always used on double breasted jackets or coats.[2] Shawl lapels are usually carried by dinner jackets.[3]

Lapels have little to do with the Sami Peoples of Northern Europe. Although some Sami have lapels. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapps

And of course, Lapels have little to do with Lap Dances.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lap_dances

Which means nothing in this article has anything to do with Dancing With Wolves.

Now there are usually holes in one of the lapels in modern dress.

Lapels have a buttonhole on the left, which is intended to hold a boutonnière, a decorative flower.

I have trouble spelling boutonniere let alone attempting to pronounce it.

But I am here to do my first blog on July 4, 1776.

Don't worry; I will tie it all together...sort of anyway.

We are told that we have lost a lot of soldiers in various conflicts of sorts necessary to keep this country vibrant.

We have lost a lot of soldiers, that is for sure:

Civil War:  618, 222

WWI:  116,516

WWII:  405,399

Vietnam:  58,177

IRAQ & AFGHANISTAN:   5,353

You can look up these numbers yourself. http://www.unknownnews.net/casualties.html

There were other wars and conflagrations or whatever the Congress called these calls for action.

That is just one link.

I know that more Civil War soldiers died of infection or disease than by a bullet. But when you are dead, you are dead.

Hundreds of thousands of men and women died following these wars as a result of infection or disease...physical or mental.

I was a draft dodger. I mean, I broke no laws but stayed in school. Me and Dick Cheney had other priorities. http://www.slate.com/id/2097365

I remember back in '69 that we were having some illegal drinks in Richfield in my basement. And John and I started fighting over the war, even though John managed to stay out of the Asian mess. So I took out what I thought was some receipt and made all my suburban friends think I burned my draft card.

Big joke on them. Of course I awoke in my own vomit as usual following Friday Night festivites and discovered I HAD INDEED BURNED MY FRICKIN DRAFT CARD!!!

Hahahaahahah

I had other coward friends. One college friend who kind of flunked out just said no and went to jail for six months. Nobody wanted to send him there. Probably was released after 60 days on good behavior and because he was white.

I guess that something over a million five have died fighting for our country. And so have hundreds of thousands of police officers and guards over the last two plus centuries who could also be said to have given their lives for their country.

How many union organizers and supporters have died during that same period?

How many oil workers have given their lives in the pursuit of some of America's most recious commodities?

How many coal miners have died in the pursuit of keeping our TV's and lamps goin?

Do you know that people died creating the Hoover Dam? 112 according to Wiki.

How many people died creating the transcontinental railroad? http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/goldenspike.htm

The answer is that many people have died creating the transcontinental railroad and our highway system and our cars and our boats and our TV's and just about everything we consume or use everyday. Hell people have died mining or manufacturing Borax.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20_Mule_Team_Borax

WHO BUILT THIS COUNTRY?

Well, I think it was the Borax miners, the coal miners, the oilmen, the highway builders, the TROOPS, the policemen, the firemen, the teachers, the professors, SOME STATESMEN AND STATESWOMEN (ha!!!), the architects, the engineers, THE WORKERS.....

So we have Labor Day. I am well cognizant of that.

But when we celebrate July 4th, even though 25% or more of America is not adequately educated to understand the issue that existed in the 17th century between us and the Brits; we must acknowledge those who were ALL IN (In Texas Holdem terms) for this country.

Okay, so let us wrap this up.

LAPELS.

The fucking flag lapel pin is supposed to tell me that the one wearing the fucking lapel pin is special because he or she is acknowledging what a wonderful person they are for acknowledging the great sacrifice of the few for the many.

FUCK LAPEL PINS.

The end