Flag Business Thriving

The flag and balloon business is good nowadays--real good. The front-page photograph with the article “O.C. Asian-Americans Hear Bush China Plea” (June 17) showed many waving flags, and (as usual) Bush waving his hand. The multitude of various ethnic groups attending heard the speech, and if many didn’t understand what was said, perhaps some read lips at least. White House officials estimated the crowd at 40,000, with some from as far away as New Orleans. It is certain that the majority were from a lot farther away than that.

Being a Republican and President is good business nowadays. And fun too. It is church in Beverly Hills, dashing back to a luxury hotel to change for tennis doubles, golf with Ronnie at a billionaire’s country club, partying at Malibu, eluding your military aide (who carries the nuclear war codes) and hobnobbing with Hollywood’s heterogeneous. These mundane, everyday activities prove that our President practices “equal opportunity” on a regular basis.

Many wonder if he has future plans in his gadfly itinerary to someday “recognize” the vast (but silent) majority of taxpayers who created this haven for all hyphenated Americans, who enjoy waving their “new” country’s flag? You bet--just stay tuned! Bush’s political advisers are scheduling plenty of return visits to California in coming months--as it has the most electoral votes of any state. A questionable “honor” at best, when one considers how it came to be.

BILL LAWSON

Costa Mesa