Emo Senator: Pledging allegiance to the flag by talking and pointing in front of some people

As we join this brief episode of Emo Senator, southern Minnesota's most watched telenovela, fans of Mike Parry, the belle of Waseca County, will be astonished at our hero's boldest move yet as a congressional candidate.

On Facebook yesterday, Parry remembered Flag Day with a post featuring a photo of himself standing in front of a crowd, talking and gesturing with one hand, almost pointing a finger, with an out-of-focus American flag in the right foreground, while his other hand is in his pocket.

The words of the pledge are written on the photo.

Whatever Mike Parry and the photographer are doing, it's not focusing on Old Glory.

This is daring stuff indeed, since the United States Flag Code notes:

the Pledge "should be rendered by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Members of the Armed Forces and veterans who are present and not in uniform may render the military salute. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute".^[2]

Parry, a National Guard veteran, could either salute or put his hand over his heart; instead, he makes the audacious move of performing neither, and posting the caption:

In honor of Flag Day, join me in saying the Pledge of Allegiance and share this with your family and friends.

Tune in for the next exciting episode.