Seen a Rogue on the loose? Get in touch with our Roguemeister: JOHN SCHRAG jschrag@wweek.com (503) 243-2122 FAX: (503) 243-1115 Don't get us wrong. We've got nothing against Old Glory. It just shouldn't be used to cover up roguish grandstanding. Last session, the Republican-led Legislature passed a bill requiring that schools provide time each week for students to face the flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Problem is, there are more classrooms than flags. Don't despair, though: The Republican cavalry is riding in to save the day. When the Grand Old Party found out there weren't enough Grand Old Flags to go around, it kicked off a fund-raising campaign to help. According to party spokesman Darryl Howard, the Oregon Republican Party is committed to spending up to $10,000 to buy flags for schools. In a press release about the party's benevolence, chairman Perry Atkinson says, "Providing flags to our schools is not only our Republican belief, but our duty as Americans as well." Now, before you break out the hanky, consider that this is the same legislative leadership that felt duty-bound to pass an education budget that will leave districts with fewer teachers, outdated texts, crowded classrooms and continued cutbacks in music and art education. Maybe we missed it, but we didn't see any press releases about GOP bake sales for books. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Willamette Week | originally published August 25, 1999