Congressman Upset with Simpson Stamps

The Roll Call Web Site reports, "Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) is not exactly delighted about seeing Homer Simpson and his family on the stamps that the U.S. Postal Service released last week."

Roll Call Staff Writer Jude O. Marfil quotes Honda as saying in an e-mail, “I’m concerned to see the prioritization of a stamp honoring a cartoon while other causes, like a stamp that I pushed USPS to issue ... get sidelined.”

Honda, a Japanese American, wants the Postal Service to issue stamps honoring the estimated 20,000 second generation Nisei who enlisted in the U.S. Army and fought with much valor and distinction during World War II.

The stamp proposal that Honda submitted got turned down by the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee.

“The Simpsons are undoubtedly a part of popular culture, but I question the direction USPS is headed when it pays homage to Homer Simpson over the sacrifice of our venerable Nisei veterans," said Honda.

David Failor, USPS executive director of stamp services, cites in the article USPS guidelines saying stamps will not be issued to honor individual branches, units or divisions of the military.

Apparently, the Postal Service put the guidelines in place after it issued a stamp honoring the Buffalo Soldiers (shown here) in 1994.

Since then, the USPS has been bombarded with requests from military groups to have their own stamps.

To read the entire article, click here.