  |
|
| |
|
|
|
 Waving the American FlagPosted on Jul 4, 2006
Phew!
What a past few years it has been for the American flag ... embraced throughout the world after the Sept. 11 attacks; denounced throughout the world not long after; subject to a Republican attempt to make it fireproof during the last two national election cycles....
The true genius of America has always been its capacity for self-correction. I’d assert that this is a better argument for patriotism than any effort to pretend that the Almighty has marked us as the world’s first flawless nation. On this July 4, we would do well to renounce nationalism and all its symbols: its flags, its pledges of allegiance, its anthems, its insistence in song that God must single out America to be blessed. Is not nationalism—that devotion to a flag, an anthem, a boundary so fierce it engenders mass murder—one of the great evils of our time, along with racism, along with religious hatred? These ways of thinking—cultivated, nurtured, indoctrinated from childhood on—have been useful to those in power, and deadly for those out of power. National spirit can be benign in a country that is small and lacking both in military power and a hunger for expansion (Switzerland, Norway, Costa Rica and many more). But in a nation like ours—huge, possessing thousands of weapons of mass destruction—what might have been harmless pride becomes an arrogant nationalism dangerous to others and to ourselves. However appealing our individualism and positive thinking may be, such traits easily translate in the global context into hubris and a refusal to cooperate with others — in other words, into unilateralism. Americans may cherish in themselves what, in the military, is called the “hoo-ah” spirit — an optimistic mind-set that, as Kohut and Stokes put it, fosters the belief that “technology, and Americans, can fix anything.” But in our soberer, less celebratory moments, we know that there are no unilateral American solutions to multilateral problems and that most of the great challenges we face in today’s world are multilateral — from terrorism to global warming, and AIDS to mass migration. In the streets of Baghdad and the deserts of Al Anbar, we have learned that optimism and self-reliance are simply not enough. Patriotism also means dissent — when it’s hardest. The bedrock of America’s greatest advances–the foundation of what we know today are defining values–was formed not by cheering on things as they were, but by taking them on and demanding change. Previous item: "The Real Victims of Fox News..." Elsewhere: . CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig. Add Your Comment |
|
Washington’s Overrated ‘Old Hands’
Email
Print
Share
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Ma.gnolia
Newsvine
Reddit
StumbleUpon
Yahoo
Jump to Comments
Copyright © 2008 Truthdig, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
By Pounce, July 4, 2006 at 8:43 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
While other counties may have laws against desecrating their flag, i think only the US has this obsession, this Cult of the Flag, where the flag itself is given more importance in song, poetry, politcs, and even war, than the actual country and the ideals it supports. I hope no American soldier has ever actually given his life to protect the flag, although this phrase is often used as if it was literally true.
How odd it would sound if someone stated “I love this photo of my mother, and (as if an afterthought) also the person it represents.” Yet from childhood we are taught to think that way about our flag and its importance relative to the actual country. No wonder we are so easily mislead if we place more value on the national symbol than on the nation and its high ideals.
Report thisBy GreginOz, July 4, 2006 at 8:09 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
“Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels.” Mark Twain. Seee this link and spread it around! regards. http://www.counterpunch.org/ferner07012006.html
Report thisBy Esteban, July 4, 2006 at 7:59 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels. I’m not sure who said that, maybe my fellow commenteers can tell me.
Report thisToday however, is a day to celebrate the idea that man is free to chose it’s rulers and its destiny, that reason prevails over faith, and “divinely” appointed leaders.
With that, I think that something better should be embraced, instead of patriotism, lets try embracing love, love for not only people who are lucky by sheer accident of birth (being born on this continent) but for all the worlds people.
If there is a god, let them bless the world, not just the United States.
By Christy Sweet, July 4, 2006 at 5:34 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Burn ALL the flags of ALL the nations! One Planet, One Humanimal Family
Report thisBy native child, July 4, 2006 at 2:46 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Considering the fact that by the end of this century, unless we do something about global warming, our children and grandchildren will be competing for real estate at the North or South Poles, patriotism can only mean that one is willing to do whatever it takes to see to it that this doesn’t happen.
Report thisBy Aimless, July 4, 2006 at 2:12 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
I really think that John Prine said it best:
“But your flag decal won’t get you into heaven anymore
They’re already overcrowded from your dirty little war
Now Jesus don’t like killing, no matter what the reasons for
And your flag decal won’t get you into heaven anymore”
Report thisBy Publicus, July 4, 2006 at 12:34 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Patriotism is embodied in our founding documents—the Declaration describes the ideals of America, and the Constitution is a strategic document to establish and operate a government that protects those ideals.
Patriotism is “life, liberty and persuit of happiness”. It is “all men are created equal.” It is a limited government who’s sole purpose is to protect our natural rights.
And, the truest patriotism is a personal determined effort to do what one can to keep our Republic. Franklin warned us; the torch has been passed to us...we the people.
Report this