The flag does not stand for blind allegiance, and it does not replace (by a long shot) the urgent need of everyone to understand (to the best of their knowledge) the issues, all sides, and judge — and question. Our flag stands for the healthy skepticism about government power and wisdom, and certainly not for the notion that our nation is run by an all-powerful executive branch with the other branches in existence to support and cheerlead. It stands for the Constitution — that body of laws and principles that govern and define us.
Patriotism is certainly not defined by the wearing of a lapel badge (more than likely manufactured in China) American flag. And to ask (as one questioner asked during last week’s ABC Democratic debate) whether Barack Obama “believes in the flag” does nothing but show the ignorance (yeah, call me an elitist) of the of the questioner. Believing in the “flag” doesn’t mean believing in a piece of metal affixed to a blazer. Was she really questioning whether Obama believed in our country? Questioning his patriotism? She said she was not; what, then was she calling into question because Senator Obama does not happen to wear a flag lapel pin? The flag is merely a symbol, meaningless except for what it represents — “liberty and justice for all.” The Bill of Rights: free speech, right to assemble, due process, habeas corpus. That’s what the flag stands for. Believing in the flag means supporting the government when it is right, and having the courage to criticize and otherwise speak out when it is not. It sometimes means being a cheerleader, but so often means being an opponent, although the former is a far easier variety than the latter.
Upon reflection, I wonder if I shouldn’t re-pin the flag pin on my lapel. Affix it with the appropriate dash of righteous indignation, refusing to allow the far right to hijack the very notion of patriotism, and its most visible symbol. Or maybe design a new lapel pin — a miniature of the US Constitution, with its oversized “We the People…” To me, that’s really what we’re protecting … and what we stand for: for ourselves and as a symbol for the rest of the world.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Baritone
Barbara,
Nice article. I think you'll find most here at BC in agreement with you - regardless of which side of the aisle they reside. The lapel pin issue is ludicrous at best, and at worst devious.
I recently read "How to Rig an Election: Confessions of a Republican Operative" by Allen Raymond and Ian Spiegelman.
One of the interesting things that the authors point out is that it is just this kind of thing that, maddeningly or not can turn an election. As is often said, winning takes 50% + 1 vote. All of these little things that hit the airwaves or print media, regardless oh how idiotic, or how lacking in truth, can sway votes.
Judging from your reference to your high school days, I figure that I am maybe around 10 years or so your senior. But, we are close enough to being contemporaries that I assume that you remember the time and events surrounding Vietnam. If anything, this was even a more contentious time. Flag burning became a major issue (and, maddeningly continues to be so today.) There were any number of ways people used to take measure of another's patriotism. Most of them were just as bogus as the lapel pin. The call to stand by our country whether "right or wrong" never rang true to me then, nor does it now.
As you note, it is not only our right, but our duty as citizens to stand in open opposition to government policies with which we disagree. That is politics; American politics at its best.
It is sad that stupid issues like lapel pins, or occasional mind farts by candidates can totally sabotage a campaign.
B-tone
2 - Barbara Barnett
Thanks B-tone. I've been watching the HBO series on John Adams, and I wonder what our Founding Fathers would have thought about that flag-pin question. On the other hand, John Adams did sign that terrible sedition act!
I do remember those days, along with the apathy that abounded then as much as now. One of my own favorite buttons said: "Give a damn." It's a true a sentiment now as it was then. Flag pins and bumper stickers are as lazy as the sound-bites that define lazy journalism.
3 - Baritone
Barbara,
I don't get HBO, but I am a fan of Mr. Adams. His was a consistent voice of reason at times during the Constitutional Convention in Philly.
I did read McCullough's book. I have always enjoyed his writing. I just recently finished his 1776. I remember that it was McCullough who used to be the host of "The Smithsonian" (not sure if that was the actual name of it) television series several years ago.
He was very engaging and obviously well schooled in U.S. History.
It's hard to say what the founders would think of current American politics. They would likely find much of it troubling, but actually, journalists were much rougher on candidates back then. There was no pretense to "fair and balanced" reporting.
Pretty much anything and everything was fair game.
It seems to me that Adams' involvement with the Sedition Acts was reluctant if my memory of McCollough's text is at all accurate. Regardless, they became part of his legacy and was far and away the biggest mistake of his presidency. It, among other things doomed Adams to a single term. Jefferson, of course, was very popular and such a dashing figure as compared to Adams' rather frumpy appearance. It could be though that a large number of the country's population at that time never actually saw either Jefferson or Adams or even their likenesses. But most of those who cast ballots back then were probably familiar with how each of them appeared.
Another little thought. Given the highly literate level of much of her correspondence, Abigail Adams was perhaps more informed and more intelligent than her chubby hubby. She carried on quite a correspondence with Jefferson, among others. Nothing tawdry. Her letters to Jefferson and others were usually very much concerned with the war and politics of the day. She pretty much ran the family farms and businesses in John's absence, which was long and often. She was one smart cookie. I bet she could give both Hillary and Barack a run for their money if she weren't, well, if she weren't dead. Death seems to hamper campaigning. Of course, a couple of dead candidates have won races in recent years. Maybe that's the way to go - so to speak.
Hey, I used to have a button from the early 70s that said "Pumpkins for Peace." That was a real grabber. Say what?
B-tone
4 - Dave Nalle
Barbara, one of the Ron Paul activists I met recently has "We the People" and other snippets of the Constitution tattooed quite large in easily visible areas of his body. Is that patriotic or just a little bit over the top?
Dave
5 - Barbara Barnett
Baronius--the HBO mini-series is well worth watching. Be sure to see it when it comes out on DVD. It's very well done. Giamatti makes a good Adams and British actor Stephen Dillane is a wonderful Thomas Jefferson. It's pretty faithful to the McCullough book (upon which it's based).
Dave--ever so slightly overboard (on the other hand, he is a Ron Paul supporter, so...) I have an elderly lady in an adult-education politics class I teach who never goes anywhere without her copy of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence close at hand in her purse. She's always pulling it out to make an argument in class--much easier than pulling up your shirt, I suppose (or worse) ;)
6 - Barbara Barnett
mea culpa, Baritone. I don't know why my fingers typed Baronius (it's past midnight here, and I have a cold, so I am very, very tired==and apparently confused.) Accept my apologies.
7 - Baritone
No harm done. Baronius and I come from far different points of the political spectrum, but I'll go out on a limb and say that he would probably be essentially in agreement with you on this one.
By the way. It's happened before. I may have to change sections in the choir. Or perhaps I could become "Counter Tenor."
Baritone
8 - Dan Miller
Great job Barbara, and Baritone as well.
I have nothing to add, except to recommend a musical available on DVD, entitled 1776. Here is a link to Amazon for it.
Dan
9 - Ruvy
Barbara,
I understand the sentiments behind your article, and cannot really criticize it. It is obviously a defense of Barack Hussein Obama, even if it doesn't say it is.
I'd like to note, first of all, that wearing an American flag on one's clothing arose as a symbol of support for the United States government against such young women as yourself. Not only did the cops in New York wear them as they beat the shit out of anti-war demonstrators, so did the "union" members of the teamsters and other Republican oriented unions which took to beating up anti-war demonstrators. These were not pins, these were patches sewn on.
Nevertheless, it would have been nice to see anti-war demonstrators cracking skulls to teach the savages who attacked them that they were men and not mice, as did the members of the Jewish Defense League. My memories recall anti-war demonstrators as being unwilling to really fight. Nevertheless, that is water long passed under the bridge.
But worshiping a flag can be dangerous.
This was a painful lesson learnt in 2005. In 2005, "supporting the troops" here meant supporting the expulsion of Jews from their homes in Gush Qatif, an act which has proven to be a monumental mistake, as well as a sin. Supporting the troops still is such an act now. Worshiping the Zionist flag is similarly such an act.
Just some thoughts for a Wednesday evening....
moadím l'simHa,
Reuven
10 - Dr Dreadful
My memories recall anti-war demonstrators as being unwilling to really fight.
Errr, Ruvy... that was the whole idea.
11 - Baritone
Ruvy,
Yeah, Doc makes a good point. Had "anti-war" demonstrators taken to smashing heads, it seems to me that the whole point would have been lost. Flower children beating people up or shooting at them would not have fit their image nor their purpose.
Of course, the likes of the SDS and the SLA committed violence in the supposed name of peace, but they didn't really catch on. I knew three of the SLA who came out of Bloomington, IN. Two went to prison (Bill and Emily Harris,)for their roles in kidnapping Patty Hearst, and one died in the fire that killed her and 5 other SLA members in Los Angeles (Angela (DeAngelis) Atwood.) They stupidly died and the Harrises went to prison for an il-defined cause.
B-tone
12 - Barbara Barnett
By the way. It's happened before. I may have to change sections in the choir. Or perhaps I could become "Counter Tenor."
Myself, I'm a dramatic soprano (but I'll also do alto from time to time) ;)
I think, as Baritone (got it right this time) suggested, bashing head would have been the antithesis of the passive resistance modeled by the Vietnam and Civil Rights protesters, who took their cue from Ghandi.
Dan--I loved 1776 (William Daniels was an excellent John Adams)
13 - Arch Conservative
"Barbara, one of the Ron Paul activists I met recently has "We the People" and other snippets of the Constitution tattooed quite large in easily visible areas of his body. Is that patriotic or just a little bit over the top?"
I'm curious.....what would you make of the tatooed portrait of Ronald regan that Ihave on my right buttock then Barbara?
14 - Barbara Barnett
I'm curious.....what would you make of the tatooed portrait of Ronald regan that Ihave on my right buttock then Barbara
The mind boggles, Arch. I simply cannot comprehend. My brother, on the other hand, an arch conservative country singer would probably find it impressive as he reveres Reagan and has cannonized him in song.
15 - Ruvy
Barbara, it's Gandhi, not Ghandi.
When those kids got killed at Kent State, the "peace" bullshit and the flower child bullshit ended. Either you got rid of an oppressive régime determined to send kids off to war to die for nothing - or you shut the hell up. Most people shut the hell up. A few got serious. Serious opposition requires serious action. That means killing the enemy. Usually, that means terrorism.
The problem with the terrorists opposing the Nixon régime is that they were not anywhere near serious enough.
Gandhi was a fool. Proof? India split in two, fought a war costing three million casualties, and is now two nuclear armed nations and three failed states ready to strike at each other after having fought five wars and having thousands die in communal violence of all sorts over sixty years.
16 - Arch Conservative
"The mind boggles, Arch. I simply cannot comprehend. My brother, on the other hand, an arch conservative country singer would probably find it impressive as he reveres Reagan and has cannonized him in song."
Barbara...are you thinking what I'm thinking. Maybe a little trade.......pictures of a first class Reagan tatoo for a tape of song cannonizing the gipper?
17 - Dr Dreadful
Good God... STOP THE MADNESS!!!!!
18 - Baronius
I dunno, Baritonius. I don't want to care about the little flag pin. I really don't. But some people flaunt their non-flags the way others flaunt their flags. They assume it makes them better.
You wrote about how a little thing can turn an election, and that's always fascinated me. I never recognize which little thing is going to have an impact. But usually, it's a little thing that gives focus to a bigger perception.
Remember Dukakis riding in the tank? That image allowed a perception of Dukakis to crystallize. He was perceived to be a liberal, weak on defense, but no one had put their finger on it before. On the other hand, there was Bill Clinton playing the saxophone, which brought up all kinds of pot-smoking, girl-chasing imagery. I expected that to be the death of his 1992 campaign. Like I said, I never call these things right.
I've heard Obama's comments about not wearing the pin, and I've seen footage of him not paying attention during the Anthem. When I read Barbara's comments about proudly not displaying the flag, it ties into the sense that Obama considers himself superior to the masses. I'm not going to vote against him because of a lapel pin, but I think there's something bigger going on.
19 - Arch Conservative
"I'm not going to vote against him because of a lapel pin, but I think there's something bigger going on."
Bingo....
The lapel pin issue alone does not really speak volumes to Obama's patriotism or belief in America as a force for good in the world the way it is and has been in the past 50-60 years.
However when one has a habit of of refusing to do things that most Americans have no problem doing such as displaying the flag in some fashion, putting one's hand over one's heart for the pledge of allegiance or even just coming out and saying that warts and all America is still a great nation in so many respects.
Obama's voting record is more indicative of his true self than his campaign rhetoric and it would appear that he is much further to the left than the mainstream American public. He knows this to be true and that is why instead of hearing what he really believes we get trite catchphrase about change and generalized meaningless platitudes about how we can do better than we're doing now. Gee that's original.
He seems to be weathering the storms in the Democratic primary, partly because Hillary and her people are not on their A game. But when the general rolls around it will be a different world. Maybe I'm biased becuase I am right of center but I don't see how Obama can win it. The GOP, unlike Hillary will not be holding back and John Mccain has proven to have crossover appeal. I don't think that the 22 year old hooka smoking soldiers that Obama has amassed will be able to deliver the victory.
Also Hillary and her people will do everything they can to take Obama down before it even gets to the general. Is there anyone who doesn't think Hillary would rather see Mccain than Obama win it all. Her maiden name may be Rodham but her middle name is spiteful bitch.
Yup....barring any major catastrophes for the Republicans, like John Mccain spontaneously pulling down his pants and takign a crap on the American flag on the White House lawn on the fourht of July, I don't think we will be seeing a Democrat in the white house.
20 - Baronius
Arch - The question is, does the flag thing symbolize an issue that people other than us would care about? So what if Obama alienates us. We're not likely to vote for him anyway. He's not one lapel pin away from sweeping conservatives off their feet. It's like the "bitterness" statement: I'm not sure it costs him.
21 - Dr Dreadful
...like John Mccain spontaneously pulling down his pants and takign a crap on the American flag on the White House lawn on the fourht of July...
Now there's an image.
How about a million dollar prize for the person who can actually get him to do that?
22 - Doug Hunter
"But some people flaunt their non-flags the way others flaunt their flags. They assume it makes them better."
Quote for truth!
23 - Zedd
Doc,
I was born overseas and grew up here. I've never wrapped my head around the patriotism thing. I think America is an incredible place and am happy to be American, I love am a proud South African as well, honored to be Zulu but I don't get the extent of patriotism that people speak of. I feel a swelling up when I see Zulu's dance but its an artistic rapture almost like listening to Handel's Zadok The Priest or Parliament Funkadelic. But I don't get what the hoopla is.
My question to you is if it is the same in Britain. Do you feel emotional over your symbols? If so could you explain that to me.
Side note: I have never felt more appreciative of democracy to the point of feeling a swelling up, by the way, than when I was at Speaker's Corner at 12yrs old. It was a real demonstration of freedom and not the jabbering about liberty that I had heard repeated over and over again in the U.S. It is a beautiful thing (and funny and nutty if I might add)
24 - The Obnoxious American
Baronius,
What an interesting way of saying that Obama supporters (and perhaps the left in general) don't care about the flag. Not sure if you meant it that way but I hope so :>
But you're right. People enamored with Obama will look at this flag thing and say, "Hey, that's just politics as usual stuff, we can't be bothered with that", rinse and repeat. As you know I surely hope he does not win, as I think his policies would destroy this country on a carteresque scale. That said, I have to give Obama credit, given recent events, the "politics as usual" mantra seems employable as a defense against most any gaffe, unthoughtful or elitist comment or action.
25 - REMF
"What an interesting way of saying that Obama supporters (and perhaps the left in general) don't care about the flag. Not sure if you meant it that way but I hope so :>"
- Obnoxious American
The wearing of a flag lapel pin is nothing more than symbolism over substance; similar to "supporting" a war...from afar, while someone else does the fighting and dying.
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"As you know I surely hope he does not win, as I think his policies would destroy this country on a carteresque scale."
He certainly can't do any worse than our present Deserter in Chief's invasion and occupation of Iraq, ie; 4,100 killed in action, 23,000 wounded in action, $512 billion wasted...and counting...
Of course that doesn't affect you OA, being 10,000 miles from the action...