A Modest Proposal for the 4th: Take Back Old Glory

In Dr. Seuss's The Sneetches, there were two kinds of these odd beach-dwelling creatures -- those with stars on their bellies and those without. The ones with the stars saw themselves as inherently superior:

When the Star-Belly Sneetches had frankfurter roasts

Or picnics or parties or marshmallow toasts,

They never invited the Plain-Belly Sneetches.

They left them out cold, in the dark of the beaches.

Then along came a stranger, one Sylvester McMonkey McBean, who had a contraption that applied -- for a price -- stars to the bellies of the decoratively challenged:

Then they yelled at the ones who had stars at the start,

"We're exactly like you! You can't tell us apart.

We're all just the same, now, you snooty old smarties!

And now we can go to your frankfurter parties."

Then the snobby Sneetches had their stars removed -- yes, McBean's machine could do that, too -- and starlessness became the coin of the realm, after which it all descended into on-again-off-again chaos until it was impossible to keep track of who'd been who and they decided to just all get along as equals -- albeit impoverished equals, as they'd given all of their money to the con man who'd repeatedly applied and removed their stars.

But enough, for now, about Sneetches.

Of all the stupid things done by the anti-war crowd, the most gratuitously moronic was allowing the sanctimonious hypocrites of the right to co-opt the nation's most basic icon, its flag. The emblem of the country's highest aspirations was mindlessly ceded to the holier-than-thou zealots who used it as a bludgeon against the less fanatical.

Having unburdened itself of patriotism, the left proceeded over the years to also give away religion, national security and, finally, the elections themselves, but this devolution, into the pathetic puddle of unprincipled, acquiescent wimpiness that the Democrats have become, started with -- or rather, without -- the flag. It's hard to remember a presidential election in which that cavalier surrender hasn't exacted a serious price.

Eventually the lapel was established as the battlefield, and the degree of one's patriotic fervor is now presumed based on whether or not said lapel sports a flag pin. The flag pin wearer clearly loves his country -- for Christ's sake, he's wearing its flag! -- and as for the flagless, well, one can only wonder why they hate America so much that they won't allow its proudest symbol on their persons.

Republicans love to demagogue the flag, and this year that and fear-mongering are all they have. The presence or absence of the mini-Stars 'N' Stripes has the potential to erupt into a weeks-long October distraction, with the contemptible castrata of the media not just providing the stage but also trilling in the chorus. But we can prevent it, and so easily that there's really no excuse not to.

All of the conventional political wisdom of decades is mere rubble in the wake of the Bush-Cheney catastrophes. Whether or not they have health insurance or can afford the gas to drive to their jobs is more important to many past "values" voters than whether or not homosexual couples can call their unions "marriage." Significant numbers of previously intolerant evangelicals are now focusing on saving the earth instead of merely hating hordes of its occupants. Formerly dark red states are purple and may well turn blue. The right is reeling, they can't find a single thing to point to that's better than it was before Bush, so while they're busy dealing with issues of basic survival, let's just slip in there and take back the damn flag. Take it back from the war criminals and their apologists and enablers that have wrapped themselves in it even as they've been methodically destroying the republic for which it stands.

Barack Obama, who earlier took some flack for his empty lapel, is on the cover of the latest Rolling Stone with flag pin gleaming. We should follow his lead. Everyone who's voting for Obama -- and especially those who are public figures (i.e. Keith Olbermann, Jack Cafferty, Rachel Maddow) must immediately procure a flag pin and not be seen without it before November 5th. If you can't do it with pride, do it as an act of subversion.

When everyone's wearing the flag it will be neutralized. It will cease to provide cover, and then all those with a need to display their moral superiority will have to find a new symbol to set them apart. A new image to mount on a pin and attach to fabric that says, "I am, in my essence, better than you."

I suggest the Star-Belly Sneetch.

Comments

[TimeJumper]

As we celebrate Independence Day, I am reminded of what true patriotism signifies; it is certainly not exclusive to physical displays of flags and pins or adding to the chorus of “God Bless America”. No, genuine patriotism; the kind that our forefathers fought and died over involved personal sacrifice in exchange for the preservation of democratic ideals and principles. Consequently, if we allowed those symbols of our democracy to be elevated to a level greater than what they embodied, then we would have diminished the very spirit of what they represented. That spirit is the embodiment of the citizenry’s resolve to assume personal responsibility for their government and for that government to be accountable to its citizenry.
At times we have lost sight of that premise and easily forget that our liberties emanate from us and not from a single individual, not from an object or a piece cloth. We, the people are the inheritors and caretakers of our own country, of our own government and of our own destiny. Freedom, once obtained, needs a citizenry that is both vigilant and ready to defend and retain those liberties; when a society chooses to be uninformed and unengaged, it is an invitation for government to redefine those liberties and insert nationalism in the guise of patriotism. We should not allow our patriotism to ever be replaced with ideological nationalism which is inconsistent with the very ideals and principles that we espouse as nation.

[TimeJumper]

It is a paradox indeed that a few amongst us have chosen to physically measure patriotism; rather than defend those principles that beckoned their ancestors to this country in order to partake in the rights of individuals to live life without insecurity and without trepidation for themselves and their posterity. Therefore, we need to defend the substantive and not the physical displays of patriotism.

[researcher]

you wear it

bet the germans wore flag pins also to show their patroitism

we are an imperialist country with our noses stuck into everyone business around the world

plus we do illegal wars for profits

plus we now torture

until we ask for forgiveness for our invading other countries we will continue to decline

we are toast

self righteous americans are about to feel the effects of what we sow we reap

or the chickens have come home to roost.

or simply karma

[nclibertarian]

Yeah you are right. You should find a better country to live in. Need help packing?

[Idiocracy]

No, YOU should be the one leaving...

Get out!

[mergina]

Here is a modest proposal for the 4th of july. Start fining and arresting the legions of fireworks idiots blatantly breaking the law year, after year, after year. Here in Chicago, the entire city becomes a War Zone. You could not get a cop to respond to a call on the 4th if someone was tossing dynamite into their neighbours yards. In this city especially, where the s.o.p. for generating revenue is to tax, ticket, tow, and fine those who live here to death, one would think that the 4th of July could become the most profitable day of the year, since they are BREAKING THE LAW, messing up the city with tons of post firework garbage, not to mention the stress it causes to those of us who hate the holiday, and pets as well.

[Kassandra]

No kidding! Last night my new neighbor was setting off BOMBS! Not a great introduction to the neighborhood. And we have a ban (of sorts...wo­uldn't want to deprive manufacturers of their profits, would we?)

I swear, It sounded like he was setting them off in my driveway! My cats freaked and I jumped about a foot everytime one went off.

I never have liked the 4th. It seesm to me a celebration of war, plain and simple.

[Bloggerrogr]

Nobody does War like the U.S.A. When you consider all of the ancillary activities (think United Technologies, Blackwater, KBR,) War is BIG and PROFITABLE, just right for the making of capitalist fortunes..­.

[ICantBeBothered]

Not only do I wear a flag pin, the flag pin I wear was made in China.

So, you see, I'm a real patriot. I wear a flag pin and I support free trade at the same time.

God bless America!

[Wilburrr]

I like the idea that someone else posted here about a week ago. Wear TWO lapel flag pins. Let them come to their own conclusions.

On the 4th of July I fly one of the many flags in my collection. A few years ago I flew my "Continental Colors," ( http://www.united-states-flag.com/continental-colors.html ), the same flag that George Washington ordered raised on Prospect Hill on New Year's Day, 1776. It is considered the first, although unofficial, American flag. Complaints appeared in the local paper that some people were flying "British flags." I never found out if they were referring to me....

[STORMATSEA]

Thanks Wilburr,
You taught me some history today.

[jeanrenoir]

Right on, Slansky. The ancient Sixties madnesses that patriotism is evil and fascist, since America is essentially evil and fascist has become a tad anachronistic this year, given the fact that Americans have displayed such enthusiasm for a woman candidate and a black man, and the electorate has also revolted against Bush and the Republicans just the way any right-thinking, Thoreau-wielding Sixties "idealist" would have wanted. The silent majority is now "demonstrating" where it counts, at the ballot box, and against the far right. So let's hear it for the survival through very dark times of American ideals. America is still, as always, only a terrible country until you ask, compared to what other complex, huge, multiethnic democracy on earth? If we actually elect Obama, flag pin and all, we will have pulled off the most progressive electoral choice of any majority white national electorate in human history. Not bad for hopeless "fascists.­" So why not have a tiny bit of patriotic pride?

[rabrophy]

I was part of that "ancient Sixties madness", that protested the war in Vietnam. I never hated my country. I hated the self-serving Pols who then, like now , equate a stupid war policy with love of country and "Supporting our troops"

Oh, by the way I also fought in Vietnam with the Marines, and I'm sure you and red blooded American Slansky also served in the military.

I'm sure real American patriots like you wouldn't stand on the sidelines cheering patriotically while others fought and died.

[protagonia]

I fly the flag for you!

Well said.

Thank you.

[provgrays]

Flag pins are nothing but props for brainless right wing fanaticsm. It means "My country right or wrong" and "If you don't like it here, you're free to go live somewhere else."

Remember that Seinfeld episode where Kramer is taking part in an AIDS walk and he chooses not to wear an AIDS ribbbon? He is eventually beaten up for simply exercising his personal choice. That's just about what those damned flag pins are and they are largely what the flag has become.

Before he buckled to the loud and brainless, Obama said that patriotism is something you carry in your heart. He was right. Keep your lapel unadorned and prove your higher intelligence.

[Chuckwheat]

Wear it upside-down, sign of distress.

[rabrophy]

If memory serves, the first Prez to wear a flag pin was NIXON, and we all know what a great American he was.

[velkyrie]

I say we go for it. Sen. Obama wears a flag so we should take his lead. After the way Nut-less McBush has handed out fishfulls our money as corporate welfare to Country Club Flyboys and squeezed the Middle Class into near non-existence while trashing this beautiful country from one end to the other with wildcat oil rigs and strip mines, I think the vast majority of the rest of us would be glad to hand over "safekeeping" of the Stars and Stripes to someone who knows a thing or two about actually *winning* wars instead of *starting* them with a wink and a nod to their Saudi buddies as a way to extort the American people and profiteer off the death of our best and brightest.

HELL, yeah! We love this country, and come November we'll show them exactly how much by kicking their snooty Grey Poupon a*ses so f**king hard they'll have to take their little cowgirl boots off by pulling them over their heads. And the next time one of them reaches their grabby little hands for Old Glory we'll slap them and say "No! Don't touch until you've proven to the rest of us that you can show some respect."

[protagonia]

Doing so pisses the neos off. Need any better reasons? There are a great many, but that one is certainly a good start.

[lainey]

I completely agree. Flag pin is on...

[ToeJamSam]

It's all so silly. The Left has been saddled with being unpatriotic because their boy didn't espouse his patriotism with a flag pin. There is no going back, no "rewind" function.

You progressive libs are branded as unpatriotic. You had your chance. Now live with it, or change your party affiliation.

[BlueOnBlue]

What do you mean we had our chance? I guess I missed my chance to xhow my flag pin patriotism when my uncles went off to World War II and Korea, right? I guess I missed it again when I served in Vietnam with the 1st Air Cav, right?

And I guess I entirely missed my chance to be patriotic by not supporting this stupid immoral war war of choice we have been fighting for five years.

But, hey, I've got my flag pin!

[3dtrix]

Seldom have I seen a post as illogical or obtuse.

Were lefties deemed unpatriotic (by fascists) only since the advent of Obama? As opposed to, say, since FDR?

So - assuming we (and I proudly count myself among the "progressive libs") must eternally wear the Scarlet U - for unpatriotic - we must register as Repukelicans to be redeemed? Redeemed in whose eyes? Repukelicans? The eyes who still glisten for Cheney and Rove?

I would rather be admired by a gutter wino for flipping him a quarter, than by a flag-pin-wearing fascist, for I am a true patriot, not a worshipper of fetishes and false prophets.

A true patriot does not stand idly by while his country is dismantled by traitors and cowards, or shrink from calling them what they are.

[CornellRedneck]

You're right, Toe Jam! It's set in the mindset of America-- The left seeks only American humiliation and defeat.

Tragic..

[phobophobe]

Your characterization of "the left" is incorrect, and shows your ignorance.

[evekendall]

No, thank you.

[TaosJohn]

This is an interesting idea, for everyone to wear the flag pins and all. Kind of like using "Hussein" for a middle name.

[vonny]

Since Obama only started wearing a flag pin after he was blasted for saying he didn't like to wear flag pins because they were inflamator­y....... he started wearing one.
He is such a fraud.

Obama's friend William Ayers would rather stomp on the American flag.

[lthuedk 1]

http://www.light-to-dark.com/neo_con_trifecta.html

[FredrickBernanke]

Slansky,

Ever hear the expression "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?"

I am quite dismayed that a post such as Slansky's ranks top billing on HP.

It--the post--is something one would expect from a 6th-grader.

No offense, Mr. S.