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Old 07-28-2003, 10:38 AM   #92 (permalink)
smooth
Junkie
 
Location: Right here
Quote:
Originally posted by debaser
Flying the American flag is jingoism now?!?
Look, I already explained that I had been living in that region for the past five years.

Flying the flag is not jingoism--and that's not what I said.

Placing the flag in every conceivable public location despite popular opinion and then telling people to get the fuck out of the country if they don't like it is jingoism.

Printing a flag that takes up both sides of the local paper so people can hang it in their storefront isn't jingoism and, although one might argue whether it's tacky, neither is placing wierd "patriotic" slogans on the other side along with your advertisement as an endorsement of the large flag on the front cover. However, if someone comes in to your store with a peace sign on his or her lapel, telling them to get the hell out of the store and maybe even a good dose of get the fuck out of the country does become jingoism.

When people burn flags that is likely to cause disruption and, even I agree, since it is likely just an attempt to anger others, is in bad taste and timing. However, flying banners (not flags, btw, according to the rules of flag flying) on your bumper, throwing things at cars that don't have such banners, and yelling things like where's your flag you fucking commie are all instances of jingoism.

Each of these things has happened and continues to happen in the Rogue Valley. This forms the political context that you are unaware of and, frankly, doesn't involve you. The kid's desire to raise a flag at the facility was an outgrowth of the growing political polarization in that basin. These people don't hate the US nor do they even hate its national standard. Of the ones I have spoken to, they have all stated their deeply held respect for our flag and the values it symbolizes. They abhor, however, the misuse of something so valuable. They feel that it has come to be misused and abused by corporate entities and utilized in such a way as to demonstrate to the world that our society condones their inappropriate behavior--when, in fact, the entire society does not condone such behavior.

Actually, the debate about whether corporate behavior and our administrations' behavior is inappropriate or undesirable for our long-term interests has not fully occurred because of this misuse of our national symbol to choke off public debate and political discourse. I can't imagine how you reconcile such displays of "patriotism" with the fundamental values our country was founded on--the free expression of political opinion.

Chanting obediance and subserviance to a nation's symbol is fine if that's your thing to do. Shouting down opposing opinions and ending profitable discourse on the policies and beliefs of all the citizens in this country is inappropriate jingoism.

Edit: since you asked whether flag waving, in and of itself, is jingoism, I suggest you look up the term because you don't seem to understand it's meaning. If you disagree with my assessment post the definition as you understand it and explain your perspective as to why such activities are not jingoism.

Last edited by smooth; 07-28-2003 at 10:43 AM..
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