posted
I attended a Veterans Day Parade last Saturday in Auburn, Washington and was disturbed at what I saw. Families passing out flags to their children to wave as the parade passed by...patriotic right?
While watching the families, I noticed that the flags, in the hands of the children 2 to 14 years of age, became quite the play thing after the first 2 to 5 minutes. They were used as swords, tossed like spears, used to poke at litter along the street, used as a brooms, thrust about so they poked the individuals, who were walking on the sidewalk, in the shins, backs, and faces.
Not once did I see or hear a parent correct their child(ren)'s behavior--teaching of flag ettiquette, respect for flag or for the people around them who were being poked or having flags flung in their faces or camera lenses.
Long gone are the days of strangers being able to say something without getting a "how dare you correct my child or tell me how to be a parent"
Has the flag been reduced to a superficial symbol of patriotism without any meaning, thought, caring, or respect behind it? Or even worse, is it just a toy to the general population?
Registered: Sep 1999
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posted
Well, one might point to the proliferation of suction-cup plastic flags attached to rusted out, hillbilly driven pickup trucks ever since the September 11 attacks as an answer to your question.
Keep in mind, too... you're talking about 5 year olds.
posted
Foreigners burnt the Stars & Stripes because they don't like Americans. This salient fact seemed to escape most people, so they tried crashing into you with planes instead. What I want to know is, where does your average Iraqi mob GET an American flag to burn? Is there a thriving cottage industry in knockoff flags for burning at rallies and riots? Or are they buying them online from burnourflag.com?
The big problem with that hoo-hah ten years back about burning the flag, freedom of expression etc. was that the people indicted for flag-burning were morons. I mean, presumably they did really love their country but felt the need to express their distate with its policies. Unfortunately they chose a really stupid way to do it, which probably more than anything firmed up conservatives' minds that people who didn't agree with them were unAmerican traitors.
I'm pissed off with what Blair has done to Britain, he's gotten us involved in an illegal war that shows no sign of ending, and the only thing that seems to be saving us from being the next big Al-Qaeda target is the fact that we've always had a nice big secret police organisation, operating without any form of constitutional oversight, to protect us. The fucker's almost made the Conservative Party electable again for Christ's sake. Yet I don't feel any need to go torch a Union Jack. What good would it do?
A flag is just a symbol. It means to you whatever you want it to mean. Just don't get upset if others see it differently. Especially bloody children, how are they supposed to know what a flag represents to you, and why should they care? I wouldn't worry, the way things are going they'll soon be getting fully indoctrinated in the correct behaviour, joining the Cheney Youth, pledging allegiance to God, President Bush and the DisneyCoke corporation.
So, treat the flag however you like, wrap yourself in it naked and lie there quivering in barely-suppressed ecstasy if you wish. Don't expect everyone else to do the same.
A flag represents a country - but it isn't the country.
quote:Originally posted by an'on: Families passing out flags to their children to wave as the parade passed by...patriotic right? ... Has the flag been reduced to a superficial symbol of patriotism without any meaning, thought, caring, or respect behind it? Or even worse, is it just a toy to the general population?
Well, from a foreign perspective, where we aren't nearly as keen with the flag waving, it sounds like you've just got into a cycle.
Only so many people are genuinely patriotic, past a certain point people must be waving the flag just out of peer pressure or tradition. On a trip into New York state, I noticed that there were literally streets where every house had a flag posted. I was previously under the impression that this kind of thing only happened in movies.
Thus, you have people who get into waving the flag for whatever non-patriotic reason, then get their kids to do it for the same reason, that passes to their children, and etc.
Or perhaps there's a simpler definition. Rare things tend to be valuable, things that are common tend not to be.
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
In response to "An'on: You can't be serious."
Not aware that they've even talked about a constitutional amendment against being serious....yet. ;-)
Understand that children are lacking in education and awareness, but their parents should have some responsibility to remedy that. What a great teaching opportunity...Family together without tv interuption, parade to honor Vetrans that they've chosen to attend, flags that are symbols...
The most disturbing was the parents were not teaching their children to be respectful of others around them while providing them with means to do damage. They seemed quite oblivious that the flags in the hands of their children had become weapons.
Registered: Sep 1999
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posted
I've never understood the American obsession with their flag. Its just a flag! And an ugly one at that.
-------------------- I haul cardboard and cardboard accessories
Registered: Mar 1999
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Saltah'na
Chinese Canadian, or 75% Commie Bastard.
Member # 33
posted
Ya know, I thought this was going to be another one of those "You're With Us Or Against Us" arguments.
-------------------- "And slowly, you come to realize, it's all as it should be, you can only do so much. If you're game enough, you could place your trust in me. For the love of life, there's a tradeoff, we could lose it all but we'll go down fighting...." - David Sylvian FreeSpace 2, the greatest space sim of all time, now remastered!
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Yes, well. There's only one place for paitriotism - international sporting events. Everywhere else it tends to be a blinding, dividing perspective on 'the truth'.
Observation: I just love the way that some people quote their 'rights' as per the US constitution, in a forum of international discussion. Yes you have the right to speak freely, so do I, so does Lee, or anyone else from the 'free world' (or whatever you want to call it). Just try and remember that the USA's constitution, whislt a positive influence, is totally irrelevant to non Americans.
Have a nice flag
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Actually, I've been told by those who Love Freedom on other Forums that only people in the Land Of Liberty have the right of free expression, and to do that we have to go and live in the Land Of The Free. Better all go get our Green Cards then. 8)
Teh PW
Self Impossed Exile (This Space for rent)
Member # 1203
posted
quote: The most disturbing was the parents were not teaching their children to be respectful of others around them while providing them with means to do damage. They seemed quite oblivious that the flags in the hands of their children had become weapons.
They will when one of the childre pokes a eye out and the family sues the flag company (The great American Way, Lawsuits.)
Now here is something we always read when we retire someone ...
Cheeze website IMO but isn't everything online over rated in some fashion or degree?
posted
I am a veteran. For me and other military people the US flag holds a great deal of honor, pride, respect and tradition. That's why even if you're doing morning and evening colors (raising and lowering the flag at 8am and sunset) you wear your best dress uniform.
As for which country has the best looking flag, it's all a matter of opinion. I don't know how you could think it's ugly Topher. One of the things that make it stand out is it's easily recognizable by almost everyone. The only other flags that I can think of off the top of my head that are just as recognizable are the UK's, Canada, Austraila, Japan. So many other countries have flags that are mostly the same colors just organized in a different pattern.
-------------------- I'm slightly annoyed at Hobbes' rather rude decision to be much more attractive than me though. That's just rude. - PsyLiam, Oct 27, 2005.
Registered: May 1999
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