From wring’s cite:
Does Bush mean we should only honor NFL officials and prisoners? 
I’ll try to keep this brief, but its bugging me, and I have often found insight, as well as catharsis, by laying this shit out before intelligences worthy of respect.
When I was somewhat younger, in the ugly days of VN, a polarity existed that, thankfully, has passed. People like myself wore our positions with our identity, long hair, etc. The polarity was so awful, so pervasive, that you did not meet anyone without gauging thier attitudes as to The War. From historical reading, I gather much the same sort of thing happened in France, as regards the Dreyfus Affair. Or perhaps, the gostak distims the doshes. (Ancient SF reference, Dopers <30 may safely ignore)
It was awful to love ones country and see it do such terrible wrong. And the terrible wrong was wrapped in bunting and flags. Good men, older men than I, broke thier hearts trying to cling to that bunting, as the relentless truth bore down: we were wrong.
A hippy was well advised to stay indoors on Memorial Day.
I distrust patriotism. Most especially, I abhor militarism as its ugly, poxed sister. I deplore flags, I despise anthems. What in the world could be as silly and flaccid as a man willing to die and kill for Greater Serbia?
People on this thread give me reason to believe that they cannot be sucker-punched with glurge.
Praise be to Allah, Who is the Compassionate…
My Pepsi shirt is red, white, and blue. I can show my love for America and monolithic corporations at the same time!
But seriously, the memo in the OP reminds me all too much of Joanna’s boss from Office Space: “You’re only wearing ten pieces of flair.” “Ten is the minimum. You want me to wear more?” “Well, what would you think of someone who only does the bare minimum?”
I wonder how optional it really is.
Seeing a 1000 % increase in flag displays makes no difference to my husband, or any of the other members of the Navy and Coast Guard I know. People who join the military don’t automatically become rabid flag wavers and glurge fiends.
Well said, LunaSea.
I would only add that supporting the military is not the only way to show patriotism. december’s suggestions are not necessarily bad ones, but they seem awfully… single-minded. Just as there are more ways to celebrate freedom than wearing red-white-and-blue, there are more people who deserve our support and honor than just those in the military.
Giving blood is one way to do it… there are many others.
Personally, I’m in the other boat.
I don’t mind the flags. Although it would be nice if folks would keep their flags clean and neat, and replace as necessary.
Deciding to put a flag in ones window after 9-11 does not make one a glurge factory. I could care less if you never did it before. I ALWAYS appreciate something that is designed to bring a sense of unity to a nation/neighborhood/whatever.
I think that the knee-jerk reaction of “Oh, look at that psuedo-patriot, you lame” is just the pendulum swinging backwards.
On 9-11, I plan on spending a little extra time with my kids, to explain any questions they may have. And I’ll probably go out and bring the guys at the gate some soda’s or something.
I’m proud of the USA, and our flag.
Regardless of why it’s there.
I’m going to be out there showing the flag on September 11.
Couple of flags, actually - the maple leaf, the fleurdelysé, the rainbow flag…
Then again, I show them most days, so it’s all good.
I put up a flag in my window, and I have a small one in the window of my car. What bothers me are the people who have them all over the place - in every area of their lives - who seem to feel that you’re a lesser person if you’re not personally awash in flags.
And that’s what it says in the United States Code, Title 36, Section 144:
I’ll remember the day, but I’ll be dammned if I’m forced to worship it.
I’ve got a Green T Shirt, I could dig that out…
To the person with the cubicle competition- how about hanging a model airplane over your desk and putting papier-mache flames on your walls. If someone says its tasteless tell if they banned tasteless then most of the celebrations/memorials would be illegal.
Or you you could bring 3000 flags to work and tell everyone that you are going to burn the flags to remember(has anyone forgotten?) those that died. If anyone says anything about burning flags just call them cynical and unpatrotic.
Or you could dress like a native american. When people ask you why you are dressed as such tell them that you were confused and thought it was Trail of Tears memorial day.
Or you can do my approach. When someone says something about 9/11 on 9/11 just look at them and say “Was that today, why didn’t anyone tell me? At least they could have mentioned it on the news.”
I understand the concern that people have over the coverage the 9-11-01 has continued to permeate our lives. I understand that many of you are sick of the psuedo-patriotism. But I honestly think there’s more to it than than jumping onto some patriotic bandwagon.
9-11-01 sent a nation reeling, rethinking, and pondering what the hell we have been doing with our selfish daily lives. On one side of the coin it was the most horrific day known to Americans in the lower 48 states. On the other side, it did bring a nation together. It’s a mixed bag as to the outcome, IMHO.
If, on 9-11-02 the day is filled with television programs about the events, the outcome and what led up to it, I am all for it. If this day brings people to a level to remember those that died and to hold your loved ones closer, I am all for it. It doesn’t harm me nor anyone else. It also helps with the mourning process. Heck in some religions the anniversary of death is to end the mourning and get on with life.
While those who had loved ones killed deserve respect for their dead, I do believe this hit the nation at the core so it involves more than just those who were directly affected. We had a false sense of security before this even with Oklahoma City as a relatively recent event.
I appreciate everyone that has an opinion one way or the other. But when I see others that are against the coverage I often wonder if there’s something deeper than the outward “sick of all this pseudo-patriotism.” We all deal with tragedy, be that personal or communal in different ways so maybe that’s the issue.
You can count me in as one that will fly my flag on 9-11-02, I will wear my “United We Stand” tshirt and I will watch the coverage to see if I can make any further sense of all this; because for me I still haven’t healed from it, if you will. Granted I didn’t know anyone that died on that day but compassion is a part of who I am and I am proud to say that if you or anyone you love were hurt or killed in any way, I would be there saying a non-religious prayer for you and your loved ones. This goes to those I don’t know as well because pain, of the emotional kind, can be difficult to work through and any kind word or prayer goes a long way even if unheard or directly felt.
Now, if people are “patriotic” simply because of these events and don’t carry through, then that is sad. (Bad analogy but it’s all I can come up with:) It reminds me of those who go buy up sports memorabilia after their local/state team wins the title and then when the team doesn’t make it to the title the following year, they no longer support the team…not that they did before.
Please don’t disparage those that do fly flags, wear red, white and blue and such on 9-11-02, unless you know them personally you don’t know what is going on in their hearts and their minds. Oh and those that want to just remain out of the whole idea of what this Wednesday will be for a lot of people, great, don’t participate but please leave those alone who need to understand, heal and pray for some kind of peace.
Sorry so long but I have seen a few threads about this and this was the best place I felt to give you my two cents.
May peace find you and your heart.
Damn emoticon, shit.
< no smilies were meant to be a part of that post, damnit >
fine tc, but in the meantime, if I’m wearing purple, and don’t watch any of the stirring tributes, please don’t question my patroitism or suggest that since I’m not partaking in all of the public displays that somehow it affected me less.
(yes, I know you didn’t suggest this, however, the underlying assumption in many of these 'pass this on, everyone wear pink to symbolize the planes, and red to symbolize the fire department etc., there’s the presumption that if you fail to display the same outward effects, that somehow, you weren’t affected.)
Remember there are plenty of people who are buying all that patriotic paraphernalia simply because it’s the hot thing to do, not because they feel any overwhelming sense of pride and patriotism. And also remember there’s a fine line between patriotism and jingoism.
I wanted to snip but since your post isn’t a huge one:
wring I never said anyone should have to wear specific colors or anything like that. In fact, I think it’s great that people don’t want to. See that’s they beauty of this nation we can do as we please within the law. Now don’t get me started on me being a Libertarian because that’s not what this is about.
For all I care, get out a tuxedo and wear that all day. Shoot, go naked if you want. I can honestly say what I will be doing on Wednesday is not because of the emails I get or anything else. Hell, I will probably stay home all day and play on the internet so no one will see my patriotic tshirt. I will be doing it because in my heart that is what I choose to do as do I ask of everyone else; do as you want.
BTW, this is a really stupid comparison but I don’t jump on bandwagons when it comes to other things in our lives like reality TV shows that people have latched on to and discuss ad nausem. In fact most of main stream society makes me ill. But when it comes to my country and what it stands for I look like another sheep in the current flock but I will be there long after the emotions have died. I will continue to fly my flag (heck I even have a little one on my monitor that no one else has ever seen) and be supportive of what my country stands for.
Hope that made sense, I am in house cleaning avoidance mode.
BTW, to clarify that Libertarian comment it’s just that I would have started in on my Libertarian beliefs and how they fit into this discussion…but I decided not to.
< man my thoughts are kinda funky today >
Patriot Day vs. Patriot’s Day:
From holidayfestival.com,
Gays and Blood Donations:
I know that CrazyCatLady has already provided the clarification, but I’d just like to point out the official cite from the American Red Cross:
[quote]
Those who are at increased risk for becoming infected with HIV are not eligible to donate blood. According to the Food and Drug Administration, you are at increased risk if:[ul][li]you are a male who has had sex with another male since 1977, even once;[/li][li]etc.[/li][li]etc.[/ul][/li][/quote]
Now, back to your rants, already in progress.
Side Note:
I’ve been flying the flag for over ten years. I always keep it clean and replace it as necessary. I also have a small flag in the rear window of my van. Am I any more patriotic since the attaacks? Nope. I don’t think that it would be possible for me to be any more patriotic than I’ve always been.
Just the way I was raised I guess…
Haven’t read the entire thread, so forgive me if this is redundant.
What grinds my gears is seeing tattered flags, or flags displayed at night without illumination, or the flag that I saw abandoned in the middle of Cahuenga Avenue, apparently having outlived its usefulness as a car ornament. People buy flags, but actually learning, and carrying out, the proper display of the flag, doesn’t get them all pumped up.
Now, I have no quarrel with the stores that are stocking red-white-and-blue everything. Anything that keeps the economy rolling is good. The people I’m irritated with are the ones EchoKitty and others are describing: the ones who think that that’s all it takes to be a patriot. And furthermore, I dread the possibility that after all this dies down, stores will be stuck with stars and stripes and Uncle Sams that they can’t unload because consumers have moved on to some other fad. Not good for the economy.