Put Away the Flags

The Progressive ^ | 070107 | Howard Zinn

[ColoCdn]

On this July 4, we would do well to renounce nationalism and all its symbols: its flags, its pledges of allegiance, its anthems, its insistence in song that God must single out America to be blessed.

Is not nationalism -- that devotion to a flag, an anthem, a boundary so fierce it engenders mass murder -- one of the great evils of our time, along with racism, along with religious hatred?

These ways of thinking -- cultivated, nurtured, indoctrinated from childhood on -- have been useful to those in power, and deadly for those out of power.

National spirit can be benign in a country that is small and lacking both in military power and a hunger for expansion (Switzerland, Norway, Costa Rica and many more). But in a nation like ours -- huge, possessing thousands of weapons of mass destruction -- what might have been harmless pride becomes an arrogant nationalism dangerous to others and to ourselves.

[Edgerunner]

Are there people stupid enough to fall for his propaganda?

Hook, line, and sinker. This is a sick boy. Must believe Hitler was a liberator...Needs therapy.

[Sunshine Sister]

Well said. I couldn’t be more proud of being an American!

[CaptRon]

I marvel at the liberal self-loathing

I marvel at the use of the word "progressive".

[SERE_DOC]

Since we now (or for a long time) have elected official's that listen to no one (see illegal aliens in this country) I think that a flag flown upside down would be more appropriate

[Eagle Eye]

Next time the country is attacked we should look to Code Pink or such organizations for an appropriate response and course of action.

[Spok]

And as a gesture of brotherhood toward our Islamic friends why don’t we schedule a mass self-decapitation to demonstrate our solidarity? /sarc

[texas_mrs]

[Wonder Warthog]

"We must renounce all allegiances except, of course, to the glorious people’s revolution."

The only problem is that the "root cause" that all "progressives" want (i.e. communism), has caused more deaths in toto than nationalism ever did. See the stats at Rummel's "democide" website for the death tolls of "international socialism" under Lenin, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot and others.

[goldstategop]

Its incredible but true... there are people living in our country born here who hate its very existence. Its more of a commentary on them than it is a reflection on the justice of America.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[itsamelman]

*I marvel at the liberal self-loathing*

I marvel at the use of the word "progressive".

 

We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.
C. S. Lewis

[Victoria_R]

We need to refute the idea that our nation is different from, morally superior to, the other imperial powers of world history.

We need to assert our allegiance to the human race, and not to any one nation.

Our nation is different. We got this Bill of Rights that recognizes the rights of individuals and the founders believed in it enough to include it in the document that the people used to authorize the government.

If the ideals that created this nation are forgotten, the academic liberals aren't going to be in the chosen few. They're going to be serfs just like the rest of us toiling for the dictator.

[taxed2death]

“Welp - if this guy would come to my house and help me take my flag down; I’d be happy to hang him from the empty pole.”

Call me, I’ll take a trip over to your place and drive my large American 4x4 over his head a few zillion times and then I’ll be nice enough to help you sting him up and then hose the mess off of your driveway when I’m done.

This moron needs to be exiled to some turd world hell hole.

[conservativeimage]

“4th of July fireworks displays are an activity of the war monger; a celebration of weapons of mass destruction. All 4th of July fireworks displays should be banned nationwide,” so should say antiwar absolutists. Here is an argument that pacifism is un-American.

[Psycho_Bunny]

How does this guys brain muster the horsepower needed to keep his heart beating?

[PGalt]

College and university students have been indoctrinated by this puke’s writings for some time.

[Old Professer]

[Psycho_Bunny]

Here ya go

[stevie_d_64]

I’m glad you saw the need...

That sure is a “chunky” emoticon!!! I love it!!!

The title really needed a “barf alert” this time...

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

This is more of that crap like Lennon’s song “Imagine.”
Imagine no countries,
Imagine no religion,
Living for today.

[Grunthor]

“On this July 4, we would do well to renounce nationalism and all its symbols: its flags, its pledges of allegiance, its anthems, its insistence in song that God must single out America to be blessed. “

It’s things like this that bring up questions about the author; does his flag have a hammer and sycle on it? To what nation does he owe his allegiance? Which “God” does he worship and where does he believe our rights come from?

And the final and possibly most important question, “Who moved the rock?”