Replies

Wormwood,

I'll try to answer your question about how flags may stifle critical thinking (although I have already addresses this topic above -- did you read it?)

Let's assume that the teacher (oh, me for instance) wants to have a dialogue in class about the definition of the word "patriotism," a word that means many things to many people, but one that you seem to understand in some absolute, certain way.

Let's assume also that several people have been arrested and/or punished on campus for defacing or removing the flags.

Will the context of permanent, officially-sanctioned flags in the classroom, combined with punishment for anyone caught messing with the flags, affect what people say and think in the classroom on the question of patriotism?

Compare this situation to McCarthyism and the Red Scares in the U.S. when it was virtually impossible to bring up a Marxist viewpoint, even for the purpose of discussion. Marxist views must be permitted in the classroom in order to have critical discussions. So must many other unpopular views. That's the way universities work.

The situation was similar in Nazi Germany when patriotism was taken to such extremes that anyone not saluting the flag strongly enough (maybe a person had arthritis) was immediately suspected of treason.

Your attacks on liberalism are disgusting. I am a liberal on some issues, not on others, but to equate liberalism with "hate of patriotism" is exactly the problem I am talking about. You are poisoning the waters with that kind of talk, making it impossible for people (other than a few like me) to even try to have a dialogue with you. You are perpetrating an ideological witch hunt againts people who have done nothing to hurt you.

I would never say the things about conservatism that you say about liberals. I listen carefully to thoughtful conservative commentators such as Pat Buchanon or William Safire. I have little time for bullying thugs like Michael Savage or Ann Coulter; for them, dialogue is not an option.

Barry

Will the context of permanent, officially-sanctioned flags in the classroom, combined with punishment for anyone caught messing with the flags, affect what people say and think in the classroom on the question of patriotism?

Well, if they *defaced* the flags, you should probably want to mention something about the word, 'vandalism' in you classroom discussion.

You could lead with, "Vandalism is both against the law and not protected speech".

Your attacks on liberalism are disgusting. I am a liberal on some issues, not on others, but to equate liberalism with "hate of patriotism" is exactly the problem I am talking about.

The fact that leftists have a well-documented antipathy toward displayes of patriotism is 'exactly the problem I'm talking about'.

ps. You keep on using the HUAC and Nazi Germany as your straw men. How about some examples of totalitarian statist terror from the friendlier sides of the political spectrum (Pol Pot, Stalin, Castro and Mao spring to mind)? Just trying to inject some balance into the 'discussion'. I

Barry, have you read Ann Coulter's book 'Treason'?

If you have, and you actualy traced the references you don't agree with, I think your view of 'macarthyism' will be altered forever. I recomend you do. As a student you should know that disagreeing with a person's point of view is fine, but when it is backed by fact you might need to reconsider your own viewpoint.

"Compare this situation to McCarthyism and the Red Scares in the U.S. when it was virtually impossible to bring up a Marxist viewpoint, even for the purpose of discussion. Marxist views must be permitted in the classroom in order to have critical discussions. So must many other unpopular views. That's the way universities work.

Whatever, keep changing history and eventualy it might return somewhere near the truth.