tp17.xml
Title
tp17.xml
Source
born-digital
Media Type
story
Date Entered
2003-02-24
TomPaine Story: Story
What So Proudly We Hailed
American Consumerism Sullies the Flag
It seems Americans have always been prone to passionate buying stampedes. Remember the infamous Tickle-Me-Elmo, and in more recent consciousness, the Furby? Now, as forgotten Elmos and Furbies litter basements, garages, and give-away piles across America, the country has moved onto a more ëpatriotic frenzy of consumerism. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = ""urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"" />
Yup, the good old Stars and Stripes has been enjoying its precious moments as the new most wanted item. Americans are buying as much as ever, just for a different reason. Christmas inspired the Furbies, and September 11 inspired the flags. But the big difference is that sticking the flag on everything causes much greater damage than a few Furbies.
I know what Im expected to say: the flag frenzy is good, its patriotic, it stems from innocent love of country, unlike those selfish past shopping sprees. Sadly, that couldnt be further from the truth.
By commercializing the American flagóusing it for advertising purposes, wearing it, sticking it on carsóthe flag is trivialized. Americans are quickly losing their reverence for what used to be the sacred symbol of our freedom and ideals.
Dont get me wrong. I wouldnt mind if every house in the country had a flag flying proudly from its flag staff. But flying flags on cars is a completely different story. Much too quickly, car flags become a tattered, barely recognizable red white and blue piece of cloth. The simple fact is that hardly any fabric can endure 70 mph speeds.
If I remember correctly, people once had to be careful to not let the flag touch the ground. So how did we get to this point, where it is perfectly okay to transform Old Glory into a shredded rag and drive it through mud puddles?
Immediately following 9/11, car flags were everywhere. Now their presence has waned. There have been many reports of flags soaring off of cars on highways. It certainly seems likely that many of these missing flags are littering the sides of interstates across America. We call it patriotism to let the symbol of our country rot next to cast-off apple cores?
According to the United States Flag Code, "the flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever." However, companies of all sizes are flapping Old Glory on billboards and storefronts, confusing the message of consumerism with the message of patriotism. This breach of the Flag Code just further blurs the line of what are acceptable uses of the flag.
More upsetting still is the fashion trend that has sprung from 9/11. Wearing the Stars and Stripes used to be considered desecrating the flag, and warranted arrest! Hard to believe in these times when the flag is slapped on everything under the sun.
Among the most upsetting clothing items are flag handkerchiefsówhat person with a healthy respect for their country would consider blowing their nose on its symbol? The list goes on and on. There are shirts made from real flags (ready to have Coke spilled down the front by the patriotic wearer) and flag thongs (I wont even go there).
Trivializing a symbol does not show respect for it. Religious groups wisely keep their symbols sacred. Christians do not use the cross as, for lack of a better example, a toothpick. What makes Americans think that blowing their nose in the flag shows love for country?
Im sad to say that the flag wavers do not even seem to have good intentions. In the days following 9/11, people were flag-crazy and the stores were not stocked up yetóa lethal combination. Many people were stealing flags off other peoples cars, showing a more selfish side to the "innocent" display of love for America.
The flag trend is just that: a trend. The vast majority of people with their flag accessories are just following whats fashionable, pushing and stealing if necessary to keep up with the Joneses. The herd mentality seems especially dominant in American culture.
This new ëpatriotic trend is a prime example of too much of a good thing. The American flag is being trivialized right and left; the Stars and Stripes have become commonplace.
Once not too long ago, people felt a tremor of pride whenever they saw the noble American flag rippling in the wind. Now with the flag on everything from Chinese take-out containers to flower pots, it is impossible to still feel that same surge of respect a thousand times a day. In these post-9/11 days, Americans have lost much more than they realizeóthat intangible but essential thing called reverence. Without it, the glorious American flag is just a piece of red white and blue cloth.
American Consumerism Sullies the Flag
It seems Americans have always been prone to passionate buying stampedes. Remember the infamous Tickle-Me-Elmo, and in more recent consciousness, the Furby? Now, as forgotten Elmos and Furbies litter basements, garages, and give-away piles across America, the country has moved onto a more ëpatriotic frenzy of consumerism. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = ""urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"" />
Yup, the good old Stars and Stripes has been enjoying its precious moments as the new most wanted item. Americans are buying as much as ever, just for a different reason. Christmas inspired the Furbies, and September 11 inspired the flags. But the big difference is that sticking the flag on everything causes much greater damage than a few Furbies.
I know what Im expected to say: the flag frenzy is good, its patriotic, it stems from innocent love of country, unlike those selfish past shopping sprees. Sadly, that couldnt be further from the truth.
By commercializing the American flagóusing it for advertising purposes, wearing it, sticking it on carsóthe flag is trivialized. Americans are quickly losing their reverence for what used to be the sacred symbol of our freedom and ideals.
Dont get me wrong. I wouldnt mind if every house in the country had a flag flying proudly from its flag staff. But flying flags on cars is a completely different story. Much too quickly, car flags become a tattered, barely recognizable red white and blue piece of cloth. The simple fact is that hardly any fabric can endure 70 mph speeds.
If I remember correctly, people once had to be careful to not let the flag touch the ground. So how did we get to this point, where it is perfectly okay to transform Old Glory into a shredded rag and drive it through mud puddles?
Immediately following 9/11, car flags were everywhere. Now their presence has waned. There have been many reports of flags soaring off of cars on highways. It certainly seems likely that many of these missing flags are littering the sides of interstates across America. We call it patriotism to let the symbol of our country rot next to cast-off apple cores?
According to the United States Flag Code, "the flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever." However, companies of all sizes are flapping Old Glory on billboards and storefronts, confusing the message of consumerism with the message of patriotism. This breach of the Flag Code just further blurs the line of what are acceptable uses of the flag.
More upsetting still is the fashion trend that has sprung from 9/11. Wearing the Stars and Stripes used to be considered desecrating the flag, and warranted arrest! Hard to believe in these times when the flag is slapped on everything under the sun.
Among the most upsetting clothing items are flag handkerchiefsówhat person with a healthy respect for their country would consider blowing their nose on its symbol? The list goes on and on. There are shirts made from real flags (ready to have Coke spilled down the front by the patriotic wearer) and flag thongs (I wont even go there).
Trivializing a symbol does not show respect for it. Religious groups wisely keep their symbols sacred. Christians do not use the cross as, for lack of a better example, a toothpick. What makes Americans think that blowing their nose in the flag shows love for country?
Im sad to say that the flag wavers do not even seem to have good intentions. In the days following 9/11, people were flag-crazy and the stores were not stocked up yetóa lethal combination. Many people were stealing flags off other peoples cars, showing a more selfish side to the "innocent" display of love for America.
The flag trend is just that: a trend. The vast majority of people with their flag accessories are just following whats fashionable, pushing and stealing if necessary to keep up with the Joneses. The herd mentality seems especially dominant in American culture.
This new ëpatriotic trend is a prime example of too much of a good thing. The American flag is being trivialized right and left; the Stars and Stripes have become commonplace.
Once not too long ago, people felt a tremor of pride whenever they saw the noble American flag rippling in the wind. Now with the flag on everything from Chinese take-out containers to flower pots, it is impossible to still feel that same surge of respect a thousand times a day. In these post-9/11 days, Americans have lost much more than they realizeóthat intangible but essential thing called reverence. Without it, the glorious American flag is just a piece of red white and blue cloth.
Collection
Citation
“tp17.xml,” September 11 Digital Archive, accessed October 7, 2024, https://911digitalarchive.org/items/show/648.