Howard Zinn’s July 4 Wisdom: Put Away Your Flags

[marmar]

from the Progressive:


By Howard Zinn

Editor’s Note: Historian and activist Howard Zinn, a World War II bombardier, was the author of the best-selling "A People's History of the United States.” This piece was distributed by the Progressive Media Project in 2006.

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.

Our citizenry has been brought up to see our nation as different from others, an exception in the world, uniquely moral, expanding into other lands in order to bring civilization, liberty, democracy.

That self-deception started early. ................(more)

The complete piece: http://progressive.org/news/2014/07/187763/howard-zinn%E2%80%99s-july-4-wisdom-put-away-your-flags#sthash.9015rwFk.dpuf

[xchrom]

1. du rec.

[SamKnause]

2. R&K

[marble falls]

3. Flag planting is kneejerk cut-rate mindless "patriotism". Most of these flags are displayed ......

in ways that break the rules for display. What's so wonderful about the huge and usually sad condition of those giant flags waving over car dealerships?

[maddiemom]

8. And kept up overnight and in the pouring rain. I am old enough to remember

going to school when kids were sent out to take down the flag when it rained.

[heaven05]

4. That's what I'm talking about!!!!

One of my continuing, all time heroes.

[RoccoR5955]

5. Zinn deserves more recognition

than he currently gets. He was one of the most important historians and patriots this country ever had!

[dougolat]

6. Or how about the Indian villages who were flying the US flag...

...but got wiped out anyway?

[cling2reality]

7. I struggle with this...

Thought about it at fireworks last night.
They played a lot of patriotic music including "God Bless the USA" by Greenwood.
Unfortunately, I have been very jaded by much of it because the "fake patriot, Fox news facists, Cliven Bundy worshipping, Dixie Chick CD smashing, mouth breathing, tea party morons" have co-opted these songs as their own and they don't even understand true patriotism.

Yet, I put it out of my mind and just listened to the lyrics of the patriotic music being played. The fact is, despite those idiots, I agree with the sentiments expressed in the lyrics. I refuse to let fake patriots question whether I love my country.
Therefore, I will fly my flag this weekend and I will sing along with every patriotic song because I fucking love my country.
Unlike the tea party "keep government out of my medicare" fools, I understand my country and want it to be better for everyone.
I support my military families whether I agree with the mission which the profiteers send them on or not.

And if someone questions my patriotism or says that I "hate America" just because I disagree with going to war I will fight them.

I will fly my flag and sing patriotic songs because I refuse to allow any of those right wing fuckers to take them away from me.

[judgegblue]

9. Modern patriotism emphasizes militarism, not the fundamental principles of the Declaration

The 4th of July should celebrate the principles espoused by the Founders, equality, justice, true freedom to pursue happiness to all. Today, the 4th is more like Memorial Day where the emphasis is on military service and exploits. How ironic that on the 4th we have people aggressively demonstrating against immigration reform and have a Supreme Court that recognizes the rights to corporations, while allowing discrimination and subjugation of women. With liberty and justice for all, provided you are a wealthy, white, Christian male or a corporation.

[marmar]

10. Very true ........

..... All of the 4th of July PSAs I watched yesterday during baseball games or whatever involved the military.

[RBInMaine]

11. The flag is not just about the government. It is about ALL the people, and MUCH is good.

Just because you display a flag proudly doesn't mean it is just about honoring the government. It is about honoring the WHOLE nation and its ideals. Sure, there are problems. There is also much GOOD. So I will keep flying the flag, and if you want to
poo-poo it, then go ahead and wallow in your negativity.

[marmar]

13. It's a symbol ......

..... I choose to honor Americans by engaging in activism to support them and those "ideals". Waving a flag is about as meaningless an act as I can think of.

[aikoaiko]

12. Putting away our US flag is just as meaningless as flying it if not followed by action for change.

Positive change.

But I'm sure urging people to put away their flags seems edgy and subversive to some people.

[Bigmack]

14. I like the term "malignant nationalism"...

..that's the best way to describe the "patriotism" we see in RW circles these days.

It's not just "my country is great and I love it"... it's "my country is the greatest, I love it, and you other countries ain't shit".

I love my country like the child of an alcoholic mother loves her.... I love her, certainly, but I wish she would do better.

[colsohlibgal]

15. Too many "Patriots" Are Tone Deaf

The term "American Exceptionalism" plays in other nations as "we're better than you". It comes off as pretty haughty IMHO.

[YoungDemCA]

16. Very insightful and lucid writing from Zinn

Thanks for sharing this.

[YoungDemCA]

17. Anecdotally, I saw a "patriotic" billboard today

It was red, white, and blue, with some "proud to be an American" slogan on it.

The billboard was an advertisement for Budweiser. That sums it up, IMHO: consumeristic corporate capitalism and jingoistic militaristic nationalism often go hand in hand in America these days.

[Petrushka]

18. Stars and Stripes Forever

[ReRe]

22. Thank you for these clips!

My Mother played this on the piano. Also, my Grandmother played it on the mandolin!

[lastlib]

19. Brings to mind the Einstein quote:

"Nationalism is an infantile disease; it is the measles of mankind."

Yeah. It's the kind of shit that started two world wars in the last century, and it's a big part of why we started wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

[Petrushka]

20. Star Spangled Banner As You've Never Heard It

[DeSwiss]

21. K&R!!!

[center]''I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.'' - Thomas Jefferson[/center]

[marmar]

23. love that quote

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

24. "Flags are bits of colored cloth that governments use first to shrink-wrap people's brains...

"Flags are bits of colored cloth that governments use first to shrink-wrap people's brains and then as ceremonial shrouds to bury the dead." Arundhati Roy

“Patriots always talk of dying for their country but never of killing for their country.” Bertrand Russell

[pansypoo53219]

25. i pledge to the constitution. NOT a flag.

[cantbeserious]

26. Thank You For Sharing

eom

[Uncle Joe]

27. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, marmar.