The tin handshake

How sad it is having to demonstrate your patriotism. I liked the made in China bit, that about says it all. Baaaaa Baaaaa (I just threw the Baaa's in for effect) I live in Scotland. Nobody wears Scot's flag pins, we just assume we support Scotland. "Oh would some god the giftie gie us, to see oorselves as others see us". I don't think Robbie Burns was thinking of America when he penned this but like they said in THE BLUES BROTHERS, "If the sh** fits wear it".

by davy (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 241 comments) on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 9:06:28 AM
 

Thanks Rusty

For taking the time to comment. It really sucks to be living here right now in what is obviously a more subtle recreation of early Nazi Germany. If nothing else I relish the idea that those outside Der Heimat see this whole big con game as the fascist mockery that it truly is and so will history when it is all written.

We could have had it all and used our resources as the greatest force for humanitarianism and good in the world and then pissed it away for nothing. but chump change over the wet dreams of militarists and looters and those who are easily suckered by their bullshit John Wayne version of history.

EE

by Ed Encho (6 articles, 11 quicklinks, 54 diaries, 382 comments) on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 5:34:31 PM
 

Ed

I agree with 99.9% of what you're saying here but the one thing I do not agree with is the absolute fact the Hillary camp leaked that Islamic photo of Obama to Drudge. Beyond Drudge making statements they got that photo from the Hillary camp and some questionable email, there is absolutely nothing out there that proves Hillary's camp did it. In fact, that photo in question has been out on the Internet for months and Hillary's camp did not put it there. Geeska Afrika Web site did. Also since when do we start believing Drudge? We might as well believe Bush when he calls the telecoms patriotic for spying on us!

Another note, although the circulation of that photo by Drudge is clearly a smear attempt, the fact is there is nothing wrong about that photo and there is nothing to be ashamed of. Statesmen often dress in local garb when they visit foreign countries. It is a show of respect and acknowledgement. That's all. I'm surprised they haven't circulated some of Hillary too. Perhaps they will now that she has closed the gap in the primary. I would also mention that Hillary has actually hinted at the possibility in an Obama/Clinton ticket and as close as this election is it might not be such a bad idea. I'll admit I have been torn in this election and have had the fear it might break apart the party. But honestly in the end I believe Democrats will unite to defeat the Bush clone next November regardless of who may get the nomination.

As for the lapel pins you are correct. It falls directly in line with the twelve points of fascism, points that Bush has followed to the tee! As Ritter once stated, "You can train a monkey to wave a flag but you can't get him to read the Constitution!"

Thanks for your article!

by Michael Shaw (7 articles, 1 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 310 comments) on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 11:27:52 AM
 

I love our flag

and Betsy Ross is one of my favorite historical figures. When everyone started wearing flag pins after 9/11 I wanted one, so I bought one at the local hardware store (yeah, everyone was selling them).

But the little flag pin I own, though it was apparently made in Oregon, not China, has such a badly made prong that it started snagging my good clothes when I wore it. My clothing budget is too small to let that happen. My pin also has the correct number of stripes, but only 41 stars. Mine's a little larger than others I've seen, and I have difficulty believing those smaller ones have the correct number of stars either. None of our historical flags had 41 stars, according to USFlag.org, so I don't consider mine a genuine flag, though I treat it with respect anyway because it represents the flag to me.

I would never judge anyone's patriotism by whether they wear a flag pin or not. I judge people's patriotism (if I judge them at all) by their actions with regard to this country.

I don't consider dragging our asses into bankruptcy to fight a war we were lied into at all patriotic. Lying in general, by our leaders, is not patriotic. Neither is torturing people, which is cruel, shames us and sullies our reputation in the world, and endangers our own troops even more if they're captured. Besides which, it does not provide reliable intelligence.

Neither is it patriotic to avenge our tragic 9/11 deaths by killing hundreds of thousands more people who had nothing to do with 9/11.

None of those things is patriotic, and I challenge all flag wearers to prove the patriotism they think that little pin is a symbol of, through their constructive actions for this country and its people. Not just for Bush's and Cheney's rich croneies, but for all The People. Loyalty to the American people, the Constitution, and our nation as a whole and as a part of the world is patriotism, and I think the Bush administration has failed at that.

Besides which I think it's hubris to go around flashing our flag everywhere, when we need to encourage global understanding. Wearing a flag all the time just makes us look like the arrogant bullies and thugs we've proven ourselves to be in the world. It's time for our leaders to stop strutting around acting as if they own the planet and take care of things at home.

by SpiritBlooms (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 55 comments) on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 4:46:18 PM
 

excellent article on the pin

Ed, I believe I will use your line as repetitive "Newspeak" against the Republicans. "Flag Pin Fascists" is just perfect! The pins have always been a red flag for me. Beware.

I read an article this week how 30 yrs of this 'plan' of the Repubs to take over the party in their move to the controlling fascism it is today. It talked about us using fire against fire and using the tactics they have been using against Liberal Democrats, and one of their tactics was to keep repeating "Liberal socialists", "baby killer Prochoicers", et al.  As we have come to see, their scheme worked. However, it's time to fight back and use the sword against them.

Our country is no longer Democratic but a glimpse of HOPE yet exists. I am always so pleased when foreigners jump on these threads. It helps let the world know that not all Americans are gulled into this corporate takeover of fascism by Cheney and crew... Oh and lil' Bush too.

As far as wearing all the jewels, pins and ribbons, the flag is the LEAST of my concern when the constitution is blowing in the wind. I would much rather see everyone holding a constitution in their sweaty little palms and signing it, "Have read and agree to the terms" than all this trinket bullshit.

by shirley reese (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 273 comments) on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 7:58:57 PM
 

Shirley...

Thanks and I have long advocated using their same dirty tricks and Orwellian newspeak right back at the bastards. "Flag Pin Fascist", "Corporate Socialist", "America Hater" and "Fifth Columnist" come to mind right off the top of my head this morning. You are absolutely correct when you reference their long term plan, look up something called "The Powell Memorandum" when you can because it lays it all out but be aware that there is a long streak of fascist sympathy in this country going back to the early 20th Century when Fortune Magazine made Benito Mussolini their cover story and General Smedley Butler was recruited for a coup d'etat to overthrow FDR.

Gotta call Fascism as it is.

EE

by Ed Encho (6 articles, 11 quicklinks, 54 diaries, 382 comments) on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 5:10:49 AM
 

Flag pins – "see how patriotic I am!

Oh, you are a man after my own heart! The day after 9/11, I saw an American flag, hanging limply – and incongruously – from the top of a crane, apparently hoisted there to "prove" just how "patriotic" we all are. For months, we saw flags on car antennae, whipped to shreds, in total disregard of the Flag Code, about which the car drivers obviously were totally unaware. Thereafter we had American flags on anything and everything, on shirts, on socks, on hats and jackets, on beach towels (yeah, okay, lay your sweaty body on the symbol of our great nation), on canvas beach chairs (sure, set your fat butt on "Old Glory"), but perhaps the ultimate was the American-flag-bowling-towel, a "must" for patriotic bowlers to wipe the oil off their bowling balls! Actually, perhaps an appropriate symbol, given the "oil" connection.
Fag pins are obviously meant to say, "I'M PATRIOTIC" – and if you have to SAY it –– you're not!
L.M. Arndt

by L.M. Arndt (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 40 comments) on Wednesday, March 5, 2008 at 9:19:51 PM
 

In response

I will look up that Doctrine. I hadn't read it. Thank you for passing the info on. See, this will not happen and we will be repressed from "sharing" when they finally abolish "net neutrality"and begin to EDIT every word we say. It will happen and the gulled sheep will say, "Oh my the terrorists are coming, so give up your constitutional rights". I say, let them come, as to have no constitutional rights, they have already won.

I agree that this so called patriotism is such a joke. I remember being told to take off the flag earings when I was an adolescent. They said one wasn't to WEAR the flag(back in the late 60's/early 70's). Now they walk on it for carpet, claim burning it is horrible, but indeed, that is how to put an old soiled flag to rest and the ONLY way prescribed by authorities. They make underware from it. What better way to show your appreciation of the flag to stain it with fecal matter. What a joke. What a hoax. The sheeple follow and claim they are the patriots for throwing our young ppl UNDER the bus while driving it into the ditch(Iraq war).

When these "patriots" can honestly tell me WHICH amendments give us voting rights, speech rights, protection of our privacy by name and number, then I will call them patriots. Until then, they are not Patriots but in word and not deed.

Let freedom ring.

by shirley reese (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 273 comments) on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 10:11:00 AM