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As a reluctant,
"outsider-subscriber" to Human Events, the conservative online web
site and blog dedicated to promoting the tenets and policies of the American
right wing, I expect to see promotions for such book titles as
"America: The Last Best Hope" (Volumes I & II) by William J.
Bennett, "The Politically Incorrect
Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)" by
Robert Spencer, "The Politically Incorrect Guide to American
History" by Thomas Woods, and "The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of
the World's Most Intolerant Religion" by Robert Spencer. While none of these titles sound likely to
advance understanding or peace among nations, one could argue that they feed
the hunger of our conservative citizens, uphold our freedom of expression and
put food on the table of our right-wing writers.
I did not expect, however, to be greeted
with an offer to "order now" a 3' X 5' First Navy Jack Flag. Yes, it's the flag with a rattlesnake
crawling across 13 red and white stripes with the command: DON'T TREAD ON ME
across the bottom. And each flag "will be
accompanied by a certificate documenting that it was flown over the U.S. Navy
Memorial."
What?
Why do I want to fly this flag?
Well, here's why, says Human Events:
This flag was used by early American patriots as a symbol of resistance
to British treatment of the colonies and was flown by Continental Navy ships in
1775. The rattlesnake represents
American unity. "And while it does
not strike unless threatened, once provoked, the deadly rattlesnake never
surrenders."
So, "as America faces unprecedented
threats," we should run this historic symbol up our flag poles. In fact, our Secretary of the Navy, Gordon R.
England (is this a case of name being destiny?), has ordered U.S. Navy ships to
replace the Union Jack with the First Navy Jack "for the duration of the
Global War on Terrorism."
It seems that this is an issue
desperately in need of strong brand management.
First of all, the current United States bears little resemblance to
232-year-old colonial America. And despite the tragedy of 9/11, we can hardly be said to be
"treaded" upon. In fact, most
of the rest of the world views us as not just treading, but trampling on other
countries. It's also a misinterpretation
of our current war policy to say that we only attack when provoked. Well, yes, the attacks in Afghanistan
following 9/11 could be seen as such a response. But Iraq? Which has been irrefutably proven to have
been non-provocative toward the U.S.
before we launched our impossible mission on that now chaotic, blood-drenched
country? Iraq, where we now have lost more Americans than
in 9/11 and Iraq
has lost many, many thousands more (which is why I use the word trampling)?
Raising the First Navy Jack flag is in
itself a red flag to anyone interested in retaining the true American
brand. It's an attempt to frame our
current failed war policies with an outdated, no longer applicable brand,
intended to breathe life into the smoldering ashes of national discontent with
the war in Iraq and the misguided, misnamed "War on Terror," a
moniker that even the Bush administration is no longer using.
We don't need to exhume a symbol, that
for all of its historic significance, is an anachronism in today's world. What we need is to rekindle a far more
current American brand -- the one that symbolizes democracy and freedom protected
by sound international policies using diplomacy, and resorting to war only as a
final and last resort.
Remember that brand? You know the image -- that red and white striped
flag with the stars against the blue background? Remember our flag, the one that represents
all of us-- right, left and middle?
That's the one.
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