September 10, 2008
Flags everywhere gets tiresome
Tomorrow is another anniversary of al Qaeda’s attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and of course the thwarted attempt at possibly the White House which ended in a Pennsylvania field. To mark the sad anniversary both presidential campaigns will be taking the day off, although we’re sure to hear plenty about their individual solemn activities to honor the victims. I’ll honor them by taking a week off from campaign commentary to write a bit about the day itself and the nationalistic feelings it inspires.
I clearly remember the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. I was at home chatting online with a friend who told me to turn on the TV. We discussed what we thought might have happened after the first plane hit a New York tower, and both realized it was more than an accident with the second collision. I wasn’t due at work until late that afternoon, but being a news reporter and knowing it was going to be a busy day, I jumped to my car and raced to the office the moment I saw the first tower fall.
Maybe it’s a bit callous of me, but I count that day among the best days I’ve ever spent at work. My job was at a chain of local weeklies and NY was way off my beat, but some things impact everywhere, and it was a hectic day of tracking down local reactions and comments and talking with Congressmen from undisclosed locations who talked of responses and brought the mood from Washington back home to their districts.
As the ensuing wave of patriotism and shock swept over the country, the next few weeks at work proved to be almost as busy with endless follow up stories covering every local connection. There were the reassuring local security run-downs, the features on how the schools and churches we’re talking about the attacks, the person on the street responses and what seemed like the endless stream of flag-related news.
The American flag was flying everywhere. We had stories on big flags, small flags, neighbors who took it upon themselves to plant flags in every lawn on their block, stores that sell flags being unable to keep them on the shelves, and one of my favorites, the guy who when told the store had one flag left, but were all out of flagpoles, promptly broke the end off a broom and bought the stick to use for flying the flag at his house.
The flag phase ended and for most people, life went back to what had been normal before the attacks. Flags and overt patriotism have become a bit more of an everyday presence since then, and while I have nothing in particular against the flag or people expressing national pride, some of these trends bother me just a bit. I got the idea to write this a week or so back when I received an e-mail forward from a friend. The message was a modest request for everyone to fly the American flag on Sept. 11 to remember those who lost their lives on that day seven years back and everyone who’s lost a life or a loved one in service to this country.
As tributes go, that one would be subdued and require little effort, and I guess there’s nothing wrong with it. Still, I bristled upon reading the e-mail. I think it might be due to my aversion to mass conformity of any kind. I can’t stand line dancing because it weirds me out to see everyone moving in semi-unison. I much prefer a packed club dancefloor where everyone moves their own way as they personally interpret the rhythm everyone hears.
I just had to wonder if everyone did what this e-mail asked, would they simply be following a crowd, or would they really be displaying the flag because they believe in the ideals it’s meant to represent. I wonder because the flag is, after all, a symbol, and the meaning of symbols often gets lost. This country is supposed to be based on the notion of free will and freedom of thought, but The New York Yankees are throwing fans out of their park for trying to use the restroom during the singing of “God Bless America” and I can easily see some neighbors getting a bit worked up about this flag thing.
I mentioned earlier the story of a neighbor who took it upon herself to plant flags in the yards of all her neighbors. Well, it turned out that not all the neighbors appreciated this benevolently taken action. Some neighbors didn’t like having a flag planted for them, and they were willing to say so in the newspaper at the time. We should all have that same courage to stand up to the masses for what we believe in, even on small matters.
It’s important to remember the past and think of those hurt tomorrow on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. However, I won’t be flying a flag to be part of the crowd. I’d be much happier if everyone simply found their own way to recognize the day and honor its victims. If some people want to join together in large-scale remembrances, terrific, but those of us who prefer something more quiet and personal should be free to do this in our own way.