Ever wonder why repuke sheep wave the flag so much?

[quinnox]

Here is my theory: it's because they think by waving the flag, it means they love America more than those damn liberals, so whatever they say should be given more weight since they are obviosly more patriotic than you. And since they are so patriotic, their political philosophy must represent what is best for America, therefore anyone against their views are un-American and so on.

[musette_sf]

1. It's easier than thinking

[rwenos]

2. I Think It's 'Cause They're Scared

and the Pubbies know this. They know that Johnny Q Pubbie is scared of the big wide world. It's filled with smart women; Black, Asian and Hispanic people; loud rock music; people getting more or better sex; people who are generally smarter and can manipulate Johnyy Q Pubbie.

Johnnie is scared the world he THOUGHT he was going to get to run because he's a white guy is going to be lost to all those OTHER people. I'm a grown-up white guy, I know this syndrome. I think they get it from their mothers, actually. Mine is a liberal, so I avoided this particular mindf*ck.

[Clark2008]

3. Actually, I wonder why they WEAR the flag so much

It's against the Flag Code and is tres gauche.

* The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker's desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

http://www.montney.com/flag/flagcode.htm

[cyclezealot]

4. People who boast a lot it is because their lives are so shallow.

We love America as much as anyone and are heart sick in that we don't live up to our promise..But, in our extensive travels,it is wise to know how others live...We have no clue as Americans..
Most industralized countries have higher income, better transportation systems, healthier food, reliable health care, education more available for their children and themselves..
Lower violence, a richer cultural life.
All the flag waving...Some sort of complex.
In most industralized countries you see an emphasis on international co-operation,and less confrontration between individuals and within society itself..
That is because there is a social net and all don't feel a need compete with others for basics..
Those who boast and banter about have something to hide..Like USA number one in infant mortality amongst the top ten industrial nations..crime ,etc.
In our travels about Europe..we noticed even in some government building flags were often not present..
a comparsion..One nephew in his travels to third world countries, says he thinks liberty within those developing countries is dependent upon how many times you see photos/posters of the ruler in public aeas...There is a comparsion here to flag waving.

[LoZoccolo]

5. Yeah.

It's supposed to add clout to whatever they're pushing, though the mere fact that they have to add clout to it tells you quite a bit.

[madrchsod]

6. why? because every single man and woman

who have been killed and injured in every war we have ever fought since the beginning of this country have been republicans. i thought everyone knew that...

[TexasLawyer]

7. "Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism"

This is characteristic number 1 of fascism. Our national symbols are being intentionally manipulated. The right is "patriotic". Of necessity, this means the left is NOT patriotic.

This is a great essay, very readable.

http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/britt_23_2.htm


Fascism Anyone?
Laurence W. Britt

<snip>

Beyond the visual, even a cursory study of these fascist and protofascist regimes reveals the absolutely striking convergence of their modus operandi. This, of course, is not a revelation to the informed political observer, but it is sometimes useful in the interests of perspective to restate obvious facts and in so doing shed needed light on current circumstances.

For the purpose of this perspective, I will consider the following regimes: Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Franco’s Spain, Salazar’s Portugal, Papadopoulos’s Greece, Pinochet’s Chile, and Suharto’s Indonesia. To be sure, they constitute a mixed bag of national identities, cultures, developmental levels, and history. But they all followed the fascist or protofascist model in obtaining, expanding, and maintaining power. Further, all these regimes have been overthrown, so a more or less complete picture of their basic characteristics and abuses is possible.

Analysis of these seven regimes reveals fourteen common threads that link them in recognizable patterns of national behavior and abuse of power. These basic characteristics are more prevalent and intense in some regimes than in others, but they all share at least some level of similarity.

1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism. From the prominent displays of flags and bunting to the ubiquitous lapel pins, the fervor to show patriotic nationalism, both on the part of the regime itself and of citizens caught up in its frenzy, was always obvious. Catchy slogans, pride in the military, and demands for unity were common themes in expressing this nationalism. It was usually coupled with a suspicion of things foreign that often bordered on xenophobia.

<snip>