We Need to take back the American Flag Lapel pin on Sept.24th

[Donailin]

Those lapel pins of the flag all republicans wear, well, why should THEY be the ones to define and own that symbol?
This is how they keep controlling the message, the take our symbols like the cross and the flag and define and claim it as their own and leave us standing there slackjawed with no response except to be in opposition with no symbol of our own. The paint us as haters of America and disable us from using that symbol. This is how they control the collective consciousness. We have to change this.


I think we should all wear them as a message that we're taking back our country. We shall start with the American Flag and simultaneously redefine what America means. It does NOT mean fascism and imperialism. It means LAWFULNESS first and foremost. We are a Nation of LAWS NOT CRIMINALS. And out of that comes freedom, cooperation, and being just. It means love of brother and neighbor and all good things that flow from this.

Who agrees?

[ComerPerro]

1. At least the Nazis created their own symbols

I wish this group of Nazis had done the same, and would stop dishonoring our flag.

[Donailin]

12. .

I am imagining septmember 24th at the WH/Lafayette park. There are thousands and thousands of people. C-span is covering it (we have to work on that, BTW) All close up shots show protestors wearing the beloved Republican symbol on their collars/t-shirts -- The American Flag lapel pin. MSM's 20 second covergae will show guest speakers and protestors wearing the lapel pin.


Republicans will GRIND AND GNASH THEIR TEETH.

[liberaliraqvet26]

2. I thought of this last week...

and started wearing it to work. They don't own that flag. My freeper co workers were outraged it was great. Others thought they were nuts telling a combat vet like myself shouldn't be wearing the flag.

[Donailin]

4. when in fact we are the very ones fighting for that flag

and all that it should stand for. We need to do this in a mass scale. Every protestor should wear that flag in every photo taken at Camp Casey and Downtown on the 24th. I feel very strongly about this. We can't allow those criminals to make us opposers of our own flag. Fuck that.

[wake.up.america]

3. I have been saying this for the longest time.

What irks me the most is their supposed "Pro_life" hijacking.

How about a picture of US troops coming home to their loved ones with the caption: Pro-Life!!!

[Donailin]

8. "I'm Prolife! WAR IS NOT PRO-LIFE"

keepin it kicked. .

[SpiralHawk]

5. An important idea Donailin. Thanks

I have an American flag decal on my aging truck, the Bluebird Special ('88 Dakota long-bed.) It has been on there the 7 years I have owned this work horse, and I will not take it off. I will yield my national flag to no corporate-funded propanda machine.

The flag belongs to all the citizens of the USA, even if George AWOL Bush has disgraced it, and Republicans have manipulated it.

The flag -- my flag -- stands for something much greater and higher than what some Republican propaganda strategy might imply.

You've convinced me to get some lapel pins for my jackets. Will wear as I work with other to help the USA live up to all the promise encoded in the symbol.

[Donailin]

7. Everytime I see that lapel pin, I think "Republican". . !

IOW, they've managed to brainwash me! I'm an American, that flag is not Republican. I will not be subliminally bullied anymore.

[Historic NY]

10. I've worn them for years............some Repukes think I am one of them

its so funny when I tell them I'm a registered Democrat and have been for 32 yrs. the look is priceless. I remember in the Nixon era lots of Dems wore them, my aunt & uncle were heavy into Democratic politics, he always wore one and my aunt had a few real big jeweled fancy ones she wore. Dems should wear & show the flag it will keep Repuks on their toes and show they don't own this symbol. PS I also fly the flag at my house, daily. Its my third new one since 911, that screws with them even more.

:patriot:

[Donailin]

14. again

everytime I see an American flag displayed on someone house, I think "republican" -- I'm duped. No more.


we have the power to change this. it's so little,it's so easy and it would be so impactful, I think.

[Donailin]

23. this is exactly what I mean "the look is priceless"

all these bush years they've been believing that THEY are America, and the dems and indy's are foreigners or something. Shit! I feel like a foreigner, like I don't belong. This is what Bushco. wants US to believe.

Fuck that shit. It's halftime folks, time to change up battleplan by using THEIR battelplan against THEM and make them the FOREIGNERS -- the INVADERS!

[SharonRB]

48. We fly ours everyday, as well.

But, then, I don't have too many Repukes in my neighborhood. The do not own the flag.

[zanne]

46. And the pearls! Oh, the pearls!

Sometimes I try to guess who's a Republican or a Democrat by appearance. Whenever I spot a blond wearing pearls, I say "Bingo! A Republican"!

[blm]

6. Gadsden flag person, myself. Don't Tread on Me = No King George

Or less delicately, I believe the revolutionaries were saying, "Fuck you, King George!"

[mongo]

15. pic from the foyer of my store

Bet this one pisses off the fundies who do the "walkthrough" to be disgusted.

[blm]

17. Now all you need to do is paint = No King George next to the Gadsden

That would leave them SUPER FURIOUS.

heheh

[mongo]

21. I often thought of doing something

like a peoples history of the united states out there, focusing on free speech of course.

Just pics with some text under them like how the Comstock law (the first laws against "obscenity" in the US were used to go after birth control information provided by Margeret Sanger.

But then again, I try to walk a fine line about how political I am in the business. The Kerry sign in my store window b-4 the election drew equal amounts of good and bad comments.

I'll probably take both flags down after labor day - they went up with my patriotic display the first week in June. Now the rest of the foyer has a tropical/beach type theme that will come down after labor day.

[blm]

29. Don't forget, Sept. 17 is Citizenship Day - birthdate of the Constitution

and a day I always fly the Gadsden. The Gadsden predates the Stars and Stripes and was the flag preferred by Ben Franklin as the perfect symbol of our nation.

We will be a nation that NEVER strikes first, but, WILL strike back, so don't tread on us.

It was supposed to be the establishment of a NONimperialistic nation.

The Bush family is working to change all that. That's why I call their supporters Royalists.

[Wabbajack]

41. I love that flag

do they pins of it?

[blm]

44. DUer Cronus has Gadsden pins.

.

[Ready2Snap]

53. Who's Cronus and where do we find him?

[blm]

56. He's a DUer...I believe his site is called brainbuttons.

.

[Dervill Crow]

9. I have a magnet at my desk with an American flag and three pentacles

Just a couple of weeks ago I took down some yellowed full-page newspaper ads from shortly after 9/11 that made me cringe every time I walked by them. "And Our Flag Was Still There," a cartoon picture that said 9-11, with the 11 formed from smoking twin towers, and one that said God Bless America. "We Will Never Forget."

I work with a bunch of ignorami who believe that loving * is part of being a good Christian.

[liberaliraqvet26]

11. Not just Sept 24th, ALWAYS!!!

I am always going to wear mine to work from now on.

TAKE OUR FLAG BACK!!!

[Donailin]

13. AMEN!

We have to do this. So should everyone at Camp Casey, someone send Cindy the Memo! I noticed her peace sign necklace, and that's GREAT, but I would really appreciate it if she wore that lapel pin -- it will annoy the repubs beyond measure!

[MelissaB]

18. I'll second that amen!

:kick:

[liberaliraqvet26]

16. They like to portray us as flag burning...

america haters. The overwhelming majority of us would never even think about burning a flag. Lets kick this stereotype down.

[Donailin]

20. let's spread this idea far and wide.

I'll make a request to Answer and UFP in an email? Prhaps they should gets lots of eamils so they might post it on their website. If you look at Cindy, it's always the things that seem insignificant that make the most impact.

[txindy]

19. We need to take it back now and keep it

Not just on 9/24, but every day. We have to take it back. It is ours, after all.

[liberaliraqvet26]

22. Recomended for Greatest Post!!!

Lets start a take back the flag movement!!!!

[Donailin]

25. To quote my 15 year old son

"LET'S DO THIS!!!"

[Catrina]

24. Yes

You're right

This is how they keep controlling the message, the take our symbols like the cross and the flag and define and claim it as their own and leave us standing there slackjawed with no response except to be in opposition with no symbol of our own.

There is a response. We just haven't used it. They do this while shredding the Constitution. Wrapping themselves in the flag, while destroying what it symbolizes.

It does NOT mean fascism and imperialism. It means LAWFULNESS first and foremost. We are a Nation of LAWS NOT CRIMINALS. And out of that comes freedom

Unfortunately, thanks to them, our flag does mean those things to many people around the world, now. Our freedom is guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, in the Constitution ~ yet, I never see or hear one of them ever refer to it.

This is a pin that was designed to give Democrats a chance to respond. To remind all Americans that the oath taken by all our troops, and Representatives is sworn to defend The Constitution, 'I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the USand against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

It will take a lot of work to retrieve the shredded Constitution and to restore the true meaning of the flag ~ but at least they have not yet appropriated this powerful symbol.

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It can be found at www.pinsforpatriots.com

[madmax]

42. This I like. I'll wear both a flag pin and the constitution. n/t

[Genki]

26. I agree.....n/t

[newyawker99]

30. Hi Genki!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Donailin]

27. An email I just sent to ANSWER and UFP

Hi, I am attending the September 24th Event. I have a very important suggestion to make and I was hoping you could post this on your website. Any person who is going to this event should be sure and wear the American Flag lapel pin, or an American flag symbol on themselves.


Why? Because the strategy of the Republican party has been to hijack and posess/claim ownership of that symbol as their own and force anyone who disagrees with them to disagree with that symbol. THAT IS WHY THEY WEAR IT ALL THE TIME. EVERY REPUBLICAN POLITICIAN WEARS THAT LAPEL PIN. It's a sublimal effort to make the general public believe that when you disagree with that politician, you disagree with the FLAG -- You have become an America-Hater. And this is what they constantly say as their talking point -- "The Democrats/Independants are America Haters" and then we are the enemy of the country.

We do not hate America, we hate the politicians who have turned it into a fascist country. Have you ever come across a citizen wearing a AF lapel pin? You automatically think, "Republican".

This MUST CHANGE. If everyone, or as many people as possible wear the AF symbol on the day of the protest, then we are sending a message to the Republicans that will make them gnash and grind their teeth: We are TAKING Back OUR COUNTRY! We are REDIFINING That SYMBOL. That Flag stands for a nation of LAWS, NOT a nation of Liars and Crooks, which is what we all think of when we see a republican wearing that lapel pin--liar and crook.

If there is any way you can post this idea on your website, imagine the impact it will have. C-span will cover this event, they always do, and if they have Guest speakers and protestors visibly taking back the flag, the republicans will have one less VERY IMPORTANT piece of ammunition to use against us. I believe this small act has the potential to make a huge impact on their power. Please consider this seriously.

I have started making this request on various mainstream progressive blogs and message boards ( Democratic Underground, DailyKos etc) The response and reception to this idea is overwhelmingly postive!. Everyone who has been wearing the pin and displaying their flag that has been approached by republicans all say the same thing: they get indignant! This is a cheap and easy way for all those who want their country back to start with the very first thing the republicans stole from us -- Our Flag. (Note the pictures of Bushco. right after 911).

Please consider this, and again, Thank you so much! DG, Silver Spring, MD.

[Donailin]

28. kick

because it's a good idea. plus, I'm dreading doing chores.

[MelissaB]

31. procrastinating here, too...

:kick: for a darn good idea.

[Donailin]

32. american flag pins

we need to wear em. yep.

[Historic NY]

33. one more vote gets it on the front page................Donailin

http://www.homemadesimple.com/living/flagpin.shtml

A suggestion find a Democrat flag merchant he can get plastic flag pins for a few cents each.

[Donailin]

40. holy crap, the thread lives. . I was disheartened there for awhile

I will check into it. I had already looked at a couple of websites for the standard metal pins, a purchase of a thousand pins can put them at about 18 cents a piece. Otherwise, they are about a buck bought individually.

[mbee]

34. An American Flag with the word PEACE over it

would be great!

[DanCa]

35. Senator Durbin Gave me his flag and donkey pin

During my trip to DC last year to lobby for stem cell on behalf of Parkinson's action network or pan. In fact thier sitting on my desk right now. What happened was that someone messed up our appointment with his one of his representive and so the senator himself sat down with us and talked about our concerns.

Normally you only get fifteen minutes to meet with a staffer but he give us a half hour of his time and by the end of the meetting I started getting a real bad parkinson's flare. So he had one of his aides stephanie get me a glass of water and he gave me a lapel pins.

Than he had stephanie show us an underground short cut from the senate to the house because it was faster and I wasn't feeling good and you needed an official to walk it with you. Sure the lapels are just probably a dollar knock off but I am very proud of them. And I am a very proud american and a democrat. I dont care who knows it. Donalin I am with you one hundred percent.
Sincerly Yours, Danny.

[rodeodance]

36. I agree==take back OUR flag.--I like the idea of PEACE written across it.

[rodeodance]

37. I have to say--I generally crinch when I see it as most of time it is some

-one who is talking of staying the course or some pompos politition.
It is like wearing the flag on your sleeve.

[hwmnbn]

38. excellent!!....

This way, everyone will be an american and we can focus on the issues not the labels.

Thank you for the brilliant idea. Why wasn't it obvious to me?? I've been brainwashed. aarrrrgh!!

[rosesaylavee]

39. Lets wear the pins AND

fly flags from our porches and lawns again. And, hey, unlike my neighbor who has their SEVERAL flags out in all kinds of weather and at night WITHOUT night-lights illuminating the flags, let US display some flag ettiquette.

There, that felt good.

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[wryter2000]

45. I already have an American flag decal on my car

Right next to my "Jesus is a liberal" bumper sticker. I decided long ago they didn't own the flag and I was taking it back.

[Toots]

47. Conservatives wrap themselves in the flag and burn the constitution

Liberals wrap themselves in the Constitution and burn the flag. Just tell the damn truth and hope it somehow gets out. I know the MSM will suppress it but wearing a flag pin won't change that.

[Donailin]

49. telling the truth means talking and listening, apparently

that has not worked. Images and pictures are all Anmericans have time for and seeing the ooposition party look eerily similar to the ruling party might negate the negative images on the fence folks have about us. If folks who want to object to Bush are afraid to because they don't want to seem anti-American, this may very well help that. I was struck by the recent vigil photos from last week. Those were average americans who looked amazingly conservative. This gives people the courage to join who otherwise might not have.

[RSchewe]

50. Just ranted about something like this in another thread...

Here is the part that relates to this:

One thing that would be of help to these protests, as I have noticed in many, is that they raise a flag for once. I know the way the right displays the flag is straight up silly, but there is a way to do it right. We are demonstrating because we want to take our country back. The first thing we should do is not let the super-patriots be the only people showing it at all. It would probably be a good idea for someone that works closely with Cindy Sheehan to have someone show one nice flag prominently behind her when she speaks. We all know how ignorant Bush is and how his policies are sinking the country, but if that is all you see in the pictures it gets a bit tired. Republicans when you see them on TV always have a flag behind them, Democrats, sometimes. It may sound silly but it is like a subliminal message. Again, it doesn't have to be a ridiculous display, but it shouldn't be absent either.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4399632&mesg_id=4414606

[Donailin]

51. It's a shame that it's come to this fighting over the flag

but Americans respond strongly to visuals. That's why you NEVER see war photos of the dead and wounded. Never. If we did, we'd be outta there in a heartbeat.

[RSchewe]

52. I agree...

The problem I see is that to me it seems like many on the left have let the right hijack the flag. There is a way to do it respectfully, but it can't be abandoned. It sends a powerful message if used respectfully and with true passion.

What I don't like is people wearing rhinestone red, white, and blue suits, or shirts, shorts, and hats. That is just a circus.

My point is, one nice flag where people can see it and recognize that what people in the left are doing is for the better of the country, not what the only people who usually hold the flag are doing.

Symbolism sometimes outweighs facts to many people who don't have the time to fact check and follow politics to the nth degree.

[jillan]

54. I really like the constitution pin post #24, How could we get a pin with

the flag and the constitution together on one pin.


I have a flag on the back of my car, and have had it up there since right after 9/11.

Just because I HATE this pres, doesn't mean that I hate America.
I love this country - I JUST WANT IT BACK!!!

!

[SpiralHawk]

55. sleepy Sunday afternoon kick

for a good idea.

[Donailin]

57. thanks spiral hawk

:toast:

[MADem]

58. Perhaps we should make lapel pins for the prowar types

to hand to them when they are surprised, that show a flag=draped coffin. Shouldn't be too tough to make them, small coffins with the flag on them, in that ceramic on a small pin....

[SpiralHawk]

59. Monday morning punt

right through the goalposts of democracy

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

60. lol, note that im not a freeper

but what is the point of a little metal flag? incase someone forgot they live in America? Its the same concept behind all of those giant gas-station flags and magenetic ribbons. They have no value, and make no point accept saying,
"Hey! im an idiot! i either forget where i live, or im so stupid that i think a little flag makes me patriotic!" oh please! *rolls eyes* im sorry, but anyone who thinks waving a flag makes them patriotic, or that a ribbon means they support America, is grossly misinformed