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The American flag is revered like no other symbol by the patriotic citizens of the United States. Of course, it is not an "American" flag, which would have to represent all the countries of North, South and Central America, but a U.S. flag. This ignorance is not an incidental point, because flags are all about ignorance.
I once saw a young boy throw a small American flag on the ground in front of his father, because his brothers dared him to do it. It meant nothing to the boy, who hadn't yet been poisoned with patriotism and sacred symbols. Without hesitation the father violently grabbed his son and, turning red in the face, shook him and screamed at him, telling him that he is never to let the flag touch the ground.
This, I suggest, is the inevitable result of a worshiping of flags, and even of patriotism in general. Violence and irrationality come from such bowing before symbols, as well as from any group identification that is based not on shared values, but only on membership in the group. Total loyalty to a group or country precludes loyalty to peace or truth.
The word comes from the Latin "patria" or “fatherland." It has been defined as: "The loyalty that all citizens owe to their country or nation." Notice this loyalty is assumed to be a obligation, and not to ideals, but to a country. Right or wrong, you are supposed to be loyal to a place and group of people because you happen to live there.
In practice, of course, such patriotism is used by governments as a tool of control. It is insinuated or outright stated that we are allowed to argue about the course of things right up until a war starts (how generous), but then we must support what "our" country is doing, without any rational thought about whether it is right or wrong.
Now, it is true that there are more benign definitions of patriotism, such as "Love of and devotion to one's country." In practice, though, the net effect of all forms of patriotism seems to be a kind blind following of whatever powers are best at manipulating the symbols. Some will claim that their patriotism is based on ideals of their country, like "freedom," for example. But they are rarely clear about what freedom means, and they will stand by as real freedoms are attacked in the name of patriotism.
The other effect of patriotism, even the "positive" types, is a crude group identification that separates "us" from "them." If it was true that patriotism was primarily about political ideals, like "equal rights for all," then such "patriots" would feel equally strong feelings of solidarity with the peoples of all countries that shared such values. How likely does that seem? It is about us and them, and that leads inevitably to conflict.
Why "Piss On The American Flag?" Why would I use that title? More on that in a moment, but first let me clarify where I am coming from.
I love this country, but what do I mean by that? I grew up here, so certainly it feels more like home than other countries. I love the mountains here in Colorado. I like some parts of the culture here. I also love the ideas which lead to the creation of this nation, and which are still found somewhat in the "American spirit," of the people here.
I believe in individual rights. I like the concept of property rights that is a part of the law here. I advocate and enjoy the right to free speech. I wouldn't want to live where I am not permitted to say "piss on the flag."
I CHOOSE to live here, and the reasons for that include the ones above. I have a business I can operate from anywhere in the world, so I could move to another country more easily than most. But I am here. I can't relate to intellectuals who seem to hate the United States and glorify places like Vietnam or Cuba, yet never leave their comfortable homes here. If I thought Cuba was a better place for me to live, I would be there.
More than that. If someday Cuba IS a better place for me and my wife to live, we WILL live there. I have no allegiance to the land, you see, or to the people living on it. I prefer a loyalty to right principles. I happened to be born here, and I choose to live here, but if the United States became a place where rights are routinely violated and Cuba became the land of freedom, I would go there.
Now, why did I use that inflammatory title? Because it occurred to me one day that if I said that in the average bar or public gathering, I would be in danger. We are unfortunately, a land of violent people. What that risk suggests, is that many, if not most people who live here, have more respect for the symbol than for anything they might pretend it represents.
That is the nature of symbols. They become rallying points for a crude group mentality that is dangerous, contrary to my values, and is easily manipulated to bring bad men to power. It doesn't matter what they originally represent. History shows that all such symbols eventually are used to justify hurting people.
The United States was founded on some good principles, even if they were applied inconsistently from the start. Its government and people have in many ways and places been a force for good in the world. But they have also done many evil things. From the slaughtering of Native Americans to the jailing of citizens in concentration camps because of their Japanese ancestry, examples of bad deeds abound.
Now consider how a government gets people to agree to or tolerate such evils. Appealing to the principles of individual rights or other principles of freedom wouldn't make any sense. No. It is by waving the flag and appealing to patriotism that governments gain support for or acceptance of such crimes. With no patriotism or flag worship it would be much more difficult to commit such evils.
As a more recent example, consider the attempt to prohibit "flag burning." There can hardly be a clearer example of the kind of political speech that the first amendment was meant to protect. This was no argument about a fire hazard, or we would outlaw all Fourth-of-July fireworks. The entire point of the proposed law was to stop individuals from saying something. That, after all, is what a man is doing when he burns a flag.
So when I say "Piss On The American Flag," it is to wake people up to its hypnotic power to cause them to do harm. It is not anti-American, unless you believe that a symbol is more important than principles. I am saying piss on all flags, for they do not deserve our respect. Hold up high moral ideals instead, or else flags will hold them down.