"I want America back"
Nov. 20th, 2001 07:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
robotech_masterI'm at the parents' place now, for dinner with the relatives. In fact, I just finished eating, and now is the interim time between food and dessert. I think I have time for a quick note.
On the way down, I happened to see, out of the corner of my eye, one of those elevated signs where businesses post slogans. I didn't quite catch what business it was had the sign, and I saw it so quickly I barely even had time to catch the words. For all I know, I might have misread them, and they might not even have been there at all. But for what it's worth, the sign said, "I want America back."
It was such a change from the usual--the "God Bless America" and "We Will Remember" and other slogans that one sees on such signs these days--that it gave me pause, and I think it touched me deeply. Instead of the bluff bravado and patriotism, a plaintive wish for life before September 11th. I can empathize with that.
Earlier today, as I was picking up some things from K-Mart, I happened to notice a CD in a prominent display. By Lee Greenwood, called "An American Patriot," featuring Lee's megahit "God Bless the USA," the Pledge of Allegiance, and various patriotic songs. I don't begrudge Lee the song; "God Bless the USA" was actually pretty good. I don't even begrudge him the album, come to think of it; I imagine they're donating some portion of the proceeds to benefit September 11 charities. (If they're not, then I do have a problem with them!). But...it just looks so tacky, really. For Lee Greenwood to be on the cover of this CD, with an American flag waving in the background, as the title proudly proclaims him to be "An American Patriot". And what are the rest of us, chopped liver?
And that's been repeated all over the place. You can't go anywhere without seeing an American flag these days. For crying out loud, my parents have one proudly waving in the corner of their desktop. (And probably leaking memory all over the place, too.) And flags are good. But when flags cross the line from being a symbol of pride to being a way to profiteer on a tragedy . . . what does that say about us?
Sigh. I want America back.
On the way down, I happened to see, out of the corner of my eye, one of those elevated signs where businesses post slogans. I didn't quite catch what business it was had the sign, and I saw it so quickly I barely even had time to catch the words. For all I know, I might have misread them, and they might not even have been there at all. But for what it's worth, the sign said, "I want America back."
It was such a change from the usual--the "God Bless America" and "We Will Remember" and other slogans that one sees on such signs these days--that it gave me pause, and I think it touched me deeply. Instead of the bluff bravado and patriotism, a plaintive wish for life before September 11th. I can empathize with that.
Earlier today, as I was picking up some things from K-Mart, I happened to notice a CD in a prominent display. By Lee Greenwood, called "An American Patriot," featuring Lee's megahit "God Bless the USA," the Pledge of Allegiance, and various patriotic songs. I don't begrudge Lee the song; "God Bless the USA" was actually pretty good. I don't even begrudge him the album, come to think of it; I imagine they're donating some portion of the proceeds to benefit September 11 charities. (If they're not, then I do have a problem with them!). But...it just looks so tacky, really. For Lee Greenwood to be on the cover of this CD, with an American flag waving in the background, as the title proudly proclaims him to be "An American Patriot". And what are the rest of us, chopped liver?
And that's been repeated all over the place. You can't go anywhere without seeing an American flag these days. For crying out loud, my parents have one proudly waving in the corner of their desktop. (And probably leaking memory all over the place, too.) And flags are good. But when flags cross the line from being a symbol of pride to being a way to profiteer on a tragedy . . . what does that say about us?
Sigh. I want America back.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Flags
Date: 2001-11-22 06:06 am (UTC)Have a great day today, just lazing around!
I think we will take some horses to the forest and ride today.
Love,
Mom