Gathering around the sundial, the Columbia University College Democrats took part in a weird nation-purging exercise that consisted of getting twenty American flags wet and subsequently drying them, while simultaneously ringing a bell. Each flag represented a grievance with the Iraq War (aka The War on Terror) and each ring of the bell mourned the death of a civilian or soldier. For some reason, groups of people found enough contention to warrant spitting on the little ceremony and find it generally offensive.
President of the CU Republicans, Chris Kulawik, said a few things in the true, hard-core, “America, fuck yeah” attitude that every non-American hates (thus perpetuating the unfortunate American stereotype of arrogant, imperialistic, self-absorbed pricks):
“I really do believe this borders on the desecration of the American flag.”
“It says something when elitist Ivy Leaguers think that they have the right—nay the responsibility—to tell us the flag needs cleansing and that they have the hubris to do so,” he said. “I think it’s insulting. I’m outraged, and I don’t think it’s something we should accept.”
Is it not hubris to think that the flag does not need cleansing, that it is so perfect and untainted that it can be kept how it is? Atten-hut!!!: Wake the fuck up please, sirs! And ‘desecration’? Really? Washing the flag is desecration? Well, I just desecrated half my wardrobe and, having just woken up, I’m now going to go desecrate my face.
While I am not particularly found of that incessant, annoying bell (they at least could have used nice melodious chimes), I don’t think CU Dem’s antics here deserve such bad publicity. And if ideas of American patriotism don’t include constant self-reflection and open-minded discussion, then God save us all. In any case, God Bless America! (I’ve always wanted to do that, and after a year of getting truly “Americanised,” I think I can).
oh hey look, King Douche of the Republicans gets to feign outrage yet again over some annoying “activists” skipping class and washing some flags. i wonder if he takes similar offense to people desecrating his underwear.
Said DEANLOL,
On April 23, 2008 at 3:16 pm:
mm except in theory the American flag is a lot different than your laundry/underwear, as it usually is the manifestation of patriotism for the wealthiest democracy on Earth..
But if you hate the very nation that produced the university you are lucky enough to attend, I could see how that would be confusing.
If you don’t like our country, go home and quit your vulgar whining about American stereotypes.
Said znudzony,
On April 23, 2008 at 4:22 pm:
(I had tried to send you this via email for your own privacy but you have commented under a false email)
Dear Znudzony,
Your comments strike me as somewhat ignorant. First of all, we are not making comparisons between the flag and laundry (or my face). It is the act of washing, the act of cleaning. Don’t confuse the action with the subject.
But this is the most upsetting part of your comment:
“But if you hate the very nation that produced the university you are lucky enough to attend, I could see how that would be confusing.
If you don’t like our country, go home and quit your vulgar whining about American stereotypes.”
I made no mention that I hated or disliked “YOUR” country. Nor is Columbia University simple a product of America or its politics. We are talking about American political ideologies here. So here you are twisting and turning the subject to include my attendance at Columbia University.
I find personal offense to the last line not only because it reeks of pathetic ignorance, but because it is that sort of mindset that keeps a nation’s development stagnant. Your comment simply re-affirms the stereotype. I love Columbia University and I love America. Why on earth would I want to come here if I didn’t like the place? But just like any country, it has its problems and it has its assholes. Simply exposing these issues is, sadly for your poor argument, NOT indicative of disliking the country. And if you had the privilege of having anything to do with the Core, you’d know that that ridiculous ethnographic denunciation of me, as a foreigner (although not so foreign considering I was born and raised in Australia), is incompatible to any form of intelligent, well-informed discussion. To think that a Columbia affiliate (assuming that you are one), is able to throw out a “go home” comment, I find completely abhorrent. And what will you say to those Americans who do not like the current state of America? Go home? To America?
I do hope that you retract your comments, since I can give you the benefit of the doubt that you simply feel strongly about actions of the CU Dems.
Said Vesal Yazdi,
On April 23, 2008 at 5:31 pm:
Stupid comments always seem to come from someone who gives himself a fake name such as “DEANLOL” (and it had to be ALL CAPS TOO!)
For example: “[The flag] is the manifestation of patriotism for the wealthiest democracy on Earth..”
You can brush off deep sounding statements like that with
1. The use of facts to punch holes in stereotypes:
Doesn’t the fact that Norway’s GDP per person (nominal and based on purchasing power parity) technically make Norway “wealthier” than the U.S.?
If you feel that wealth is measured by not only money but how long a citizen can expect to live and the quality of his/her life (such as the number of vacation days), then several European countries edge out the U.S.
or 2. The use of reason to demonstrate the commenter’s lack of reason:
Dissent is the highest form of patriotism. A man who has 400 American flags at home but blindly supports the U.S. government based on ideology is LESS patriotic than a man with no flags at home BUT who votes after reading the news and being informed about the issues.
If blindly supporting whatever flag is nearby is true patriotism, then all it requires is an American flag and a pin (no intelligence or effort). It’s a false, lazy patriotism, and it’s pathetic that people can’t wrap their minds around that concept (that patriotism comes from loving your country enough to learn about its problems, not blindly buying American flags…made in China…)
Said Khalil,
On April 23, 2008 at 6:08 pm:
Typo: I meant to say *Doesn’t the fact that Norway’s GDP per person is higher than America’s make Norway wealthier?
Said Khalil,
On April 23, 2008 at 6:10 pm:
First of all, I registered znudzony with my real name and UNI and I’m a senior in CC so your arrogant assumption that I don’t know anything about the Core is unsurprisingly incorrect.
In your post you ask if washing a flag is desecration, then you note you just desecrated half your cheap mass-produced Che/Mao t-shirts. Oops—I retract that comment!—your “wardrobe”! In case you have trouble remembering, here’s what you wrote:
Wake the f*** up please, sirs! And ‘desecration’? Really? Washing the flag is desecration? Well, I just desecrated half my wardrobe and, having just woken up, I’m now going to go desecrate my face.
I’m not confusing the action with the subject, I wrote that the American flag has meaning that your laundry does not. The American flag should be treated with respect, since it is a symbol of our great nation. At best your analogy was a failed attempt at humor, at worst an accurate description of your contempt for our flag and country.
In your post you included a reference to the “hard-core, “America, f*** yeah” attitude that every non-American hates” so at minimum you don’t like our nationalism. From the content and arrogant tone of your post and replies, is it such a leap to suggest you may not like the country? I started that last sentence with an important word.
Did I write that America is perfect and anyone who questions that should be deported? No. Of course there are problems, and “assholes” as you so politely phrased it.
Did I write anything about you being a foreigner? No. I didn’t know and don’t care where you’re from, but thanks for the info I’ll try to avoid Australia! My comment is equally applicable to the typical American liberal who’s always promising to move to Canada (just do it already, Bush won twice!).
And since we’re sharing unnecessary personal information with one another, I’m an economics major so Khalil’s “facts” didn’t punch any holes in my crazy theory that America is the richest democracy in the world right now. Khalil also may want to check his well-reasoned proof that.. something about buying American flags made in China? lol please……. Learn to write, especially if you’re criticizing someone else’s logic.
Said znudzony,
On April 23, 2008 at 11:37 pm:
A few gaping holes in your logic:
1) I never ‘arrogantly assumed’ that you didn’t know anything about the Core. Nor did I assume you hadn’t taken it. And since we’ve established that you have taken the Core, I’m sorry its intended effect of opening up your mind to other ideas hasn’t really worked.
2) My cheap mass-produced Che/Mao t-shirts. Ha. I don’t think I have either. But thanks for the little stereotyping, personal attack there. And as for my memory, be not concerned.
3) Actually, it’s a giant leap to say that I don’t like the country simply because I don’t like unbridled nationalism (of any kind for that matter). Is America made up entirely of hardcore nationalists? The most worrying thing about your comments is that you think this form of super nationalism is representative of America and that it is something to be encouraged. Patriotism, no doubt. But this? This is the sort of attitude that exacerbates the rest-of-the-world perception that America is this giant imperialistic beast that will not let anyone or anything stand in its way.
4) Uh yeah, try to avoid Australia. Nice logical conclusion there.
5) Just letting you know that around 80% of your comments are based on misguided inferences warped for your own intentions and personal attacks. Just giving you a heads-up.
I will not comment any further. If you’d like to continue the discussion, do so via email to save the rest of comment board here from further inanity.
Said Vesal Yazdi,
On April 23, 2008 at 1:05 am:
If you can’t handle opposing views on things like flag desecration, maybe you shouldn’t write about flag desecration in a public forum.
If you can’t handle a little Australia joke, maybe you should grow a pair.
Said znudzony,
On April 23, 2008 at 2:54 am:
I do think that you underestimate the importance of the American Flag, Vesal. Perhaps it isn’t the same in Australia (I know it isn’t in my home country), but the fact that Columbia leaves a spotlight on the flag at night (because it is, as I gather, illegal to leave the flag in the dark) indicates that the flag is perhaps slightly more significant than you have assumed.
Said Anon.,
On April 23, 2008 at 9:25 am: