Re: Ian Anderson's comment about displaying the American flag

"Evidocity" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> So many ways to look at this one.  First of all, I'm not offended by the
> comment.  For many reasons, it's very likely that I wouldn't even be
> offended if I understood what he meant.  If he came out and said "America
> sucks", I wouldn't mind it, because, with all the great things there are
to
> say about this country, there are quite a few "sucky" things as well.
> There's always room for improvement.  I would think I'd get unanimous
> agreement on that.  And if you agree with this, you should agree that, if
we
> consider ourselves open minded, we should be open to criticism.  Mr.
> Anderson criticizes one single aspect of this country.  You're free to
> boycott his music.  I'm not saying that you're overreacting, but it could
be
> argued that you are.
>
> Many other arguments are valid.  I must admit, personally, that if there
was
> a context to the comment that I read, I don't know of it.  Here's all I
> have:
>
> "I hate to see the American flag hanging out of every bloody station
wagon,
> out of every SUV, every little Midwestern house in some residential area.
> It's easy to confuse patriotism with nationalism. Flag waving ain't gonna
do
> it." (Ian Anderson)
>
> If there is a context, outside of what we have in this quote, that colors
> the message he was trying to convey, then no valid commentary can be made
of
> this quote.  So I'll pretend, for the moment, that I know for a fact that
> this quote encompasses the entire context of his comment unto itself.
>
> Hence my response would be to ask Mr. Anderson what he meant.  Is the
> displaying of a flag an automatic plug for nationalism?  Who is
"confusing"
> (as he says) patriotism with nationalism?  Is Mr. Anderson confused?
> Shouldn't the displayer of the flag be asked if he or she is a nationalist
> before being accused of being one?  What is it that 'flag waving ain't
gonna
> do'?
>
> As for the boycotters, shouldn't you ask these questions before jumping
all
> over Mr. Anderson?
>
> I rarely feel I know what I'm talking about on most subjects.  That's
likely
> the case here, as well.  What distresses me is that the world seems to be
> filled with people who are convinced they always know what they're saying
> and doing, yet they rarely seem to be truly clear on anything coming out
of
> their mouths.  This situation strikes me as an irrational reaction to an
> unclear comment, which may have possibly been taken out of context in the
> first place.
>
> Before anyone starts spewing insults, Mr. Anderson should ask people why
> they're displaying our flag, and people should seek out the total context
of
> his statement and/or ask him to clarify himself.
>
> My point:  I think you're all crazy.  But then again, my opinion's
extremely
> questionable, because I'm quite crazy myself.  (Ask anyone who knows me!)
>
> As for my true (questionable) opinion?  Keep waving those flags if you
feel
> you want to.  Ian, you still rock, and I'll never stopping playing your
> tunes.  Do I have to start quoting Rodney King?
>
>

I didn't get the idea that Anderson is against patriotism or national pride.
He has a problem with knee-jerk, uncritical flag-waving jingoism.