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From: rlr@pyuxn.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Flag Waver Speaks Out
Message-ID: <383@pyuxn.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 14-Dec-83 12:46:36 EST
Article-I.D.: pyuxn.383
Posted: Wed Dec 14 12:46:36 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 16-Dec-83 03:14:13 EST
References: <416@pyuxa.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Piscataway
Lines: 17

Symbols (like flags, national anthems, slogans, etc.) *represent* REAL things,
like one's country, one's football team, one's favorite something-or-other,
etc.  The danger in symbols is their being used as *replacements* for the
real things they represent.  When your reaction to the symbol becomes
equivalent to your reaction to what it represents (does this "ring a bell?")
you are being subjected to fascistic manipulation.  It becomes easy to
convince yourself that the war/whatever you didn't believe in ten minutes
ago is now a patriotic crusade, by simply avoiding the thinking process and
being swept up in the revelry and the symbols.  This is what Genji was
decrying, and I applaud him/her for the article.  Rather than making speeches
about loving one's country and how our lives would be altered if we drove
on the left side of the road.  No apologies necessary, Genji.  Unfortunately,
those who derided your message will probably be the first to leap into
battle "to defend the flag" without first knowing what they're doing (or
even where they're going---"Grenada,  where's that?")
-- 
					Rich Rosen    pyuxn!rlr