Non-sequitur Patriotism

Be it known that I am an unabashed patriot with great care, interest, and admiration for our country's history, development, pride, and constitution. While I often find myself in disagreement with particular governmental practices, and there certainly are flaws in the way we operate our democracy, at the same time, there is no question in my mind, we live in a country that seeks to encourage individuality, promote freedom, to protect its citizens, and, in spite of an eroding of privacy and hints of socialism, continues to respect the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.

As to the American Flag, there is no doubt that it represents the ideals set forth by our founders, with remarkable symbolism of strength, compassion, and unity. In certain settings the American flag is a breath-taking and eye-catching monument, signifying great sacrifice and devotion to the ideals set forth in our marvelous United States of America. Displaying the American Flag is the right and privilege of families, individuals, and institutions and reminds all of us to retain our appreciation and humility of living in this great land of opportunity, a land that men historically and presently give their lives to defend.

Yet today, as I drove down the street, I saw several businesses, car dealerships, real estate agencies, and eating establishments working diligently to place small and large American flags all over cars, in the grass, on signs, poles, banners, and tents. One business had 35 small flags in the grass located in the front. In some ways I felt bathed in patriotism and rather appreciated the opportunity, particularly as July 4 gets closer, but in other ways I felt manipulated and seduced by powers that seemed to think I would make purchases based on the level of patriotism displayed. Ironically and similarly, another like business was placing a large amount of balloons on cars in a rather festive and cheery visual representation of new vehicles with a reduction in cost to the buyer.

Does the size of the flag indicate the level of patriotism of the establishment? or does the number of flags draw our attention for the purpose of making a sale? or maybe it is an artistic statement of some kind, in a kind of outdoor visual gallery of color and joy. Are the balloons synonymous with the flags or do all the items merely indicate a celebratory kind of attitude? Is the goal to increase our awareness of the upcoming holiday by serving as a reminder to take a few moments to remember our country?

My suspicion, however, is that businesses use the excuse or opportunity of an upcoming celebration to provide eye catching flags in an attempt to increase sales. While part of me certainly respects the need to boost the economy, at the same time, I do question the use of an important patriotic symbol to increase sales of particular items. I find this to be illogical and an example of marketing manipulation. Furthermore, I suspect this rampant and common practice in fact ultimately lessens and even downgrades the symbolism of the flag by virtue of its frequency and expectation.

So I propose that we the shoppers frequent the businesses based on the quality of the product not the number or size of the flags displayed. I further suggest we either acknowledge the worth and meaning of the American flag and thereby increase its value by reducing the constant display, or we give up and simply begin to treat the flag as a balloon, a fun and colorful decoration guaranteed to pop at the slightest provocation. If we want to make patriotism a valued and honored ideal, which is what I recommend, then let us not use a flag as a cheap decoration with the intent of drawing attention. I find this practice to be a misguided and non-sequitur act of patriotism for some kind of manipulation.

To be fair, I do suspect that the businesses are rather patriotic and are in fact honoring the country with their own system and are attempting to send a message to their constituents of their support of troops, of the government, and the country at large. There is certainly nothing wrong and many things right about being patriotic and displaying our country's flag, and something rather democratic and noble about advertising a business. My problem is that mixing and melding the two ideals--marketing and patriotism--seems rather incongruous, forcing the viewer into a mode of false support for the business. Not unlike the musician who programs a patriotic work at the end of a concert in order to garner a standing ovation. It comes close to being a cheap, contrived trick.