Taking prowar to another level

I'm sure you actually believe that.

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So you're saying that this type of violence is equivalent to lying down in the street, spitting on policemen and throwing blood.

Maybe you're on to something.

The people who go off the farm on the RIGHT end of the continuum could spend several generations catching up to the psychopaths on the LEFT edge of the spectrum. Stalin, anyone.

Before you Lefties start pointing fingers -- think about it.

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This from a country with a peerage? The UK is far more steeped in ancestor worship than we are.

As for the Constitution -- you're just being jealous that you guys didn't think of it first. Close, but no cigar.

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Oh how I love articles like these. And to think, people decry the lack of balanced journalism in America! Why even bother responding to the rest of the article when the author immediately insults your intelligence with this kind of drivel? Or is this supposed to be some kind of Op-Ed?

Thanks, you just reinforced my point.

You see, although I was born in London, England, my parents are not from the UK, my bloodline is not from the UK, and I am not white either.

But you see "London, England" next to my name, and start to already judge me by the heritage of the country I live in - this is exactly why... I don't like the idea of a flag, or a country, defining who I am. I want to express myself as an individual and to be treated as such, and I would feel that is being taken away by those who wish to push their idealology onto me.

You just tried pushing the idealology of my country onto me, and try to identify me by it - I can't help it that I live here - I was born here.

But not flag worship. Its a FLAG. A piece of cloth.

A bunch of rednecks need to vent, then why not pick on a bunch of leftie stoodents who cain't fight back. It's every right thinking American's right to kick the ass of anyone he considers to be a lefty.

And as for the constitution - When your nation has grown up a little, youll realise that a constitution is no substitute for a culture.

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::applause::

It IS an op-ed piece.

Ahh ok, I could not seem to follow the link from here. I prefer to get this kind of story from a more objective report, though.

Are you trying to make a visible disconnect with your country? Don't you have a certain amount of pride in your country? I mean, yes, while physically the flag is simply a piece of cloth, doesn't it mean more than just a regualar piece of fabric to you?

I liken it to school pride. I go to the University of Oklahoma. You ain't seen more rabid fans than us. I could say, "that's dumb, wearing an OU shirt to a football game, it's just a piece of fabric." True, but it means a lot. If I see a dumb OU fan throwing rocks, say, at a kansas fan, I don't rip my OU shirt off and hold it upside down to protest his actions. In fact, I'm still an OU fan, I just disagree with that other OU fan's decisions. That doesn't make me view the OU logo on my shirt any differently. I still love OU.

Likewise, the flag means a lot of stuff. If you interpret the flag as "the icon of the current administration" then I guess I just disagree.

Is there anything wrong with having pride in the good ol' US of A whether or not you approve of the administration? Who thought up the idea that having pride in your country or you flag was arrogant and imperialistic?

hm, guess this kinda turned into a rant...

I guess the difference would be if I said to you, "Oh, an OU guy eh? How long you been a sausage-fingered, beady-eyed, pig-****er?"

I think radical sports fans illustrate the point quite well as to why these kinds of prejudice are pretty primitive.

Some of us prefer to be identified as individuals rather than by nationality.

In some thread recently I remember making a point about the difference between Patriotism and Nationalism.

Patriotism -- Love of and devotion to one's country.

Nationalism -- 1) the conviction that the culture and interests of your nation are superior to those of any other nation; 2) The belief that nations will benefit from acting independently rather than collectively, emphasizing national rather than international goals.

I'm sure that the words don't hold the same connotation for everyone. I do think there is a difference, perhaps of degree. For me, nationalism has a negative connotation of assumed superiority and justified bigotry.

hehe. I did my undergraduate at Michigan and my graduate at U Texas. I've seen fans just as rabid, if not more....

you make some good points re: the flag not representing the current administration. But once you made it, I started thinking and realized how indeed could you protest the present administration via icons?

If you burn Bush in effigy, that's not only a bit too extreme, it could be perceived as threatening the President with bodily harm...not something the secret service would appreciate.
Do you make a fake congress building and trash it? too vague.
do you make a soldier and burn it? not if you support the troops in spite of not agreeing with the administration.

I'm at a loss. What do you suggest a peace protestor use in place of a flag?

The other night Bryant Gumbel quoted a recent book in which the author offered the sentiment that I wish I could remember better.

Paraphrasing:

Anyone who, as a non-participant, is angry about the outcome of a sporting event more than 30 mintues after the conclusion is a case of arrested development.

...which is heard sometimes from opposing fans (texas). I'm still an OU fan.



Primitive. So, not only are you implying that all sports fans are primitive and uncivilized, you're implying that people who have taken pride in their country and what it has stood for are backwards-thinking, backwoods hillbillies that you are above.

Quote:

Some of us prefer to be identified as individuals rather than by nationality.

How arrogant of me to label someone "American" or "OU Fan" or "Mac guru"

The hardcore nationalism of many arab countries must really tick you off then?

I'm saying sports fans that would engage in rock throwing or name-calling merely because you're wearing an OU shirt are primitive.

It's ok to love your team. It's not ok to hate people who don't love your team. Is that really so elitist of me?

You can label people all you want, but it's still a form of prejudice whether you like it or not. And anyone who would act on their prejucides with violence is primitive in my view.

I hate all nationalism, regardless of origin.