About those American flag lapel pins

[Cyrano]

A few Democratic politicians wear American flag lapel pins. But it’s a required accessory for Republicans.

As far as I’ve been able to learn, it started in the Nixon era: probably sometime around 1970. The Vietnam War was still going then and while most Dems had turned against the war, many Republicans were still for it.

I've been told that, for the most part, the flag pin was worn by Republicans during those years. (And it seems to continue through today.) I don't know who came up with it, but I think the idea was to say “I’m a ‘real, patriotic American’ and anybody who doesn’t wear one isn’t.”

I remember that sometime around the beginning of Obama’s candidacy or presidency, the Republicans were all over him for not wearing a flag lapel pin. He started wearing one.

Anyhow, I’ve been told that the American flag lapel pin led to flags showing up on the shoulder patches of American police departments and in many other places. (Did they think we’d mistake them for Bolivian police?)

If anyone knows more about this flag lapel pin thing than I do, I’d like to hear from you.

[guillaumeb]

1. The NSDAP was also really supportive of flag waving and display.

Almost like fetish symbols.

[Cyrano]

2. Okay, I'll bite

What's the NSDAP?

[guillaumeb]

3. It is a German acronym and stands for, (drum roll please)

Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei /National Socialist German Workers' Party; NSDAP.

Abbreviated in German as Nazi Party. They also loved flag display. Typical of fascists in general to focus on symbols rather than substance.

[Cyrano]

5. Hmm, kinda sounds like

a few members of today's Republcian Party

[guillaumeb]

9. Far more than a few, unfortunately.

Hyper-nationalistic, militaristic proponents of endless war in defense of the homeland. Quick to blame minorities and outsiders for all of the problems with the heimat. Sorry, I meant to write homeland.

[saturnsring]

4. NAZI PARTY

info), abbreviated NSDAP), commonly referred to in English as the Nazi Party (/ˈnɑːtsi/), was a political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that practised Nazism. Its predecessor, the German Workers' Party (Deutsche Arbeiterpartei; DAP), existed from 1919 to 1920. Part of a series on.

[malthaussen]

12. True,dat.

Used to be, an American flag in the corner was all the display necessary. Now, when I see politicians on stage, I'm reminded of nothing so much as "Triumph des Willens."

Patriotism is not something that is worn.

-- Mal

[guillaumeb]

21. The GOP is patriotic except when it comes to money.

Witness all the flag draped Walmart stores that sell Chinese goods that are assembled by slaves.

[Major Nikon]

15. As were loyalty oaths

The Nazis also rewrote Christianity to suit their interests. The cookbook for fascism just isn't all that complicated.

[guillaumeb]

22. True. Sinclair Lewis said that fascism would come to the US

cloaked in a flag and carrying a Bible.

[TheBlackAdder]

6. Simpletons demand simple measures to prove allegiance, smarter people want proof in action. nt

[Wellstone ruled]

7. Yup,made in China.

You can purchase your own lapel pin at your friendly neighborhood Wal-Mart if you think you are in need of one.

[gratuitous]

8. It's a talisman

I jokingly told a German volunteer at our church's service house that we had all these flag displays so that some of our slower citizens wouldn't forget what country they were in.

The omnipresence of the flag is a talisman to ward off evil and promote tribal solidarity. It's the same thinking that has Republicans yammering about how the President won't mouth the meaningless words "Islamic extremist." Or placing your coffee order at Starbuck's and giving your name as "Merry Christmas" so those godless heathens are forced to say Merry Christmas. You hear echoes of it when people are rotely reciting the pledge of allegiance and they hit the words "under God" particularly hard (in that case, it's more of a shibboleth).

It's been going on for years, whether it's signing meaningless "loyalty oaths" (Why would an enemy infiltrator hesitate to sign one - fearful of lying to one's mortal enemy?) or mindlessly gabbling the paternoster at the beginning of the school day. Wearing that flag lapel pin marks you as one of the trustworthy good guys. Unless you're a bad guy, then you're doing your dastardly best to try to dupe or confuse the good guys.

[orpupilofnature57]

10. I'd wear the PT-109 pin if I was an elected official, with Pride .

[Volaris]

11. I would just get a tattoo of the flag PIN on my forearm..

And then be a Dick about it...
NOW who's the Real Patriot, bitch???
But I'm willing to beat them at their own stupid game.

[haikugal]

13. Used to be a flag decal

[onenote]

14. Robert Redford in "The Candidate"

Supposedly Redford's character wears a flag pin and the oft told story is that Nixon saw the movie and picked up on the idea. If you look at pictures of Nixon in 1968, for example, he's not wearing a pin.

Wearing the pin died out for awhile, but there was a resurgence after 9-11. In particular, if you look at pictures of George Bush during the 2000 campaign, he's not wearing a flag pin.

[Hekate]

16. Bush; after 9-11 it became obligatory. After awhile, one begins to wonder.

[rgbecker]

17. Fuck flag pins.

[KentuckyWoman]

18. I was taught wearing the flag was disrespectful.

This guy made it work though.

[Mister Ed]

19. Thank you. That's my understanding too.

It's not jewelry, or a beach towel, or a kerchief, and using it in that way is disrespectful.

Great photo though!

[Cyrano]

20. It seems lots of you know bullshit when

you see it.

Sorry, I'm just getting back. And i was surprised to see the responses.

Thanks for your observations. And thanks for not buying into the tons of insane crap shoveled at us every hour of every day by our American fascist party also known as Republicans.

[JEB]

23. Flag pins are an empty gesture

that requires little thought or effort. Perfect for GOPigs.

[kentauros]

24. I don't know anything more than you or the rest here,

but somewhere in this mess I have an American flag pin that's paired with an old-style Soviet hammer-and-sickle flag. Republicans would probably like that one since they love Putin so much

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

25. . "Patriotism is the passion of fools and the most foolish of passions." Arthur Schopenhauer

[rusty quoin]

26. +1