COMMENTARY:

The Republic, the American Flag & the Left

Kristol was one of the principal speakers that day. From my vantage point, it was difficult to get a good look at him, not only because of his Woody Allen-type profile, but because the platform he was standing on was swamped by American flags and patriotic-sounding placards and banners. Kristol, when he did make it up to the podium, insisted that the purpose of the war was “to liberate the peoples of Iraq.” I wanted to scream out at him, “You’re full of it, Kristol!" But then, discretion got the better of me.

photo by William Hughes

What struck me about the rally, attended only by a few hundred war hawks, was how the slick Kristol, a big fan of Ariel Sharon, had cleverly wrapped himself in the American flag. If anybody had no right to claim the flag for the symbol of his dubious cause, it was the creepy Kristol. In fact, there were more American flags there that day than people! Later that same afternoon, I covered a much larger demonstration in D.C. It was an antiwar rally. It went on for blocks, but, unfortunately, there wasn’t an American flag in sight. Why? Why does the Left allow warmongers like Kristol to seize the patriotic high ground? Is it justified? Is it a good strategy for the Movement? Who are the really true patriots on this issue--the Neocons? The Bush-Cheney Gang? Or, is it antiwar icons, such as Ron Kovic, an ex-Vietnam War veteran? Kovac is also the author of riveting book on his wartime experiences, Born on the Fourth of July, which was later made into a movie.

First, let’s take a look at the origins of the American Republic. It was initially made possible by the victory of the gallant Continental Army over the British imperialists, in a long, difficult eight and one half year struggle, under the leadership of Gen. George Washington. It was then shaped into words, by men like James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and Ben Franklin, which gave birth to the US Constitution in the City of Philadelphia, in 1787.

Secondly, John Marshall, one of our country’s legendary Supreme Court Chief Justices, defined what the Republic is in a famous 1819 case by writing: “The government proceeds directly from ‘the people,’ is ordained and established in the name ‘of the people.’ The government of the Union is emphatically and truly a government ‘of the people.’ In form and substance, it emanates from them. Its powers are granted by them and are to be exercised directly on them, and for their benefit...”

Marshall, who had also distinguished himself as a Revolutionary War soldier at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, was speaking a profound Constitutional truth. It is beyond question that the American Republic is the property of the people. The ancient Romans put it this way: “Res Publica Est Res Populi."

What does all of that mean in plain English? It means that federal governments, like this present disgusting regime, will come and go. But, what will always remain is the “Republic," which is sourced “by the people.” The Bush-Cheney Gang is not the Republic. The American flag doesn’t symbolize the current administration. The Bush-Cheney Gang just happens to be the present rotten clique in control of the federal government in 2005.

The flag stands for the people. The Pledge of Allegiance has it right, when, in explaining the important symbolism about the flag, it states, “And to the ‘Republic’ for which it stands...” The American flag, drawing on the deeper truths found in the Constitution, represents you, as both an individual citizen and also as part of a wider collective of 296 million living Americans. The populist ringing “We the People”--found in the Preamble of the Constitution, in other key parts of that document, and in the Bill of Rights--is all about "the underlying theory of popular sovereignty."

So then, based on all of the above, when is the Left going to stop giving away the patriotic high ground? Why does it choose to act like “an outsider” in this battle for the minds and opinions of our fellow Americans on the questions concerning the Iraqi War? Kristol is the “outsider” on those questions. He wants to send your children off to die in Iraq, while he and his fellow Neocons, like Perle, make the rounds of the Talk Radio and TV shows. Meanwhile, the horrors of Iraq continue and the "Fat Cats" get fatter.

I believe that Kovic, and the Antiwar Movement, are the true patriots. If one of the purposes of demonstrating against the war is to raise the consciousness of the people and to bring them over to our side--the antiwar side--then why not come down on the side of the Republic? Isn’t it time to start displaying the American flag at demonstrations? Don’t give that position away! It’s yours by historical and Constitutional right. It has, more importantly, been paid for in the blood of patriots since 1776.

When a demonstrator burns an American flag at a rally (fortunately, it rarely happens these days), not only is he or she committing a stupid, self-defeating act, but that person is also showing his ignorance about the flag's deep emotional significance to the American people. It only hurts the cause. If you need to burn something at a rally (and, I’m not recommending that you burn anything), then burn an effigy of Bush, Cheney, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Rice or Kristol; or, better yet, an effigy of the loathsome Richard Perle!

Finally, it is long past the time for the Antiwar Movement to take the initiative on this matter. I am convinced that this movement is the true spiritual heir of the “Sons of Liberty.” Put those patriotic costumes on, Antiwar Movement, and display those patriotic banners that harken back to our country’s heroic past at your future rallies. And also, get those American flags out of the closet. Let Kristol know who the genuine patriots are. He certainly isn't one of them; nor are those other bloodthirsty Neocons who have contributed to the deaths of 1,586 of our finest sons and daughters. They schemed, with others, to push this unjust war on our country. If they belong anywhere, it is on the garbage heap of history and not wrapped in an American flag.

Antiwar Movement: Seize the high ground, now!