| Council Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Michigan, Near Detroit Posts: 1,028 Level up: 55%, 90 Points needed |  |  Quote:
Originally Posted by Katczinsky  A certain type of symbol is defined on how our culture currently perceives it, as well as its intention behind the symbol. In this case, walking on something, especially a symbol that represents a people or an ideal (in this case the American flag), usually is a sign of disrespect because it is currently our civilization's perception of this act. For instance, in some locations in the world, lets say the Middle East for example, there have been very large paintings of the American flag or President Bush on the ground in certain popular areas of certain cities. These middle eastern countries aren't showing their support for our country or administration; they put them there as a sign of disrespect to us because people are intended to walk on them everyday. | In the Middle East, those large paintings on the ground should be understood to be a message about displeasure with America. But if the message is different, it should be understood as different. In the case of Bush and the floormat, the message is that we should never forget the events of 9-11. We realize this is the message, so what is the problem. Quote:
Perhaps the middle finger is a good explanation. You could make the same case that when viewing sticking up your middle finger in a very objective way, you only see something natural: we're all human, and we all have this finger, what is so cosmically wrong about sticking it up? Well its how our culture precieves that finger that makes it wrong, not the actual act of sticking it up. In other words, the acts aren't what are harmful, it is the intention behind them, and how people precieve and react to the events unfolding before them. Bush walking on the American flag can be precieved by many as a sign of desrespect, not that the actual act was disrespectful.
Hmm, I hope I got my point across with that.
| But the important part isn't how it's perceived, it's what the message is intended to be.
For example, I have seen people use their middle finger to point at things. In this case, the intention is not to insult me, but instead to point at something. So when I see this I don't assume I am insulted, I assume I am supposed to look at the object being pointed at.
Now, I might jokingly say that I'm being given the finger, but I would not truly feel outraged or disturbed because the middle finger was used instead of the index finger. The important part is the intent of the person giving the finger. Quote: |
Agreed. But that doesn't mean we can't just stop and say, "Wow, see there, bush is standing on the American flag."
| Sure, it's okay to jokingly point out that Bush is standing on the flag, and mention that this is symbolic of Bush standing on the nation. But we shouldn't truly feel upset by this symbolism. Bush's real intent is to respect the flag and the events it represents, not to disrespect them.
Foundit's original question asked how people who love the flag can use it as a floormat. I intend to answer that. Further, it was stated multiple times that this image is disturbing. I say it shouldn't be disturbing. -Jaxian |