Defending the Truth

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.

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.

Agreed. But that doesn't mean we can't just stop and say, "Wow, see there, bush is standing on the American flag."

Perhaps I'm not getting the point across that I hoped. I understand that you hold some sort of symbolic attachment to the floormat flag, and I understand that you feel he's disrespecting it. And of course that is your opinion.

But your opinion sucks. I mean, why do you care whether Bush steps on a doormat colored like a flag? Nothing bad will happen. Your property isn't being destroyed. Bush isn't intentionally disrespectful. So why do you care?

If Bush were stepping on a floormat colored slightly differently, no one would mind. Because the doormat is colored in this fashion, your mind conjures up bad symbolism. But it's just symbolism: It's not real; it's just in your mind. So put it out of your mind. What is real is that Bush is stepping on a floormat, doesn't mean any disrespect, and isn't causing any harm.

They might think it is tacky, if they thought that I was intentionally trying to disrespect them. But in the end, I think it would come down to my intentions.

Let's look at another example. Let's imagine I put a movie star's handprints and name into a piece of concrete on the ground in Hollywood. Then people come through and walk on it. Is that disrespectful? It is not, because it is well understood that I am trying to honor that star and preserve that star's memory.

Now, this is a bit difficult because, the n-word's meaning is pretty much offensive. But if you were using it in a fashion which truly did not intend offense, and truly did not express some belief that black people are inferior, then why should they be angry? Is it simply because a taboo word was spoken? That's no big deal, it's just sound waves. It is the intention of the speaker, and the effects of his words that matter.

The flag reminds me of certain real events, and thinking of those real events may make me feel some emotion. But burning the flag doesn't change those events, and when I see a burning flag, or a flag being stepped on, I think of those very same events. Why should my emotion be different? It isn't the symbol that is important, it is the real events behind the symbol.

The soldier's victory in Iwo Jima is far more important than the raising of the flag. Had they instead placed a giant sign which read, "American forces now occupy this base", the event would have been no less important. But because they placed a flag, and that a famous monument of that event was created, the flag now reminds me of Iwo Jima.

In the same fashion, the events that happend on 9-11 are fare more important than the raising of a flag. But because the flag was displayed prominantly during 9-11, the flag reminds me of 9-11.

The flag is just an object that reminds us of real events. Disrespecting or destroying the reminder doesn't change those events. If I burn the flag, I have not burned America, I have not burned Americans, I have not burned our soliders, and I have not burned those who died on 9-11. All I have done is burn a piece of cloth, and even though that piece of cloth reminds us of something, no harm has been caused.

So don't confuse a symbol with reality. The meaning of a symbol is all in your mind, it's all in what it reminds you of. Destroying a symbol is not the same thing as destroying what it reminds you of.

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.

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.

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.