The College Fix

OPINION

You’re a grand old flag, you’re a high-flying flag, and forever in peace may you wave; you’re the emblem of, the land I love, the home of the free and the brave

“We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America.” — Barack Obama, October 30, 2008

When you look at the flag, what do you see? When you gaze upon its strong red, crisp white and deep blue stars and stripes, what comes to mind?

The millions of men and women who have given their lives to defend freedom and democracy over the centuries? The ideals it represents? Freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, the right to a fair trial, the right to be a free people – to vote for our leaders, to worship, to strive toward greatness.

The American flag is a symbol of distinction, of indomitable human spirit and God-given rights. That is what I think of when I see it wave.

But there are those who hate the American flag. Who despise all it stands for. I don’t profess to understand these people. I honestly have no idea where their hatred and vitriol comes from.

All I know is that they are fundamentally transforming our great nation from the inside out.

Leftist professors, dozens of them up and down the state of California, have just signed their name in support of the notion of banning the American flag on campuses.

The letter stated that “nationalism, including U.S. nationalism, often contributes to racism and xenophobia,” and went on to refer to the flag as “paraphernalia of nationalism … used to intimidate.”

To them, the American flag is propaganda, a hateful tool of some sort. They are blinded by their disdain for their own country.

Earlier this month, six misguided student government members at UC Irvine voted to ban hanging the American flag around some parts of campus. Their resolution claimed the stars and stripes is offensive and divisive. Of course they did – they are taught as much by their professors.

Their claim that banning the American flag creates a “safe, inclusive space for all individuals” flows naturally from their instruction. They don’t even see the problem with it.

Yes, the outrage over the vote was fast and furious, and the decision has been overturned. And several committee members who voted to approve the ban have also since apologized, saying they did not see the “greater implications” of their decision.

But are we really surprised that this even happened? Just last month the student government that represented the entire UC system voted to divest from America, citing alleged human rights violations by America such as drone strikes that have killed civilians, and claiming the country’s criminal justice system is racist, among other accusations.

Students are being taught to hate America, by their professors. These votes to divest from the U.S., to ban the American flag on campus, these are just manifestations of that education.

And so here comes professors to the defense of the vote and arguing that yes, in fact, the American flag should be banned on campus. Campus Reform reports that a letter signed by more than 60 professors endorsed as much. The letter states:

We write to support the six members who offered the resolution to remove national flags from the ASUCI lobby. The university ought to respect their political position and meet its obligation to protect and promote their safety. The resolution recognized that nationalism, including U.S. nationalism, often contributes to racism and xenophobia, and that the paraphernalia of nationalism is in fact often used to intimidate. This is a more or less uncontroversial scholarly point, and in practice the resolution has drawn admiration nationally from much of the academic community. In fact, the resolution’s perspective has been completely borne out by recent events. Over the weekend, UCI has been inundated with racist, xenophobic comments and death threats against the students from people who are, precisely, invested in the paraphernalia of nationalism. UCI’s official Facebook page, for example, has filled up with violent and racist remarks. Its official moderator, representing UCI, has neither repudiated the comments nor deleted them–even the death threats. We are afraid that Chancellor Gillman’s response will have the effect of licensing further harassment. We admire the courage of the resolution’s supporters amid this environment of political immaturity and threat, and support them unequivocally.

Yes, people were outraged. No excuse for death threats or “violent and racist remarks.” However, the same flag that protects students’ and professors’ right to spit on it also protects people’s right to angrily defend it.

The bottom line is this: Barack Hussein Obama is not the only one working to fundamentally transform the United States of America. He has an army of scholars helping him.

Jennifer Kabbany is editor of The College Fix (@JenniferKabbany)

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