|
As the war of terror against the world rages, conservative and right-wing forces within the U.S. are once again taking steps to mandate the kind of patriotism necessary for the "New World Order" to succeed. VVAWAI has opposed mandated patriotism and stood front and center in 1989 when the last serious attempt to outlaw flag burning was tried. We have put together a sampling of statements, excerpts, articles and poems regarding these important issues.
- Constitutional Amendment On Flag Desecration Is Back Again
Supporters Say Bill Stands Better Chance After War With Iraq
- "Why, of course the people don't want war...it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship...
All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.
It works the same in any country."
-Hermann Goering
Hitler's deputy in the Nazi regime, during his war crimes trial at Nuremberg in 1943, interviewed by the American psychologist G. M. Gilbert, an American intelligence officer who spoke German.
- Poem--TRAITOR by Nazim Hikmet
- "Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind... And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded with patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader, and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar."
- CONTAINMENT by Mike Hastie
- "Why don't they change it to 'one nation under Canada?' Or 'over Mexico?' That way everybody's happy.
--Robin Williams
- The Problem of Patriotism -- Texas Pledge Law Undermines Democracy by Robert Jensen
|