Week starting 13th October – Put out more flags, the walls are rising
This week we headed South to Monticello and Warner Robins in Middle Georgia for three days, to see Lisa’s family and friends down there, and tend to a few chores including some arrangements at Robins Federal Credit Union (the bank where Lisa has had an account for about 50 years – the name has nothing to do with me, but it does feel comforting to whip out a credit card with Robin in large friendly letters).
We also went to see Lisa’s second cousin Brandy and her husband Zack. An important visit – Zack runs a reclaimed timber business, and he will be providing the flooring for our new home. We plan to use reclaimed timber from the Old Crow Distillery which Zack will process into solid tongue and groove boards of random widths and lengths.
Progress is being made on the build – the walls for the lower level have been created from poured concrete this week. A very different approach to building in UK – not a brick to be seen anywhere. There are some up-to-date pictures on the website. On Friday we went with Bill to see another house of a similar style that he had built a few years back up in Suches (20 miles away, up and over the mountains). It was a lot larger than our modest build, and it certainly focussed our minds on what we do and don’t like. We received the final version of the lower floor redesign from the architect and have signed this off. So, now we have to investigate and decide upon some key issues like what styles of windows we want and how the complicated beams in the main living room will be designed.
Flags in America
In USA, the word “flag” has multiple meanings. A strip of ribbon tied to a tree marking a property line is a flag. As is a three inch coloured piece of fabric or plastic on a wire stuck into the ground marking underground utilities. Even the red lever attached to the side of a mailbox – raise the flag and the mailperson will not only deliver your mail but will also stop to collect your outgoing letters. A useful service which really works.
But the omnipresent flag is Old Glory, the Stars and Stripes. Sitting at a traffic light in Dahlonega, I counted 9 of them on display. From our hotel window when in New York I rapidly reached 19 with more in view (though given the proximity to the 9/11 site perhaps this was understandable). They are everywhere. On government buildings, on businesses and on shops. On front porches and by mailboxes on country roads and on the stamps on letters. They are on the left sleeves of army battledress (in a sludgy grey-green camouflage version) and in a multiplicity of designs on T-shirts, cards, souvenirs and anything else you can imagine. I have even seen adverts for underwear with American flags, but I have heard that this is often frowned upon – cartoons and designs based loosely on the flag are more acceptable for that. There are websites offering advice and guidance on the customs and laws about displaying the flag, as well as on what to do with a worn-out version (the American Legion offers a service to respectfully cremate flags and then bury the ashes).
But what does the ubiquitous and omnipresent American flag say about the national psyche? There are plenty of practical reasons to have a flag or two (though not necessary the national emblem) – to demonstrate some patriotic feeling (like having a family member in the military), to show that your business is open, to have something to mark which driveway into the forest leads to your house. But my own feeling in this revolves around the inherent divisions and diversity within USA. A few examples:
– A government created with deliberate friction between three counterbalancing forces (Executive, Congress, Judiciary).
– 50 states able to set their own agenda defending their belief in self-determination against a federal centralism.
– A nation with a large immigrant population, with diversity of languages and customs.
– A belief in a laissez-faire capitalism, in a society where it is up to you and nobody else to look after your own interests.
– And a political balance manifesting itself at present in an almost visceral antipathy between political groups.
All these are all examples of factors driving towards fragmentation in my opinion.
So, what glue holds against this centrifugal force? As well as common beliefs, symbols reflecting this are needed. And the Stars and Stripes fits the symbolism requirement perfectly. It is non partisan. It has a historical context. It represents the diversity of 50 States in the stars, and the history of USA in the 13 stripes. It is available to all to display an allegiance to the American concept, the ultimate symbol of US patriotism.
Patriotism is not a dirty word here (unlike the more cynical English opinion expressed one year before the US Declaration of Independence by Samuel Johnson: “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel”). To invoke patriotism in USA is to declare belief to a common American Dream, support for military and other uniformed public servants, to adherence to the US Constitution as the cornerstone of true democracy, even a belief in global leadership by the last remaining superpower as a force for good. This isn’t a uniquely American position – most countries have an built-in belief underpinning the correctness of their own patriotism. But the USA does also seen have a stronger need than many to confront the fragmentation issue. And thus the importance of the Stars and Stripes. It provides a physical manifestation this shared belief in “patriotic togetherness”, whatever that truly means. And that is something which, miraculously, makes USA a place which still offers hope and opportunity. But I still cannot buy into the concept of flaunting the symbol on your underpants.
Last week’s question – which US State has the Union Jack on its flag? Hawaii
King Kamehameha commissioned a flag design in 1816 which incorporated the Union Jack – the Kingdom of Hawaii had close links and treaties with UK. The Kingdom was overthrown in 1898 by US forces and annexed by USA in 1900. However, apart from a minor redesign in 1945, the same flag remains in use today.
Next week –
Fall is falling and the leaves are changing (currently to a cross between olive green and rust, more yellow to come I am told), the Gold Rush, more design decisions and the wait for the concrete to cure.