Political symbolism

The flag pin is a symbol and a sign of an authoritarian political culture. As is the pledge of allegiance.

William Blum, the legendary analyst of CIA interventions, offers a thoughtful critique of patriotism and nationalism (he doesn't see a distinction between the two).

I was curious to see how Native American groups responded to the 4th of July. I wondered, what meaning do Native Americans attach to the symbolism of the "Fourth." I found a tremendous array of John Trudell's spoken word (see: Crazy Horse; Look at US; Earth: The Living Entity). But, Almost to my surprise, I found absolutely nothing that addressed the issue directly.  I concluded from this that its pretty meaningless, and that many Native Americans have their own symbols that they invest meaning in. 

Similarly, I wonder how different African-Americans understand the meaning of July 4, 1776. Is that date an important landmark in African-American history? Here is Frederick Douglass's famous 1852 reflection, "The Meaning of the Fourth of July for the Negro." Of course there are other and more recent interpretations. I'd be curious to hear what Rev. Wright might have to say. 

Obviously the meaning of any political symbol is multivalent, multi-layered, and highly complex. It seems that what is most authoritarian is when when one set of meanings is imposed on all, or when recognition and celebration of any given symbol (like the flag pin) is mandatory, and enforced in a myriad of ever so subtle, and not so subtle ways. It seems that this is how the values of the ruling class are imposed on subaltern classes. Through these kinds of symbols, through flags, and pins, and anthems, and history books and news papers, and cable news networks. No one symbol seems all that significant (unless of course you microwave it and subject it ethnographic analysis- and so reveal its deep structural meanings), but the cumulative effect, is a rather psychopathic country that perpetrates gross violence on all perceived "enemies," near and far, while the public vacillates between jingositic support, and bored indifference (of course their is always subaltern resistance... but perhaps that is a topic for another post). How is it that our country and our  government can do what they do, and nobody seems to give a shit. If we're looking for answers, I don't think that flag pins are bad place to start.