Flag-waving has been perceived as a quintessentially American act, akin to enjoying apple pie. Over the years, the Republican party’s narrative has often taken a sharp aim at Democrats, presenting them as radical leftists and critics of the American way of life, resulting in unfortunate ramifications. The time has come to reframe this narrative. The term ‘Flag-shagging’, a British colloquialism, refers to irreverent displays of patriotism; a concept that was elaborated upon in The Economist.
Throughout his presidency, Donald Trump was persistent in furthering the narrative that Democrats harbor a distaste for the military and the nation itself. His claims of Democrats being ‘un-American’ and ‘treasonous’ are baseless, but as the saying goes, ‘A lie repeated often enough becomes the truth.’ This situation leads to these unfounded ideas being reiterated by the Republican leadership at every level.
Notably, during the run-up to the presidential elections, JD Vance, the then-Republican vice-presidential nominee from Ohio, levelled accusations at Kamala Harris, the prospective Democratic presidential nominee, questioning her loyalty to the country. According to Vance, Harris’s speeches typically criticized the nation’s history instead of expressing gratitude for it, a perspective that echoes previous Republican attacks against Democrats, like those against former first lady Michelle Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign.
Flare-ups by Republicans are not an uncommon sight. In 2020, Dan Crenshaw, a first-term congressman from Texas, scrutinized U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, faulting her for advocating a debate over the removal of controversial statues and monuments of early American leaders. Crenshaw, a former Navy SEAL, chastised Duckworth, claiming she was championing the ‘destruction of America.’ An ironic stance, considering Duckworth, a retired Army National Guard lieutenant colonel, lost her legs while serving in Iraq.
Democrats certainly have their work cut out for them if they aim to alter this misplaced perspective. A Gallup poll in 2024 revealed that 41% of adults claimed to be ‘extremely proud’ of their American identity, while another 26% identified as ‘very proud.’ The curious part about this data is that the patriotic pride amongst Republicans consistently exceeded that of Democrats.
In the aforementioned 2024 poll, it was revealed that 59% of Republicans, 34% of Democrats, and 36% of independents claimed they were ‘extremely proud’ to be American. This appears to accentuate an existing narrative set by Republicans – that Democrats lack patriotism, a baseless assumption that Democrats need to tackle head-on.
It’s high time Democrats fiercely embrace ‘Flag-shagging.’ They are constantly portrayed as supporters of disruptive elements who desecrate the American flag. This tarnishes their image unjustly, and it is the U.S. Supreme Court’s responsibility, not theirs, to handle concerns associated with free speech.
A noteworthy example for Democrats to learn from can be found in the actions of Rahm Emanuel, a well-known Democrat, former U.S. ambassador to Japan, and ex-Mayor of Chicago. Emanuel is currently on a quest to course-correct his political journey. This month, he held an event to spotlight an initiative he has undertaken for students of Chicago Public Schools enrolled in ROTC.
Emanuel, in partnership with his spouse, Amy Rule, is setting up an ROTC scholarship named after Adm. Lisa Franchetti. As part of this initiative, twelve graduates of the CPS Junior ROTC were fortunate to receive a scholarship towards their collegiate education. Each beneficiary was gifted $10,000 per year – the way Democrats demonstrated support, subtly yet effectively.
This action resulted in an enhanced public image for Democrats, credited to their patriotic initiative. Their strategy proved to be successful, causing former President Trump to feel encircled by their growing patriotism. After all, aligning yourself with patriotism is no vice but a virtue, one that everyone would naturally resonate with.
Just like the universal support for motherhood, it’s hard to find a person against patriotism. Contrary to this universal sentiment, Democrats are often perceived as critics of the nation because of Republican narratives. Although focusing on issues like wealth inequality will get them some support, it’s crucial to balance that with outright displays of patriotism.
This brings us to the conclusion that the Democratic party needs to reinvent their image by displaying their patriotism more openly and audaciously. By doing so, they could successfully dismantle Republican narratives that paint them as ‘America-haters.’ Unless they make a significant shift in their approach, they risk being miscast continually.
Democrats must understand that renunciation of patriotism, or even a perceived lack of it, can only lead to political adversity. The time is ripe for them to step up, wave the flag high, and truly embrace the American spirit. Doing so would constitute a dynamic shift and could work wonders in reasserting their stance as both patriotic and progressive.
Although criticisms of America are important for growth and improvement, Republicans have exploited them to degrade the image of Democrats. It’s important to understand that it’s possible to be critical of one’s country while still loving and caring for it. It’s a balance that Democrats must strike to succeed in altering public perception.
In summary, Democrats need to ensure that their patriotism is not up for debate. By truly embracing the flag, they can begin to reshape the narrative and impede further Republican attacks. With this new image, the Democrats can start reclaiming the respect they deserve while demonstrating their love for the nation.
The post Democrats Struggling to Paint Themselves Patriotic appeared first on Real News Now.
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