www.uspeacegovernment.org

Close the eyes, settle down into your own peaceful inner nature, and serve your country and the world in a most productive way, creating peace.

What was our nation's original purpose? When the white invaders came, wasn't the "purpose" to "bring civilization" to the heathen, barbaric country? Wasn't the constitution written by white men who did not consult women and natives? Didn't we in actuality commit genocide in order to create a nation at the expense of those who already lived here? What was our nation's original purpose but the wealth and freedom of white men only? The flag is indeed a symbol, and what it is a symbol of is what makes me reject it, though I haven't actually burned a flag thus far, mainly because I'm trying to persuade in more diplomatic, less inflammatory ways. I have pointed out to some, however, that in the US there are more laws to protect this piece of symbolic cloth than homeless people. Let me correct that... than humans in general.

Well well, for awhile there I thouht I was alone. Good for you odeezynd.

HKNHRNS, I agree we were right to fight Japan and Hitler, but to start the war with Iraq was not right. We should have gone after bin Laden. Iraq had absolutely nothing to do with 9-11.

Furthermore, our use of depleted uranium is a war crime and we will pay for that sin. Big time. We have killed everyone in Iraq by using it and in addition have killed all of our troops who have been there; long, slow and painful deaths. Our military truly is broken.

Go to Google and ask for "depleted uranium" and check it out. We are ALL dead men walking, it's gonna be awhile for most, perhaps thirty years, maybe much less. Check out what is happening to the vets who have been there. That deadly radioactive dust has polluted our atmosphere to the point where is is now at the critical juncture. And we are still using it, TONS of it. Check it out, see what the expert say.

What's with all this flag waving every July 4th? If anybody bothered to READ the Declaration of Independence (Google it now), they would find the D-of-I to actually be a divorce decree between a people and their corrupt government. At that time there WAS NO USA! What is the flag of a non-country?

Reading carefully, you will find the Declaration of Independence referred to a "united States of America" with a lower-case "u". It could just as easily read "The States of America, united". The USA didn't come on the scene until years later, after the Colonies ratified the Constitution which so grossly violated the Rights and Remedies due to the "ALL MEN (who) ARE CREATED EQUAL": something "SELF-EVIDENT" in the Declaration of Independence.

Sadly, some government has co-opted this "Peoples' Manifesto"
and splashed ITS flag all over OUR day. That same government has the audacity now to TELL us what Liberty is, and what is Justice.

Its OUR day, don't give it away!

Zinn writes: "We need to assert our allegiance to the human race, and not to any one nation."

Amen.

This ain't Salem Mass. and George Bush ain't Cotton Mather.

Howard Zinn for World President.

As always, Howard Zinn is 100% right.

This essay should be on the front page of every newpaper in the country. We need to change our perceptions of the USA and own the terrorism that we perpetrate on the rest of the world. Until we do that, I don't think there will be any meaningful change in our foreign policy.

Well stated, by the Honorable Professor Zinn. The first paragraph reminds me of a segment from an old Smother's brothers television show. It had a montage of "political leaders" of all stripes and varieties -- presidents, kings, emperors, chiefs, clergyman, etc. --each claiming that "God" is on their side in any war against fellow human beings.

For thousands of years, and certainly today, just invoke the name of God, and automatically it justifies and legalizes cold-blooded murder by governments.

What occured in the past cannot be undone, but the present and the future can be corrected by We The People, if we so desire.

Imperial Japan and Nazis Germany both believed themselves superior to the rest of humanity and rationalized the atrocities their "patriotic" armed forces unleashed on this planet. How many millions of citizens of those countries were killed due to the demented and psychopathic ambitions of their "rulers"?

My fellow Americans, we don't have"rulers" in this country, period! If you think we do, then I suggest you study American history. Also, please read Howard's book, "A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES". What we have, or should have, is elected representatives.

I support the "troops" who refuse to fight illegal ventures in military aggression around the world. Diabolical Dick and his "mission accomplished" boss are not on our side. That's a hard thought to accept but it's true.

I agree that nationalism is an ignorant, repugnant force in the world.

If former bombadier Howard Zinn can forsake the flags and other trappings of July 4th, then so can I.

For those of you who don't realize it, a bombadier was probably the most vulnerable crew member on a bomber crew, sitting as he did behand a plexiglas bubble at the bottom front of a plane.

I double dog dare anyone to walk up to Howard and call him unpatriotic or yellow--I'll bet he could still deck them if he had a mind to.

I agree with 'cosmos.'
Until that happens, I'm putting my energy into something more immediate. After their disastrous cave-in on the Iraq appropriations on May 24th, some Congress people have had a chance to hear from their constituents who are hopping mad about it and they're starting to rethink a 'new strategy' and support a short-term withdrawal from Irag.

Some of us have started a project to support that trend. Please visit our website and see if you'd like to join us in this effort.
www.wethepeopleforpeace.org

The more folks taking action quietly like this, the more the wave will build, maybe even as early as next week or the week after.

Fran

Diogenes, when captured by pirates and sold into slavery was asked what country he was from. He said he was a citizen of the universe. The sentiment is not new but neither is the distance between Musonius Rufus and Caligula; Thich Nhat Hanh and Dick Cheney.

In the movie THE SAND PEBBLES the old missionary, waiting for the soldiers to come kill him said "damn your flag; damn all flags."

Use the flags and passports as kindling to burn down the Border Posts.

i learned about nationalism in grade school as many students in this country and around the world have. i recall that even as a child, i was able to recognize nationalism as a dangerous tool in the wrong hands, and have long held the hope that the fervent nationalism of the 20th century--that has claimed so many of our human family--would somehow end with that century. here we are in 2007, and the rally-round-the-flag is worse than ever.

september 11, 2001 was a tragedy, we all can agree. perhaps the real tragedy lies in the government & mainstream media's use of that dreadful day in so many speeches and newscasts to whip up the most reviling, disgusting patriotism in modern history.

this weekend, i attended a jazz festival in syracuse new york. i marveled at the community outpouring and volunteer support of this long-stranding tradition. the people of syracuse and onondoga county have put on this free festival for 25 years now. last night, they ended the festivities with a fireworks display, where 'god bless america' was played over the PA, and needless to say, everyone in attendance began singing along, watching the pretty lights.

during this fireworks display, and during many others i have attended, i have turned my back. i make a point not to watch the "pretty colors". i close my eyes, and the smell and sound of fireworks immediately take on a horrifying new meaning. as my thoughts revolved and evolved last night, i couldn't help thinking about the birth of this nation, watered by the blood of so many who lived here peacefully. a fitting thought, given the onondoga nation, who used to inhabit the lands around syracuse--are now isolated into a small territory outside of the town. from the bloody birth of america, our country has grown into a fearsome and terrifying tree, its limbs touching every corner of the globe.

our number one export is war. we are very good at making war, and while the profits soar, whatever moral authority we may have had at one point has long since eroded. this fourth of july, turn your back on fireworks. turn your back on this symbol of war. don't sing 'god bless america'. turn your back and think of those that have died, those who have killed--for the war machine. print out this article, and leave it in every mailbox on your street.

This time seems worse to me than WW2 and some of the past atrocities. Only a few people were aware in time to prevent some of the previous atrocities. Some of the well known principles of peace had not been articulated to the people.

Now we know the ideals and the short and long term blowback and further deaths when war and economic attacks are made on innocent people. Anyone can often see the death and destruction coming well before it happens.

The current empire attacks by the U.S. are against even the weak world resolutions and treaties we have signed.

Yet we kill, maim, destroy, and steal with less concern than the outcome of Paris Hilton's jail term.

Howard Zinn is too easy on us.

Nationalism is perhaps one of the most powerful currents unifying people. Hugo Chavez is a nationalist. So is Castro. So were the Vietnmihn, and a portion of the Iraqi insurgency. Nationalism is popular and POWERFUL everywhere. Its POPULAR. Why cede it to conservatives?

We would all wear black, and mourn the death of our united States of America, a once great Republic, and get THAT on INTERNATIONAL television.

July 4th is when Americans celebrate their Dependence on Washington.

I think instead of merely putting away flags, we need to work to make this nation truly worthy of waving one.

America is more than her misdeeds and her afflictions. Her affliction is the people who infect her goverment. They are literally a virus that eats away at everything this nation promises.

I'm not going to be celebrating on the 4th. It's a day off to sleep in and cut my grass anymore.

But I won't be burning a flag either, nor will I abandon America for Canada or France. They have enough of us there. :) Just like people should stay in Mexico to scare their goverment into doing right by her people, I along with every other American should stay here and do the same.

We all have a stake in this. Simply bashing America and Americans as many people here do does not a damn thing.

People seem to forget that constructive dissent is more American than rock 'n' roll. And that alone is enough reason to keep the flag flying.

Manifest Insanity, still.

Pride begets arrogance.
Nationalism begets chauvinism.

Today, populist movements are rebounding. People surround themselves with former military officers who strike out with strong populist tone. People vote them into power. It's a dangerous path. Populism can go militant, it has happened in the past when a country's people feel vulnerable. I think of the beginnings of fascism in Italy as an example. Zinn's message is key today. Don't Raise the flag. Watch out for nationalism.

"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it."
George Bernard Shaw
Irish dramatist & socialist (1856 - 1950)

For this July 4th, just stay at home and listen to Bob Dylan's "With God on our Side"! Thanks for the great article Prof. Zinn! Long Live! Long Live!

Dr. Zinn,

Thank you for all the brilliant works you have written and published over the years. I wish members of the MSM would realize the value of your works and promote them. Sadly, given the fact that they are in the pockets of the Dimocrats and Repugnicans, that is unlikely, which really is a shame.

Howard Zinn has been America's teacher;
he taught our children and they came home to teach us!

Nationalism does harm because it states not simple pride but superiority.

Manifest Destiny does harm because it states a "god-issued" license to exploit nature, natural resources, animal-life and even other human beings according to various myths of inferiority.

And violence is the tool by which both are exercised.

We have an impossible history to overcome in America:
the slaughter of the native American whose land we have stolen and the slaughter of innocent civilians at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And, now, more than 800,000 Iraqi civilians and what looks like near total destruction of Iraq.

We have to turn all of our future holdisays into anti-war protests -- and most especially Father's Day should join Mother's Day as an anti-war day.

Since Vietnam and that "bright shining lie" . . .
how many new lies from Grenada to Panama,
Gulf War I . . . ???

9/11 . . . ????

Obviously, one of the greatest benefits of the internet is that it brings Americans together to hear one another --
to understand how similarly we all feel about what is happening in our nation.

Will we be able to hang onto it?

Speak to one another, person to person --

"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it."

Not necessarily. Shallow patriotism perhaps.

THANKS,RADICAL CONFUCIAN, YOU NAILED IT.I REMEMBER WELL THE FIRST TIME I HEARD DYLAN SNARL-"I CAN'T THINK FOR YOU,YOU GOT TO DECIDE...." SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY.HAPPY 4TH.

After the Dylan, put on some Phil Ochs; "The Power and the Glory" is especially appropriate. Then ask yourself why our 40-year-old protest songs are still relevant and what become of our dreams for a better world.

"God grant, that not only the Love of Liberty,
but a thorough Knowledge of the Rights of Man,
may pervade all the Nations of the Earth,
so that a Philosopher may set his Foot
anywhere on its Surface, and say,
'This is my Country.'"

Benjamin Franklin
4 December, 1789

Having just read Walter Isaacson's biography of Einstein I was reminded how the idealists of "the Greatest Generation" experienced the consequences of diseased nationalism very directly and in reaction to the carnage of global war implemented the United Nations as an antidote.

Howard Zinn still carries that torch, though today one does not find that point of view as prominent as it was in his day.

Enthusiasm for a world government through a UN structure envisaged by an Einstein is not notable today and many idealists talk of an end of imperial ambition, not of nation-states.

The perception today is that the nation state is a protection from a monstrous New World Order, a global government that overwhelms both national and personal sovereignity.

The revulsion against nationalism has created the European Union, and though the European states have surrendered their disparate currencies in favor of the euro, they are not so willing to sacrifice national and political sovereignity. They do not want an EU Constitution.

The end of national sovereignity means the end of representative government.

Nationalism can be beneficial or pathological. It is currently pathological in the US because it has been infected with imperial ambition. That pathology is not caused by love of one's country. It is created by the failure of the democratic spirit and the emergence of anti-democratic leaders.

Why the spirit of self-government fails and why anti-democratic leaders emerge is another subject, but nationalism per se is not the cause.

Zinn is "imagining" like John Lennon. No "country". No religion, too.

Wouldn't that be cool, a planet of global citizens, white, black, brown, red, yellow, all blending nicely together in the global melting pot, no boundaries, no passports, no standing armies, etc etc....

The founding documents of this country embody the dream of human freedom and unalienable rights, regardless of how poorly that dream has been realized in the sordid history that HZ has labored to reveal.

Was it Bertrand Russel who said that Christianity is a good idea, too bad it's never been tried? The same applies to the founding idea of the US.

To state the matter succinctly, nationalist pathology is the failure of the will to be sovereign, personally, and nationally. Without sovereignty there is no freedom.

Howard Zinn is as American as apple pie. That is no way detracts from his allegiance and contribution to the human race.

"I double dog dare anyone to walk up to Howard and call him unpatriotic or yellow–I'll bet he could still deck them if he had a mind to..."

Poet, I don't think you read the article.

Actually, Zinn has spoken of being deeply troubled by what he did during WW2 - all the innocent lives he took. I don't believe operating a Norden bombsight required the risks you mentioned, but even if it did, it was nothing compared to the "risks" of the people the bombs were falling on.

Zinn's article reminds us of John Lennon's "Imagine"....imagine there's no country.... no religion too....nothing to kill or die for....

Wear and display your American flags proudly: UPSIDE-DOWN!! I have done so for months and have so far received only positive comments, plus several asking what that stands for. Though I have worn, saluted and displayed and honored the flag practically every day for over 44 years, I will attend no "celebrations" this July 4th.
I cannot celebrate the delusion which has overcome our fellow citizens who still think (irrationally) that we live in the "greatest nation on earth". However, we ARE the greatest: military spenders; self-centered; arrogant; aggressive; war criminals and excel at ignorance of the real world, imprisoning more of our citizens than ANY NATION ON EARTH. So...what's to be proud of? If I do go out on the 4th, rest assured my flag will be proudly inverted; I will sing no "patriotic" songs and especially I will not pledge allegiance to a piece of cloth. My allegiance and total dedication is to Truth. How about you?

Nationalism say's, we are all in this together. Support the US multi-national corporations, as they exploit the worlds natural resouces, looking for maximum profits. If you support this nationalism, then mayhbe, there will be a little something in it for you.

We are not all in this together. You will never be treated as an equal. After you work for them, die for them, and vote for them, you will be discarded.

cruxpuppy:

"Was it Bertrand Russel who said that Christianity is a good idea, too bad it's never been tried? The same applies to the founding idea of the US."

I couldn't think of Russell's quote. Perhaps you're thinking of M. Gandhi's quote?

"I think it would be a good idea."

Mahatma Gandhi, when asked what he thought of Western civilization

PJD observes:

Poet, I don't think you read the article.

Actually, Zinn has spoken of being deeply troubled by what he did during WW2 - all the innocent lives he took. I don't believe operating a Norden bombsight required the risks you mentioned, but even if it did, it was nothing compared to the "risks" of the people the bombs were falling on.

**********************

PJD--

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I in no way meant to convey that Zinn was proud of his dutoies and service during WWII--only that he did such and therefore (like John Kerry and other veterens of combat) has a more halanced point of view to be considered than the many chicken-hawks who find it easier to talk about war than to actually do it (Like our current Prez and VP.

As far as "risk" is concerned go and stuidy the casualty rates among American bomber crews during WWII. Then go look at a picture of either the B17 or B24 (which were the two main aircraft used by the Army Air Force to bomb Europe during WWII).

That nice clear bubble of plexiglass on the bottom front of the plane was where the bombadier sat and was quite a tempting target for enemy aircraft and anti-aircraft fire.

"The killing of 3,000 people on Sept. 11 becomes the justification for killing tens of thousands of people in Afghanistan and Iraq".

That is a true statement. However all the evidence indicates that this crime of 9/11 was and inside job. The people who did 9/11 are the same people who used them as reasons to launch these never ending wars. If they are not held accountable you can look for more false flag 9/11's

I've long ceased even marking any national unholydays, even leaving the classical station off, since the day is always devoted to national composers.

How perfectly the idea of national virtue was captured by Robert Duvall under Coppola's direction in "Apocalypse Now", when he expresses compassion by giving a villager his solders have just shot up a sip from his canteen, instantly losing interest when surfing is mentioned.

I agree with Mr.. Zinn. I am sad about all of this .It is very sad to realize that this country was founded on the genocide of the native people and on the backs of slaves. It is even more sad to know that it all continues today. Patriotism is too much like religion, a fantasy to gain control and power.
I see nothing to celebrate on July 4th. I will celebrate when all the troops are brought home we start to us our power and money to do good not to kill or make new weapons.

A patriot is one who will defend to others' deaths the land his ancestors invaded and occupied, wherever on earth that land may be.

Is the US heading for its own Stalingrad?

We can condemn Bush, Cheney, and any others, who are trampling upon our and any others rights or freedoms. That is our right and we should speak out, call them mass murders, traitors, demons and idiots or any other word we choose; but we should never, ever, defile our flag. NEVER___NEVER!!

Patrick Henry, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and all of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence, would sign their lives away again, to stop this type of article from being printed by anyone in this land.

I admire and like almost everyone who writes opinions on the Common Dreams website. I take umbridge with any who agrees with this man on this issue___ he is wrong! It matters not what he has done in his life, a veteran or whatever. He is wrong to say one word against our flag.

Our flag is not a symbol of GWB or any other person, or what any man or woman has done or has not done. It is a symbol of what we should be, what our forefathers intended for us our leaders and our country to be.

Shame on this. Condemn the tyrants, do not condemn our flag. If you do, you play into their hands. Many of this writer's words are correct. Leave our flag out of it, or we have nothing, for the American flag is the symbol of what we should be, not what we have done or have become. Thank you, Kem Patrick

Excellent article, and Mr. Zinn is one of my favorite historians, but I wish people would stop saying that tens of thousands of Iraqis have died.

About one million Iraqis have died. The excellent Lancet/Johns Hopkins study said the best estimate was 655,000 as of July 2006. They did not include all deaths such as those due to the destruction of clean water and healthcare. One in eight Iraqi children die before the age of five. How many deaths is that?

NO, IT IS NOT MILLIONS, WE HAVE KILLED ALL OF THEM WITH THE INSANE USE OF DEPLETED URANIUM. EVERY PERSON THERE OR ANY WHO HAVE GONE TO IRAQ, ARE DEAD MEN WALKING.

Personally I'd prefer to fly the United States "Civil" flag for Peacetime. You can see a copy of its history and what it looks like at the link here:

http://www.barefootsworld.net/uscivilflag.html

The flag we see flying everywhere is the U.S. "Military" flag. We are living in a military dictatorship. Until the American People DEMAND the end to U.S. Imperialism and ALL troops are brought home from around the world (as sadly only REPUBLICAN Rep. Ron Paul is saying!!), the military flag is the most appropriate. Once we are at PEACE with the world and ATONE for our sins of the highest of crimes internationally (which sadly include Katrina and 9-11), and indict ALL those individuals who are responsible, then we can fly our Peacetime civil flag again. It is beautiful.

Perhaps if we all start flying the civil flag NOW we can send a message to the world that the American PEOPLE want peace and to heal the planet! It's the military industrial corporate complex criminals and their Democrat and Republican whores on the hill who do not. Shame, shame, shame on every single elected official in D.C. who is not DEMANDING justice right now on every criminal issue all of us who write here are fully aware of.

Shame on all of them for allowing the bloodbath in Afghanistan, Iraq and Darfur to continue and for not speaking up about the 9-11 cover-up. But mostly, shame on all of them for signing the U.S. Patriot Act in 2001 without even reading it. Those who swore to protect our freedoms have turned their backs on us and stupidly on themselves as well.

This Wednesday should be a day of mourning for every Patriotic American. Certainly we have nothing to celebrate, for we are no longer "free" thanks to our so-called elected "representatives" and our own cowardly inaction.

To willo:
People would be more willing and less fearful of adopting the views of 911 Truth activists if they felt they were calling for forgiveness rather than retribution and punishment.

The peace movement should call for granting amnesty from prosecution and guarantee of an ample, lifetime pension to anyone who agrees to testify on their roles in the events of 9/11, extending this offer to any members of the US government, foreign governments and/or terrorist groups involved in the planning or execution of the attacks of that day.

Additionally, individuals should step forward and volunteer to spend time working with those who give testimony on crimes they have committed so that they might be reintegrated into society.

Instead of executing Nazi war criminals we should have devoted all the human resources available to us to rehabilitating them, awakening in them awareness of the nature of their actions so that they could have come to understand that they must make amends. If they had remained alive they would have been a living testament to the transformative powers of forgiveness.

Historians and psychologists especially should come out in favor of preserving invaluable study material in the form of the opportunity to converse with the authors of unfortunate historical deeds.

A declaration of willingness to forgive would force the government's hand. If it were to arrest or make attempts to discredit someone calling for 911 truth plus forgiveness, that would be a tacit acknowledgement by the government of its complicity in the 9/11 attacks. Imagine the impact of footage on YouTube of police arresting demonstrators carrying signs reading: "I forgive you George Bush for 9/11". Perhaps even the passively complicit mainstream media could be convinced to show someone carrying a sign calling for amnesty for the perpetrators of 9/11.

If we consider ourselves morally superior to the government, we should propose actions and attitudes that are more humanitarian with respect to them than their actions have been with respect to us.

I strongly suspect that the white apartheid government in South Africa did not agree to fair elections until assured that they would not be executed or imprisoned by the black majority government when it came to power.

In "The Art of War", Sun Tzu said never to surround an enemy. If you do not leave him an out, he will fight to the last man

Finally, these ideas do not depend on the media for their dissemination. If you can convince six friends of the merit of these ideas and get them to tell six of their own friends tomorrow, each of whom tells six of their friends the next day, and so on, then the ideas will reach every person in the world in two weeks by word of mouth alone (do the math).

I don't know about the flag but I sure wouldn't mind if people would do with a little less of the empty headed fireworks displays that happen in neighborhoods everywhere. Talk about sound and fury signifying nothing.

If you must put out a flag on July 4th, put the American flag out UPSIDE DOWN. An upside down flag means "distress", and what better way to face the fact that this country is in deep distress! I can imagine a whole neighborhood on July 4th all with American flags upside down flowing in the breeze.