By: Benyamin Davidsons
The New York Times has once again ignited fireworks with a controversial article, which said the American flag is now alienating for some Americans.
In an Independence Day report, entitled “A Fourth of July Symbol of Unity That May No Longer Unite”, author Sarah Maslin Nir writes that there are now political implications of displaying the American flag. Nir takes on the cause of a few individuals who believe that the flag is now a politicized symbol that has been used “so fervently” by Trump supporters, that liberals and other Americans would not want to fly it by their homes or businesses so as not to appear to be affiliated with them. “What was once a unifying symbol – there is a star on it for each state, after all – is now alienating to some, its stripes now fault lines between people who kneel while ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ plays and those for whom not pledging allegiance is an affront,” Nir wrote.
The NY Times linked the article in a tweet on Saturday, adding “Today, flying the American flag from the back of a pickup truck or over a lawn is increasingly seen as a clue, albeit an imperfect one, to a person’s political affiliation in a deeply divided nation”.
In the article, Nir quoted a Long Island farmer, Peter Treiber Jr., who said he had to make his “liberal leanings” clear in order to do business with a greenmarket customer, who was suspicious of the family farm because of the patriotic flags attached to his truck. “She said, ‘Oh, whew. You know, I wasn’t so sure about you, I thought you were some flag-waving something-or-other,’” Treiber recalled.
As per the NY Post, the article quickly elicited strong backlash from conservatives. “Flying your flag is offensive you guys. #Happy4thOfJuly,” tweeted city Councilman Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island). US Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) also tweeted, “Apparently loving our country’s flag is now offensive. Disgusting.” Also, Erick Erickson, a Georgia-based radio host and Fox News contributor tweeted, “So so stupid. If the American flag offends you, move elsewhere.”
Just weeks ago the Times was similarly forced to defend an editorial writer, Mara Gay, who had said in an interview with MSNBC that she was “really disturbed” to see flags flown by supporters of former President Donald Trump. The Times had defended Gay’s remarks, saying, “Her argument was that Trump and many of his supporters have politicized the American flag.”
