On January 20th he will say these words “I Barack Hussein Obama do solemnly swear …..” and many of us who have worked so hard, hoped so much and even prayed are still in a state of semi-disbelief.
One interesting question that remains is how to properly celebrate this historic event. I for one can finally be happy that I permanently attached his bumper sticker on my car; but what else can we do to show our solidarity with Obama and his movement on that day?
The temptation might be to buy one of the beautiful posters with Obama’s name and face that have been created and, as an artist, I think this makes a lot of sense. But it occurs to me that there may be something too narrow, and shallow about this idea.
How many times did we hear him say that this movement is “Not about me”? And he meant that. I worked hard for him and I deeply trust him but using his face and name as the only symbol of what has happened may in fact point in the wrong direction. Demagoguery is too strong a word but the truth is that, if the only thing we affirm from this is faith in Obama then what is left when he inevitably leaves office? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we found ourselves drawn to something even deeper than what Obama himself has brought to our lives?
So that’s why I find myself considering what strikes me as an oddly simple but radical gesture, as much as an act of performance art as a way to publically declare my solidarity with Obama.
Here’s what I’m suggesting:
On January 20th, and not before, all of us who believe that Obama’s ascendancy to President is a momentous turning point in history should hang or otherwise display an American Flag in our windows and/or on our bodies as we move through the world.
Now I know that many of you reading this will find it an awkward, if not, distasteful thing to do. That's certainly what I felt when I heard the idea from a friend. Waving the American Flag is usually associated with a nationalistic impulse more appropriate for Right wingers with pickup trucks than we enlightened Progressives.
But consider this: What really made the election of Barack Obama possible? Is it that we Americans are somehow unique human beings from others in the world? Obviously not. We are humans like all others. And yet, what has happened in this election is breathtakingly profound. The competition for wealth and power has fueled wars and conflicts in every part of the world every single day throughout history. And yet what we have just witnessed is that the single greatest concentration of wealth, military and cultural power the world has ever seen has been instantly passed from an entrenched system of political philosophy to one radically different in a completely bloodless and even dignified way. What's more, a man from an historically oppressed minority of this nation will soon be its leader! What made this possible is not that we as individuals are different. What made this possible is that we operate under a political system that requires that this is the way we should behave. It’s the fact that we are citizens of the United States of America that is inspiring envy around the world. Our flag is the most direct and appropriate symbol of this timeless fact.
When I think of it in this way I find myself wondering why I’ve allowed reactionary people to co-opt this symbol as their own as if I was not included. The fact is that the most radical way to deconstruct the meaning of that symbol, to finally cause a revision of its significance and interpretation would be to have us declare that it represents a process and system of government that I, only now, find myself fully able to revere. When I’ve suggested this to some other progressive friends it has been interesting to see how they struggle and then deeply ponder what this could mean for them. It’s like finally taking a close look at what has become an habitual pattern and realizing that there’s an alternative way to function.
But most importantly, this one act, especially if done just when Obama is being sworn in, would be the realization of just what he has been saying to us from the beginning: That we are one people within the United States of America. Moving forward will require us to define what it means to be politically active in a different way than we are accustomed to. Somehow we have to look across familiar barriers and attitudes and behaviors and affirm values that we truly do have in common: democracy and the rule of law as a nation. Despite its troublesome history, this is exactly what the American Flag means and nothing would confuse and disarm Obama’s foes and critics more than if we boldly claim this symbol as rightfully, and finally, belonging to all of us.
So, that’s my proposal. Display the flag on Inauguration Day. If we wait and do in on that day the flowering of this symbolic act across the country will have an unmistakable meaning.
Think about it and do what feels right to you. The most important thing is that Obama will be sworn in as our President on January 20th. I’m not used to waking reality fulfilling such a profound dream but I guess I’ll have to rest of my life to consider what this means.
Thank you,
Chris Johnson