War Flags on Graves?


by
Roger Young

Previously
by Roger Young: ‘To
Alter or Abolish’ – Questions for My Rulers



Any state created
holiday is accompanied by display of that institution’s symbols.
Memorial Day in the U.S., when many remember
those (at least in the military) that have been consumed or merely
abused (but survived) by the beast of war, is one of these holidays
where the state’s symbols are quite prevalent.

This
story
, posted back in January, seems to be even more relevant
at this time of year. The story tells of a family in Mesquite, TX
who want a family member’s grave to bear an “American”
flag.

Enslaved individual’s
reverence toward their state master is probably best illustrated
by idolization of its symbols and glorification of its acts of mass
murder, i.e. wars. Many insist on projecting this demented adoration
upon the memorials of loved ones who participated in these acts.

“He
could’ve been killed when he was serving,” she [a stepdaughter]
said suddenly filled with emotion.

Yes, he very
well could have been killed thanks to the state that kidnapped his
mind and body and put him in this perilous situation. This fact,
alone, should be cause for contempt, not celebration. Why not celebrate
the productive life he was able to live, after surviving such threats,
rather than dwell on what might have been a tragic, early death?

Why would anyone
want this hideous banner, representing slavery and tyranny, flying
over a loved one’s grave?
My father
was a WWII draftee/vet/victim who took a German sniper’s
bullet. For this he received a piece of scrap metal called a “purple
heart.” When he died, after a long, productive life, some criminal
from the U.S. Regime sent me one of these offensive rags. I immediately
sent it to the landfill where it belongs.

Mr. Branton
was victimized and enslaved by the bloody US regime at the peak
of his life. The fact that he “didn’t brag” strongly indicates
that his horrible experience is a bad memory not worth recalling
or remembering. It was a nightmare he wanted to forget- and rightly
so. My father talked little about his horrible experience, as well.
Why demean his memory by praising and glorifying his oppressor?

“The
flag means America to me. It means freedom, defending our country.”

How can a symbol
that has flown over some of the worst atrocities, genocides, fraud,
thievery, and rights abuses in the history of humankind represent
“freedom?” Remember, this flag once flew with pride over
a “country” whose state protected, with violence if necessary,
chattel
slavery
. It triumphantly accompanied those committing genocide
on the American Indian
. It flew in exultant glory over each
of the scores of U.S.
war crimes
committed throughout the world. Some of the worst
of these crimes were
against its own people
! It can certainly be argued that war,
itself, is a crime. For an activity to be considered a “war
crime” indicates a particularly flagrant violation of decency
and civilized behavior. And let us not forget the massive
political slavery
this piece of cloth represents. This symbol
is undeniably stained and disgraced by the documented history of
a multitude of collective atrocities.

Flying this
flag in the name of “freedom” is therefore an egregious
hypocrisy. Flying this flag in the name of “liberty” is
near criminal naivety. Flying this flag to celebrate “fighting
tyranny” is to ignore the authoritarian transgressions of the
very state it represents. Flying this flag in the name of “independence”
conveniently forgets the millions of minds indoctrinated and subjugated
by ideological conformity and barbarous nationalism. It ignores
the untold, productive, individual actions that have been outlawed,
regulated, taxed, and slandered into non-existence.

You don’t defend
anyone’s “country” when you bleed and die in the state’s
wars. You defend and advance the depraved ambitions of the ruling
regime and the state and corporate oligarchs that control it. Try
to remember way back, when a U.S. war actually ended. Was
the “country” stronger? Hardly, considering the huge number
of corpses, crippled survivors and depleted national wealth. However,
the state and its ruling elites remained not only untouched, but
wealthier, stronger, and more powerful- all at the expense of the
“citizenry.”

When the U.S.
War Flag flies over a grave, it is a declaration that the soul buried
beneath the ground is clear property of the U.S. in perpetuity.
It is a proclamation that this soul’s most meaningful action in
life was killing strangers to accomplish the goals of depraved,
power mad psychopaths. It is advertising the idea that consent and
slavish obedience to the political order is the highest personal
goal for which an individual can achieve and be recognized.

The state’s
symbols communicate ideas and principles its subjects have been
indoctrinated into believing are associated with their ruling state.
Considering the mountain of evidence indicating this state does
not live up to these virtuous ideals and principles and is not the
righteous institution one has been lead to believe, it only makes
sense that one would not only end his loyalty to this state but
also terminate any reverence and respect for its symbols. His relationship
with his state up to now has been revealed as one of deceitful enslavement.
This goes for everyone, including family members. Having suffered
state slavery and abuse during life, why condemn a loved one to
symbolic bondage for eternity?

May
26, 2012

Roger
Young [send him mail]
is
a freelance
photographer
in US-occupied Texas and has a
blog
.

Copyright
© 2012 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in
part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.