Bernard Henri Levy has an essay in The Atlantic Monthly called "In the Footsteps of Tocqueville" (subscription only). I'm finishing up listening to an interview with him on The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC [RadioWave]. Many interesting points; I'll have to hit the newsstand after work.
One point he made: Why do Americans fly so many American flags? It's not because of nationalist arrogance, but because of the fragility of our belief in nationalism. We're insecure.
I've often pondered what to me is the irony of the spate of countless magnetic car flags since 9/11 (Disclaimer: I have one too...stole it from my mom's refrigerator because it was bigger than the one I already had). They can conveniently be removed once the insecurity has lulled itself to sleep.
Posted by: Mason at April 8, 2005 1:37 PM