This activity, and others, may be defined, even criticized, as “too political.” I was doing political surveys in high school and was on the school board at the time. I studied political science and social psychology through my BA and MA and was elected or appointed to various political (AKA service) positions then too. I then completed law school while earning a PhD from the top public policy school in the country.
Yes, you are going to get politics from this guy. Enjoy. A bit of controversy also makes the class more interesting, engaging, and rewarding. Plus, I don’t know how to do this any other way. Here is the secret – don’t take politics too seriously, here or anywhere, and try to understand a variety of opinions. Politics are, in fact, very serious. However, while respect for ideas is not compulsory, humans deserve that and more. Life is amazingly challenging and we need to love each other.
assignment:
Has our collective interpretation of the American flag changed? Has it been hijacked? What does the American flag mean to you? Is this meaning broadly accepted or specific to you and others like you? How do you, and we, know what each symbol (such as a flag) is and what it means.
When discussing social solidarity, ask students to think about their hometown. Assess whether you think you come from a mechanical or organic solidarity society. Explain why and discuss. In effect, what do these symbols mean, how do we come to agree, and is our agreement constantly contested.
Many of these flag images come from Chaffee County Colorado, along Highway 285, where I happen to spend much of my time. These flags have been placed in a number of locations, sometimes stretching along miles of highway, by a surprisingly small group of very politically opinionated people who claims the term “patriot” (another symbol). Personally – as a former Boy Scout who learned how to respect the American flag – unlit flags, unattended and dirty, torn and hanging from barbed wire, are extremely offensive. That sentiment, shared by others, has been heard but ignored, and the patriots continue to fundraise and place more flags along the highway. While they claim this is not a political display, private landowners who have granted access mix various MAGA flags along the display. In short, this is an extremely conservative ranching community, these patriots are very active on social media and in local politics, and they have plenty of support. This story is not unique and some of you may be thinking of similar symbolism in your communities. At times, Freeman Park, in Carolina Beach, offers similarly “patriotic” displays, but like Chaffee County, these displays are often the result of a very small group of very loud people. The whole thing is quite gaudy, and doesn’t seem to reflect particularly well on us as a people, but we are all entitled to our opinion and we now know that many in our society are fully willing to accept a massive whopper of a lie.
What kind of solidarity is this? How did things go so bad? Do Durkheim and others help us understand this phenomenon?
Do the conflict or consensus models apply?
What happens when the Chaffee County Patriots (registered trademark) get to my properly and I say “no flags allowed unless you mix in some rainbow flags, and a peace sign flag, and does Rage Against the Machine have flags? I want those too.” Would I be putting myself and property at risk? Would I be able to find anyone to work on my car? Would I be paranoid to think some of them might look me up, discover my politics, close to what they assume from a (surely demonic) college professor, and threaten me in some way?
Are our personal rights threatened by efforts to force solidarity? Are our laws, and society, currently at risk? Can “law” fix this? Can “society” fix itself? How?
here is the link for the 5 minute video
Additional cites provided:
https://arkvalleyvoice.com/tag/chaffee-patriots/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2021/far-right-symbols-capitol-riot/
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