"American Irony "
I've been on five flights in two days. Two more tomorrow. I have killed three full days of productivity for three one-hour meetings. Why?
In John Wayne International Airport, Orange County California. October 22, just about six weeks since the horror of September 11th and smack dab in the middle of the most encompassing surge of American patriotism and national pride since - well - geez. I have no idea. For a long time. Collective outrage is a near perfect way of unifying an otherwise diverse nation.
The gift shop/newsstand is selling the now ubiquitous red, white and blue T-shirts and souvenirs. After all, what's more patriotic than capitalism? What's more American than kitchy souvenir shop Americana?
Prominently displayed in their rack of merchandise is a stack of bandanas in the pattern of the American flag. My mother wanted to get a couple red white and blue bandanas for her two ridiculously large dogs to wear. Apparently even big German dogs want to display their American allegiance during a time of national crisis.
I picked up a bandana, silk screened proudly as Old Glory, looking for the price.
Printed boldly in all caps along the bottom edge: "Made in Pakistan."
I almost wet my pants.
Ah the irony. I know why my generation loves that artistic tool so damn much. We've been baptized in it.
I just can't get my head around it all sometimes. A country in which, depending on which magazine your read, somewhere between 10 and 40 percent of the population is outrightly hostile toward the United States, is manufacturing the symbol most closely identified with the target of their hostility.
At least I now know where they get all those damn flags they burn.
They make them.
Cause we pay for them.
So show your American pride! Help an angry Pakistani burn a flag!
