Flag Desecration is Part of the Problem, MINDSETTER™ Schoos

Monday, November 21, 2016

Geoffrey A. Schoos, Guest MINDSETTER™

Since the November 8 election, there have been two incidents of vandalism at Brown University, both involving the American flag. As most know, the first involved the anonymous destruction of flags displayed in honor of Veterans Day. The second was the equally anonymous obscenity laden defacement of a bench painted as an American flag.

This destruction and desecration of property is pointless. The perpetrator gets no recognition for his act.  In fact, such acts serve as wedges at a time when we should be searching for ways to come together, and these specific acts of desecration serve only to insult and demean those who served in defense of the rights we all enjoy – including those of the perpetrator.

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Such desecration is also counterproductive. I’m going to assume that the perpetrator of these acts has deeply held political and social beliefs. Of course I have no way of actually knowing that because the perpetrator has not seen fit to enlighten us as to those beliefs. It takes courage to stand up and publicly state one’s beliefs. Whatever the political message behind these acts, I promise the perpetrator that it didn’t come across to the rest of us.

So let me speculate. The perpetrator is opposed to our Middle East policies. Or perhaps the perpetrator is upset with the results of this past election cycle. Perhaps the perpetrator is some self-styled social activist making a point about economic and racial inequality, or the desecration of the environment. Maybe the wanton desecration of the flags and bench were metaphors for our wanton desecration of the environment. Who knows, and who cares? But given their nature, these acts were political acts and I will engage them as such.

I’m an upper and lower case “d” democrat. As an upper case “d” Democrat, we lost an election, to the least qualified person to be elected to the Presidency since James Buchanan, due to the quirks of the American electoral process. I cannot imagine a universe where I would agree with the programs and policies he advocated during the campaign. Nor can I imagine a galaxy where I would find his hate and bile acceptable. His actions, not just over the campaign but over years, have shown him to be the misogynist, racist and xenophobe that he is. By almost any objective standard, he is uniquely unqualified to hold the office he is about to assume.

However, no matter my misgivings about a President Trump, I am willing to give the new President a chance. However, I'm not willing to do so at the expense of a lifetime of principles and values that I have deeply held and publicly espoused. Trump won an election. That's it. He has not invalidated those things which I hold dear – the traditional values of equality, opportunity, justice, decency, civility and fairness to name just a few. I expect Trump and his allies to aggressively advance their agenda. They had better be prepared that I, along with those like me, intend to defend and advance ours.

As a lower case “d” democrat, I assert that if there's one thing that this election has shown, it's that every day, every week, and every year, we who profess to support our stated ideals, what I would assert are traditional American values, must act to preserve, protect, and defend them against all assaults.

We need to build the foundation of a movement that endures, not just for the next election, but for decades. Citizenship in a democracy is often a rough contact sport, not a spectator sport, and it takes the most committed people to win that game.

Since November 8 there's been more than a little hand-wringing as to what to do going forward. My answer is brief. Act! Don't wait for an election, vote, and then walk away. That kind of community apathy is what got us into this situation to begin with.

If you see an organization that shares your interests and passions, join it, financially support it, and organize others to do so. If you see a need that isn't being met, join with other like-minded people and meet it. And if you're of a political bent, join with others to exercise your rights and duties as citizens to speak truth to power. Organize, monitor actions of public officials, write and publish your thoughts and opinions. Publish facts (real facts, not the ones from Macedonia) that you've discovered or uncovered. And as Mary Elizabeth Lease admonished farmers in another era, "Raise less corn and more hell!"

Nearly nine years ago, I joined with other likeminded folks, and together we worked to provide legal services to underserved people in our Rhode Island community. And while our organization did not have the longevity that we'd have hoped for, we enjoyed massive success in the provision of services.

Our agency launched the careers of several legal and non-legal professionals, along with law school students and attorney volunteers, to be of service to their communities. It was through their efforts that we were able to serve thousands of Rhode Island residents, positively impacting their lives and often obtaining a little simple justice – a basic American value.

And that's the point. A group of us saw a need in our community and acted together. We won't know for years the full extent of our success, but one thing is certain, our community is better for our efforts. And while we didn't accomplish all that we wanted, we did accomplish quite a bit.

By working together, raising our voices, with love for all, especially for those who oppose our views, we can create such a cacophony and unleash such energy sufficient to knock down the walls of resistance that prevent a kinder and more compassionate society.

Change is hard, especially in a pluralistic society, but it is possible, if not inevitable. That is the trajectory of history. But you have to know that when you push for positive change, those vested in the status quo will push back. To name just a few, the struggles for civil rights, equal rights, economic justice, a more rational foreign policy, and environmental protections have all met with modest and incremental success. But more, much more, needs to be done.

When someone commits a senseless act of desecration and destruction, whether intentionally or unintentionally, it is the real work of advancing a progressive agenda that suffers. Such pointless acts get all the notoriety, often at the expense of more important, serious and sustainable work being done on behalf of others – too often people these are people who suffer from the evils of poverty, injustice and discrimination.

So to the person or persons who committed these very public acts of destruction and desecration I offer one admonition. When I was younger, there was a saying, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” Stop being part of the problem and join us in our serious work for a more just society. 

Geoffrey A. Schoos, Esq is the President of Rhode Island Center for Law and Public Policy



 

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