MADE IN WAR

Historically many commentators argue, since the civil war Americans have been a flag-oriented people. The stars and stripes have the position of a religious icon in U.S and in comparison with the status of flag among other nations it has a more identifying value for Americans. Probably never in the past, however, was the flag as omnipresent as it was after September 11.It was everywhere: homes, business, automobiles, clothes, furniture, windows, and storefronts.
The flags were physical evidence of the sudden and dramatic rise in the importance of the national identity for American compared to their other identities such as racial, political or religious identities.
For many educated and elite Americans, national identity seemed at times to have faded from sight. Globalization, multiculturalism, cosmopolitanism, immigration, and anti nationalism had destroyed American national identity. Ethnic, racial and gender identities came to the fore. Contrary to their antecedents, many immigrants were maintaining dual loyalties and dual citizenships. A massive Hispanic flow-in raised questions concerning America's linguistic and cultural unity. Corporate executives, professionals, and information age technocrats supported cosmopolitan over national identities. The teaching of American national history gave way to the teaching of American ethnic and racial histories. The celebration of diversity replaced emphasis on what Americans had in common. The American national unity and the sense of national identity created by wars in the 18th and 19th century and consolidated in the world wars of the 20th century seemed to be eroding. By 2000, America was, in many respects, less a nation than it had been for a century. The stars and stripes were at the half-mast and other flags flew higher on the flag pole of American identities.September 11 drastically reduced the salience of these other identities and sent old glory back to the top of the national flag pole. Will it stay there? The truth is America needs to experience recurring destructive attacks or be always in the threat of a strong enemy to keep its national identity.