Counter-Currents
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The Betsy Ross flag is now a “hate” symbol — and that’s a good thing.
The first flag of the United States of America became a controversial icon this week thanks to former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Nike cancelled its upcoming Betsy Ross shoe line after Kaepernick, a spokesman for the corporation, complained. He said the flag has a “connection to an era of slavery.” That argument was persuasive enough to nix the entire shoe line.
Outrage predictably followed. Arizona’s Republican governor announced he would scrap state subsidies to Nike, and many conservatives vowed to boycott the company.
Identitarians shouldn’t join in the outrage. For one, Nike is a vile multinational corporation that relies on cheap foreign labor. We shouldn’t want Nike to exploit our national symbols for profit. Second, and more importantly, this controversy gives identitarians a symbol of our own. Journalists claimed “hate groups” had already appropriated the flag. Their evidence: the flag being hung up in an Identity Evropa member’s house, and a couple of Michigan high school students waving it one time alongside a Trump flag in 2016. This paltry evidence was enough for journalists to declare it a hate symbol.
The truth is that the Betsy Ross flag’s most recent political associations were with the Tea Party and other boomer conservatives. One might think of an old man cosplaying as a Minuteman when sighting the Betsy Ross flag. Thankfully, Tea Party cringe is behind us, and the Trump era offers new possibilities for nationalists.
Respectable conservatives tried to argue that the Betsy Ross flag can represent the new America and all its equality and diversity. “No matter who waves the American flag, or celebrates our nation’s founding — no matter how boorish, ignorant, or even bigoted they might be — they don’t get to take it away from us,” Never Trumper Charlie Sykes wrote. “It’s not their goddamn country, it’s ours.”
Clearly, the Betsy Ross flag does not represent the new America. It represents the historic American nation that was founded by whites for whites. Every man who signed the Declaration of Independence was white. The Declaration of Independence may have said “all men are created equal,” but the man who wrote those words saw non-whites as outside the polity. The Founders relied on painting the British as the allies of Indian “savages” and slave “insurrection” in order to persuade the colonists to revolt. The Revolution was not a dispute over natural law or a revolt to enshrine libertarian principles. It was a racially-conscious people’s revolt against a foreign power that was seen to be in league with racial aliens. The European colonists wanted to control their own destiny.
The American Revolution was an identitarian struggle and its symbols represent our cause.
The identitarian spirit continued to animate the early history of America. Once again, no non-whites participated in the Constitutional Convention. The first Naturalization Act limited citizenship to “free, white persons of good character.” Americans warred with Indians under the collective assumption that they could not join the polity. Many non-slave states excluded blacks, and most states prohibited miscegenation.
Non-whites do not see themselves in the Betsy Ross flag. No amount of Conservative, Inc. nonsense will convince them otherwise.
An American identitarian movement must base itself upon American symbols and figures. The Betsy Ross flag is arguably the most mainstream symbol that we can appropriate. Our standard flag is great, but it is overused and represents current year America. The Empire of Nothing flies Old Glory right above the Pride flag. It shouldn’t be discarded, but it’s not exclusively ours.
The Gadsden flag is too much associated with libertarianism, and “Don’t Tread on Me” is not our rallying cry. We don’t want to merely be left alone. We got into our present crisis due to whites insisting they just wanted to be left alone, the rest of America be damned.
The Confederate flag also represents white identity, but only that of white Southerners. Descendants of Union soldiers and more recent European immigrants can’t relate to it. It’s also too closely associated with redneck culture and discredited political groups. For all its glory, the Confederate flag cannot be the flag of American identitarians.
That leads us to the Betsy Ross flag. It represents America’s roots and the true spirit of the Revolution. Its thirteen stars represent the colonies that were created and settled by whites. The flag itself is a rebuke to silly notions that the Indians were the original Americans. There was no America prior to European colonization. The Betsy Ross flag also has significant mainstream appeal, and can now signal a revulsion for the corrupted America of diversity and globohomo. The Left’s hatred for it will increase its politically incorrect reputation.
It’s the perfect symbol for the historic American nation and its struggle to survive.
Some on the Dissident Right dismiss America as having been corrupt from the beginning. That’s a myopic view. Fortunately, the Left itself has done a commendable job of diminishing the popular delusion that the Founders were colorblind egalitarians who were at war with tradition. Most academic works stress the Founders’ “racism” and “sexism.” Those efforts have seeped into the culture, as evinced by the growing desire to “cancel” Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and other American heroes. Prominent Democrats say the Betsy Ross flag is a hate symbol, and claim America was founded on white supremacy.
A few Leftists go so far as to say the Revolution was a mistake altogether. “The American Revolution gave strength to the white, Anglo-Saxon majority but it marginalized many other elements of society. Subsequent ‘democratic’ revolutions in the 19th century had the same effect,” The Nation’s Jeet Heer wrote in 2008. Similarly,Vox’s Dylan Matthews wrote in 2015:
I’m reasonably confident a world in which the revolution never happened would be better than the one we live in now, for three main reasons: Slavery would’ve been abolished earlier, American Indians would’ve faced rampant persecution but not the outright ethnic cleansing Andrew Jackson and other American leaders perpetrated, and America would have a parliamentary system of government that makes policymaking easier and lessens the risk of democratic collapse.
These developments pain centrists and conservatives. They admit the Founders weren’t perfect, but they wish present-day Americans would focus only on “all men are created equal.” According to these types, America’s founding was egalitarian in spirit and paved the way for multicultural America. In their eyes, it should be honored for what it led to and not denigrated for what it was. That’s a quaint delusion.
Non-whites look at the Founders and see white slaveowners who would prevent them from voting. No amount of attention paid to marginal figures like Crispus Attucks will make minorities see themselves in the Founding. That leaves a predicament for centrists and respectable conservatives. They celebrate equality, immigration, and diversity, yet are appalled by the lack of respect exhibited by minorities and liberals for national symbols. Their faith in those things may not diminish, but it should for average Americans.
American identitarians want America to remember its roots. It was a nation created by whites for whites. Our revolution was fought for freedom against a foreign power and allowed us to make our own destiny. The Founding inspires our cause and mirrors our fight today. What better way to honor the Founders than to make their flag our own?
The Left doesn’t just want to replace our flags and symbols. They want to replace us. Waving the Betsy Ross flag signals that we, our heritage, and our symbols are not going away. This is our America, goddammit.
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21 comments
Sam Francis predicted this controversy:
“The black demand for the total extirpation or rewriting of the past is not confined to the South and the Confederacy, however, but also extends to symbols associated with other ethnic groups. Earlier this year the Boston Housing Authority asked residents of public housing to remove displays of shamrocks–which it likened to swastikas or Confederate flags–because this symbol traditionally associated with the Irish was “unwelcome” now that black residents vastly outnumber those of Irish heritage.
But the non-white demand for the erasure of white ethnic and cultural symbols also includes the major symbols of the entire American nation and its past.”
Best news this week! I just fear that this Nike hoohah will just be another excuse for pointless flag-waving with nothing accomplished.
Big error: The 1790 Naturalization Act did not limit citizenship to “free, white men of good character.” You just made that up. The actual wording specifies “a free white person … of good character.” Particularly egregious mistake here, since you’re writing about Betsy Ross.
But nice insights about the Tea Party visual association, with the pre-Boomer oldsters (NOT Baby Boomers) parading around in tricornes and mob caps. Nice parsing of the Betsy Ross flag symbolism versus those of Confederate and Gadsden flags, too.
Yes! Well said. I can’t wait to get one and fly it. It will take on heightened significance in light of the recent Nike controversy. Most of the houses in my all-white neighborhood have flagpole holders and along with many others Ive been flying the current American flag, albeit not entirely happily. You are right about the Stars and Bars. I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, where I’ve recently moved back to: too many redneck associations. My family, although very conservative, including racially, never made use of that flag. My father was a high ranking military officer so maybe that was one reason. The Betsy Ross flag is just the ticket. I had thought about getting the one that was flown in 1790, when our first immigration law was passed, but the Betsy Ross flag has a more unique appearance with its circular pattern, and now is imbued with “historic American nation” significance.
As an American-born White, I’m for new symbols, new heroes, new mythology, 5PT style. Europeans have their own history to draw upon, and our American tribes can draw on them as well, but American Whites ultimately have to choose between returning to those tribes or forming new ones. In either case, the American founding mythology and the symbology that embodies it are hopelessly entangled with “Judeo-Christian” and Enlightenment baggage. If we use pre-existing iconography, we’re going to spend more time explaining what parts of those legacies we don’t stand for than explaining who we actually are. Betsy, Gadsden or otherwise, American historical symbols are net-negative for what’s more a founding project for us than a reformation or revival project.
“…the American founding mythology and the symbology that embodies it are hopelessly entangled with “Judeo-Christian” and Enlightenment baggage.”
Jefferson’s vision was an agrarian republic, formed by White men for Whites, that would carry forward the non-feudal of his Saxon ancestors. Franklin expressed his wariness of jewish perfidy in many of his letters. Adams said the new goverment would work only for a moral and religious people, and by “religious” in this context he meant Christian. Except for Paine who was an atheist, nearly all the founders were Christians.
What founding myths and symbols do you have in mind when you say they embody Judaism?
Hunter Wallace’s latest article about Jefferson’s views on race, society, and the underlying motivations for colonial secession:
http://www.occidentaldissent.com/2019/07/04/southern-history-series-the-southern-founders/
Edit: “…non-feudal traditions of his Saxon ancestors…”
I thought Paine was a Deist, not an Atheist, although Teddy Roosevelt called him a “filthy little atheist”, I believe. I read Paine’s “Age of Reason” when I was 16 or 17 and it was the inspiration that caused me to lose faith in the Bible. But, I believe, Paine still believed in the “Watchmaker” type god; the god who winds things up at the beginning and never intervenes.
Yes, I believe you are correct. He was openly hostile to organized religions, including Judaism and Christianity, and, I’ve read but cannot remember where, steadfastly refused any attendance by priests or pastors at his deathbed. But, as you say, he was a Deist. Thanks for your reply.
I am currently in England, in the city of Sheffield in the Midlands, and there is not one St. George Cross ENGLISH FLAG flying anywhere at any public building in the town and suburbs I have seen. When I asked someone, they said the Cross on the flag is offensive ‘to some people’. I knew who they where talking about and I am sure you can guess. Do we really want to live in such as ‘politically-correct’ dictatorship? Kaepernick and NIKE is just the tip of the iceberg, and if we allow our flag to be flown or not flown at the whim of our ‘newly-minted’ citizens, or those here waiting while their citizenship papers go through. we are surely giving up our claim to our own land. If you don’t believe me, make a trip over to England and see for yourselves.
In their writings, many American revolutionaries described how they were fighting for their traditional rights and liberties as Englishmen. John Adams was an example. They were not “change-the-world”-type revolutionaries like the later Jacobins or Hebertists or Bolsheviks, and it was very hard for many of them to separate politically from Britain.
I would not necessarily refer to them as “identitarians,” but they are good examples for anyone, and they deserve admiration. They would be horrified at the current state of American culture, society and politics, and they would despise today’s anti-white, anti-western, anti-civilization factions.
People keep chasing new ways to see old myths and its always changing. Its only ever reaction to power changing yet another thing. Only ever reaction because you have no power.
Adopt whatever symbols you wish but unless you are stalwart in upholding them in front of criticism, politically-driven inspection and subversion you’ll never get anywhere.
I still consider myself a White Nationalist who still identifies with America and their homeland peoples and countries in Europe. Let pundits, “intellectuals” (on our side) and critics say what they will; throughout all the slings and arrows I still care for white people worldwide more than any other and see Europe as our Israel and Europeans as our brothers.
Adopt what faces you need for a situation, but maintain who you are and your views.
Happy 4th of July everyone, I love our people and will always.
I love your sentence ‘ …. I still care for white people worldwide more than any other and see Europe as our Israel and Europeans as our brothers’. This is the distilled essence of our Nationalism and Identity, and I’ll keep that sentence in mind henceforth. For the record, I am in favour of the Betsy Ross Flag as our rallying point. We need focus, and this is a charming way to say ‘In your face’.
Thank you. I’ve seen your comments before, it’s nice to hear from across the pond.
Given the way trends are going globally things are going to get much more …interesting.
It’s nice to find similar individuals.
I dunno.
If Betsy’s flag pisses the right people off, then fly the buggers. Get up their noses. Have some fun for a change.
American flags always looked like failed quilts to most of us, but think of this one as waving a cape in front of a pen full of drugged bulls. Sounds like fun to me.
I like this talk of flags! I’ve been thinking myself of symbols and symbology lately, and another flag came to my attention recently—the Bonnie Blue Flag.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bonnie_Blue_flag_of_the_Confederate_States_of_America.svg
Have you guys heard of this? It was the original flag of the confederacy, but has had a more general usage in the south in nascent republics, for example, it’s first application was in the Republic of West Florida in the south central US. It’s referred to in Gone With the Wind in reference to the eyes of Scarlet’s daughter Victoria.
I was thinking perhaps it or some other—similar to the confederate flag it may have more association with southern identity—could be used as a cryptic symbol among identitarians. I myself would love to sport a confederate flag, but I would lose at least two of my last three friends. Cryptic tokens of identification could have utility in that patriots could recognize one another with reasonable probability, without drawing the ire of the mob. The Bonnie blue design is understated and innocent enough that it could be explained away as chance.
I am glad that the shoes got cancelled, and I hope that blacks get their reparations. It will make whites hate them more–anything that divides us is a good thing. I care nothing about preserving traditional America, look where it led us–the point of extinction. When the time comes, we will design our own flag, we don’t need to adopt the defunct symbols of a degenerate nation.
1. Were Jews included among the “free white persons of good character”? It seems they were. I’m not drawing any conclusions from this but it’s interesting to note.
2. They recently opened a museum in Philadelphia about the American Revolution that is heavily focused on the role of “marginalized people” during the revolution; slaves, Indians, women, etc. I wonder how successful this approach is in making non-whites feel more engaged in American history.
Yes definitely. George Washington gave a speech on freedom of religion to a Jewish congregation. It’s suspected that Thomas Jefferson really penned it though.
Make South Africa Great Again!!
Take back the Indus river valley!!
Well, what did we expect?
YT does not defend the statues of his ancestors. YT does not defend his countries’ borders. YT does not even defend his own children (pace Rotherham). YT has been more than willing to throw other Whites under the bus as we have seen with South Africa. So why should minorities respect White symbols? No one is going to support a sinking ship.
As Sam Francis sagely observed, once you make any concession in the culture war it will not stop until the foe has totally destroyed your civilization. This is why it was so critical to “Stand with Dixie” over the Confederate flags, statues and holidays. Not because of any inherent symbolic value (or lack thereof) they had for White Nationalism. Rather, it’s because once you’ve conceded on one front, you hand the enemy the initiative and they knock over your remaining pockets of resistance like so many dominoes.
The attack on American flags (statues, etc.) is a tactic, a means for cultural marxists to mobilize support by whipping up mob hysteria and creating the delusion that they are fighting against The Man (even where cultural marxists happen to control every major institution of a society). But with the Betsy Ross front they may have pushed it too far. The normies are starting to take notice. And tactics work both ways.
Consider the hub-bub engendered by the ostensibly innocuous campaign of “It’s OK to Be White.” Consider a campaign of putting up flyers with nothing more than an image of the Betsy Ross flag. And consider all the jolly fun to be had with the ensuing cultural marxist meltdown!
The advantage of the Betsy Ross flag is that it is something with which your average American can identify. This is especially so with critical sectors such as rustbelt labor, military veterans, law enforcement, and whatever remains of the Patriot movement. A lot of people are fed up with cultural marxism. Many of the things for which Americans fought in 1776 – free speech, due process, right to peaceful assembly, even scientific inquiry – are long since dead especially in the universities.
For many Americans a campaign using the flags of 1776 would be a way to strike back at a System which is far more repressive than anything King George ever ginned up.
It could be another American Revolution…
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