waving, not drowning...

...tho i'm certainly flagging after seeing all these stars n stripeses everywhere (groan). is it just me that feels uncomfortable with the idea that if you don't wave your flag vigorously enough then you're a traitor to your country? with the 'if you're not with us, you're against us' mentality?

the fact americans pledge allegiance to a flag always amuses me - i realise it's the symbol of some great ideas, but still, it's a piece of cloth! maybe it's just because i'm a bit of a royalist, but i think the british pledge to queen and country is preferable.

today i was at ground zero, tho there's nothing to see but a building site - and hoardes of tourists having their picture taken in front of the site fence. i know i too was a tourist, at that spot purely because of sept 11 events, but it was revolting to see happy snapping and t-shirt selling here, where so many people lost their lives to terrorists. yes, life - and commerce - goes on, and yes, a silent air of solemn reverence is maybe not appropriate either. but surely a little restraint in where you can sell tacky t-shirts, and perhaps info boards on the fence reminding us why we're here wouldn't be out of line? *sigh*

had to go to the met and drown in art to get away from it all!