Too American

 

 

 

 

Yonder are the Hessians. They were bought for seven pounds and tenpence a man.  Are you worth more? Prove it. Tonight the American flag floats from yonder hill  or Molly Stark sleeps a widow!

 

General John Stark prior to the battle of Bennington, August 16, 1777

(Originally posted at The American Catholic.  I thought the history mavens of Almost Chosen People might be interested in it.)

 

 

The above photo epitomized the American spirit in the wake of the 9-11 attacks.  Who could object to it?

This iconic picture of firefighters raising the stars and stripes in the rubble of Ground Zero was nearly excluded from the 9/11 Memorial Museum — because it was “rah-rah” American, a new book says.

Michael Shulan, the museum’s creative director, was among staffers who considered the Tom Franklin photograph too kitschy and “rah-rah America,” according to “Battle for Ground Zero” (St. Martin’s Press) by Elizabeth Greenspan, out next month.

“I really believe that the way America will look best, the way we can really do best, is to not be Americans so vigilantly and so vehemently,” Shulan said.

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