Jethro Tull Apologizes for Flag Comments

[Freddie Stubbs]

The frontman of British band Jethro Tull has apologized for remarks made in a newspaper interview that seemingly criticized displays of the Stars and Stripes.

In a posting on Jethro Tull's Web site, Ian Anderson further explained what he meant when he told the Asbury Park Press, "I hate to see the American flag hanging out of every bloody station wagon, out of every SUV, every little Midwestern house in some residential area."

Anderson said his concern wasn't specifically displays of the U.S. flag, but "the flag-waving mind-set" across the world.

The 56-year-old singer said he regretted the tone of the statements and apologized for "any perceived slur on the Stars and Stripes."

more: http://launch.yahoo.com/read/news.asp?contentID=215561

[dArKeR]

1. I've had many many Americans tell me the same thing in complete

privacy. American citizens are afraid to speak in their own country for fear of reprisal by GOP thugs.

[myopinion]

2. Ian has always been anti war- not anti american

Ian Anderson was way ahead of his time, “Thick as a Brick” sums up the shrub completely.
As far his comment, flag waving, nationalism and “my country right or wrong” is what got 50 thousand of ours killed in Nam and GOD knows how many others. I think that is what he meant to say.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

8. Ahead of his time

Even the song format -- one 50-min song! In the vinyl era, it had to be spliced in the two sides... in a CD (or MP3), it finds its natural medium!

And the fake news on the album cover? Genius, I tells ya. Genius!

[maxrandb]

11. I think his hate of Nationalism

Goes back even further to WWII. Most Brits know what the hell happened when a powerful country wrapped itself in a flag of nationalism. That is what he was trying to say, but he could have done a better job of it.

That being said, I'm rushing out to buy the new Tull Christmas Album

[Say_What]

19. Exactly how I read it too. He's right--flag waving ain't patriotism

never was and never will be.

Patriotism is the Granny who climbed the palace fence!! That took a lot more courage that putting a f*ck'n flag on one's car.

[newyawker99]

23. Hi myopinion!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[pinerow]

3. I sure would like to know how many of the flag wavers also have

demonstrated what I consider real patriotism; voting in every election.

Here's the difference...you stick a flag on your window or antenna and you forget that it's even there.
Voting actually takes a bit more brain power...that is of course assuming one has done their homework concerning the candidates, bond issues. school board etc. That is known as proactive patriotism.

[Say_What]

20. Ditto that...

:hi: pinerow

[Skittles]

4. I understand exactly what Ian means

I'm sick of the wrap-yourself-in-the-flag bullshit too.

[Shadder]

6. Same here

I could not agree more with him.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

5. It's a pity he felt he had to apologise.

Right wingers say much worse on a daily basis and never apologise. I don't believe Ian Anderson said anything wrong at all. Freedom of speech, y'know?

[54anickel]

7. A Shame that honest comments result in boycotts and ridicule vs.

an open and honest dialog. I understood what Anderson said the first time around and I must agree. Some people today rush out and buy some trinket or piece of cloth that symbolizes their thought for the moment and then forget about it. It seems to be all on the outside yet not in the hearts and minds. Consumerism at its ugliest.

How else can you explain all this flag waving a patriotism while the foundations of this country are being picked apart brick by brick, Patriot Act, pre-emptive war, strip the New Deal, cut funding to "starve the beast" that is America.

http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0403-01.htm

[library_max]

9. Ironically, the flag wavers show disrespect for the flag.

I learned proper respect for the flag in boy scouts, a-many years ago. You don't leave a U.S. flag up in the rain, or in the dark unless there's a light on it. If it becomes faded, frayed, or worn, you take it down and replace it. A lot of these antenna flags have gone to rags and streamers, and I don't suspect that their owners grasp the contempt that they are showing for the flag. If a leftist chopped the flag to ribbons and displayed it that way to make a political point, conservatives would howl treason.

By the way, one of the only proper ways to dispose of an old, worn-out flag is to burn it (privately, of course).

[BiggJawn]

10. and then they blow off of the SUV's...

and there you have it, our National Emblem, tattered, torn, and lieing in the gutter...

"United We Stand" yard signs, 2 for a buck at Big lots. Formerly $5.99 at Wally-World....

I think less of Ian for apologizing than I did for his original statement. But he HAD to appoligize, else Jeebus would cry, the Magical "9-11" Teddy Bears would stop working, and somebody's kid would come home in a "Transfer Tube"....

[veganwitch]

15. i mentioned this in a women's studies class

it was an interdisciplinary women/law class and we were talking about the flag burning case during the 80s during a reagan protest (which spawned the flag burning amendment thing i think).

anyway. i mentioned this and even some folks in there gasped at my disdain for the piece of cloth.

[On the Road]

12. My German Cousin

saw all the flags flying on the mall by the Lincoln and Vietnam Memorials and said to me "The nationalism is shocking." Flag-waving patriotism has different connotations there.

[Kellanved]

13. I don't think it's shocking

just ... different.

In Germany Flags are for the Parliament, governmental departments and international soccer matches.

In all European nations flags show up on the various national Holidays (July 14th, October 3rd, April 30th,...), so it's not taboo or something.
Flag waving has no particulary bad name, (except maybe in the former GDR) it's just not done.

[deceased]

21. guh....

i see the u.s. flag plastered to most peoples cars and i think 'turncoat,' if russia ever had invaded they would be the first to bear little moscovites repeating a godless pledge 'under' the hammer-and-sickle flag.

really , most of these flags are blatant pornography...cheaply printed stickers mass-produced in mexico, china, or some other thirdworld country. there aren't even made in the u.s. of a.

half the time the flags are factually incorrect, missing quite a number of stars and usually one or two stripes...it's an insult to all real americans who have a deep respect for our nations flag.

so you have a basterdized u.s. flag made by heathens, over seas, stuck on a car that was made where?...what happened to american made? what happened to america?!

the worst of the worst are the people who use computer printed clipart taped to the inside of their rear window...these idiots use a 30 year old printer to achieve the most guady and pathetic looking display of misguided patriotism i have ever seen.

im not even going to talk about the 2 cent toilet paper antena flags.

any true patriot would never in a million years disgrace our flag in this manner.

[veganwitch]

14. i agree with him (and i dont like jethro tull)

the flag-wavers that happened in my community after 9.11 pissed me off to no-end.

if you need a security blanket, grab a quilt.

edit to add. but i don think type o negative would do a great cover of aqualung.

[fshrink]

16. There's a blues guitar player (Tito Gonzalez)

very good by the way, who wipes his feet on the US flag after entering the stage... Wouldn't work in WY!

[jokerman93]

17. Ian Anderson and Tull -- I love those guys!

1. I agree with what he's saying about the flag wavers

2. I've gotten the sense that the flag is being used by the Rove
propaganda machine as a psychological trigger (sophisticated marketing technique) for the Murikans who are being depended upon to support this administration and NOT think.

3. I wonder why Anderson felt he had to recant. His original statement, though not polished, was perfectly understandable.


"The 56-year-old singer said he regretted the tone of the statements and apologized for 'any perceived slur on the Stars and Stripes.'"

The flag is a damned symbol, people!

But these days it seems to have been hijacked as merely an ideological badge of conformity.

It's not some kind of sacred tribal fetish!

on edit:
typos

[veganwitch]

18. theres someone at the protests

that has an american flag burqha.

it works on multiple levels.

[noonwitch]

22. I am so sick of people apologizing for their statements

Whether it's the Dixie Chicks or Jethro Tull. Don't apologize for speaking your mind. I'm sick of seeing flags everywhere, too. I had some neighbors that had 9 hanging from their house-it's annoying, it got irritating, especially as the flags started to get dirty and icky because the people didn't take them down in foul weather.