Mailbag: April 2003
From: Susanna
Date: 28 Apr 09:07 (PDT)
Subject: thank you
I repeat: THANK YOU. As one of many Americans currently living abroad and watching the domestic scene with absolute horror, I was thrilled to find your flag-o-rama site. This is what satire's all about -- intelligent political commentary that also happens to be hilarious. Don't let the hate mail get you down; there's a lot of us out there with you.
Susanna
Cambridge, UK
From: Joanne
Date: 28 Apr 14:38 (PDT)
Subject: Very Clever
Thank God for you guys! I thought this country had slipped into a coma or went mentally insane all of a sudden. Thank you for some levity and intelligence too !! This was hysterical.
Joanne
From: JM
Sent: Friday, April 25, 2003 5:43 AM
Subject: well done!
not usually one to write to those maintaining sites, but this must have been the funniest stuff i've seen in a long time. you managed to not only be spot on politically, but absolutely hilarious with your additions of ford phallus -- perfect american commentary in a much needed time.
best to ya,
j
From: Mark
Sent: Friday, April 25, 2003 6:19 AM
Subject: Flag-o-rama
Absolutely fucking fantastic!!!!! Wicked sense of humour and totally accurate at the same time. Great.
Cheers,
Mark (Scotland)
From: Meredith
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2003 5:56 PM
Subject: thank you
Barry-
Thank you so much for making me laugh...finally, somebody who how ridiculous all this flag-waving "patriotism" is! I got this in a forward today, thought you would appreciate:I think Charles Town Races and Slots are an unpatriotic track. They have sent a fellow employee home with insubordination, because he refused to take off his AMERICAN FLAF PIN! They think that is going to upset some of the guests. Now my arguement is this, how is it going to upset the guests if they live in AMERICA. They have came to live in America by choice and if they don't like it then they need to go back where they came from! The American flag stands for FREEDOM!! This fellow employee is supporting our troops. If we as americans can't support our troops who can? I think that Charles Town Races and Slots should be ashamed of what they have done. There are a lot of us that have friends or family in Iraq fighting for our lives. We should do what ever we can to show our appreciation and support. I am trying to let as many people that I can know about this. Please help me!
If you feel the same way please sign and pass this on to everyone you know. If you ever go to the track try to wear something with the american flag on it to help me get my point accross.*shakes head* How could they send that employee home for wearing an american flaf? geez...what were they thinking?
thanks again, and keep it up!
-Meredith
From: Steven
Date: 23 Apr 08:19 (PDT)
Subject: send it ALL!
yes, praise the one who administrates our lives from Air Force 1 or a bunker deep beneath the white house.
yes, praise the one who works 9-4:30 M-F during a military campaign while i have to work 30 extra hours UNPAID every week to keep my measly job.
yes praise the one in cahoots wtih all those corporate boards passing out 8 digit salaries to the CEOs
Praise him with your bumper stickers and buttons and IZOD shirts with the a skull count affixed above my heart.
Yes, praise Him above to show us the way to annihilate our enemies!
Praise now by consuming all you offer. Praise you for being there for me!
Steven
:>)
From: Lisa
Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2003 1:23 PM
Subject: I love your site!
Hilarious, and so dead on. I have been taking pix of bizarre flag sightings. Here's a nice billboard pic I think you'll like, from right here in Atlanta. Feel free to use it if you like - just tack on a photo credit, please.
Lisa T. Bennett
From: cfab
Date: 24 Apr 00:59 (PDT)
Subject: [none]
Goddam sumbitch! Go to hell or whatnoit!!! Just kidding. Very clever site. Hope you get on the Today show or something after all this stupid shit dies down. Hell, try The Daily Show. Right up their alley.
Stay Free,
CFAB
From: TJ & Susan
Date: 24 Apr 20:35 (PDT)
Subject: Patriotism
Patriotism is a free market value, and only those willing and able and ready to pay the price should be afforded the costs of what liberty and patriotism adds value to life, limericks and the perusal of crappiness only in English to the America for which it stands!
Keep up the good work!
United we stand. Divided we squat!
Wave it 'till you puke!!!
From: A. Lahtinen
Date: 22 Apr 04:24 (PDT)
Subject: Great site, no hate mail
Greetings from the Netherlands,
Absolutely great pages, fun and yet made with sympathy, I think. And yes, it's a very good idea to have the disclaimer, because some other pages may be surprisingly similar, yet very serious...
Keep going,
AL
From: beatrice
Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 9:10 AM
Subject: Coooool
Now I know how to give my blood for the US flag! Wanna these tampax man! That's really a funny site, thanks a lot. you may be interested by this: http://winstars.free.fr/english/bush.html I do not know who took the time to pool all these jokes together, but that's good too.
Bea
From: Frank Klesnik
Subject: total obscurity
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2003 15:34:22 +1000
Oi!
Just a quick note to thank you for a great site. After all these years there's so much still to discover here (and it's a bloody good giggle too! ) :) It's nice to know that there are at least 2 other's in this worls who are not content to walk with endless herd of lobotomised, fast food gobbling, barbie-heads. Keep it up guys!
Cheers !
Frank
From: adiolus2
Date: 21 Apr 17:12 (PDT)
Subject: Thank you
It is good to know that not all Americans lost their mind yet. As a matter of fact if every neo-conservatist feels like disgracing an American flag and showing it with full disrespect it is a lot better than official polls say and only one third of population in my area is on extreme right wing.
Funny things I have seen about this fanatic craze. Sometimes you look at faded by rain and sun stars and stripes sticker and see a sign " It will never fade". Or how about people displaying "blue, red and white never run". Perhaps they support the French - it is their flag colors all right. I have had a lot of fun when some madwomen was bashing French and she had no idea that her T-shirt had French words written all over it. Often times I see "Proud to be an American" on a pick up truck from which some red neck is rolling out with a bad need for a hair cut and a shower. I am afraid that when we go back to real democracy an American flag will have to be changed to gain domestic and international respect (not out of fear) again.
The Democrat.
From: Shannon
Date: 21 Apr 11:46 (PDT)
Subject: product ideas
I love your website!!! Seriously though, I am desperately searching for an gunrack for my pickup truck with a stars-n-stripes motif, please feature one in your ad, also some pintsized military uniforms for the kiddies. My neighbor has covered his entire roof with red white and blue twinkle lights so the airplanes above him know of his love of god and country, maybe that could be another featured product. And the flag with the cross shaped sunspot, it must be true because when the sun shines just right through my own flag, I can see the exxon logo. On a really sunny day, the walmart and the coca cola logo too. God bless america and fenceposts everywhere.
- Shannon
From: Richard
Date: 21 Apr 17:03 (PDT)
Subject: Love it
Wonderful site. Where is the purchase page? My mullet is wavin' free, and I'm Proud to be an Amerikun.
From: Jennifer
Date: 18 Apr 21:54 (PDT)
Subject: I LOVEYOUR SITE!
I think that is great that someone had the ball or ovaries to do this.. These people are idiots . Thanks so much!
Jennifer
From: Raymond
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2003 2:52 PM
Subject: flag-o-rama crap store
You realise, of course, that the real charm of the "Ground Zero Note Cube" is that, as you peel off the successive layers, you'll make the towers collapse-just like the terrorists! Who was this marketed to, again?
raymond
your site rules.
From: Greg
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2003 00:44:20 -0500
Subject: it's funny because it's true...
The Flag-O-Rama part of your website is fucking hilarious! Of course, some 'real' patriots will probably try to buy those items (although I have to admit - the Confeddy Freddy doll would be fun to own)
I added a link to your site from my blog (http://www.gregorybennett.com/gregorblog/)
Thought you might get a kick out of this photo series I shot... http://www.gregorybennett.com/drunken/index.html
Greg
Toronto, Canada
From: rbarnes
Sent: Saturday, April 19, 2003 5:22 PM
Subject: flags for sale
hi!
at a recent protest in toronto, there where both sides of the war in iraq, to trash or to wave. the part that the canadian media either missed or neglected to show were the at least four people selling flags. making a buck is fine, but at the end of the day the only real thing that counts are the youngsters in the field. look your site is a hoot, but think about offering some other products: like osama t-paper or maps to badhdad after looting! the best way to discourage hate mail and such is to crack them up. (thats if they have a sense of humor). anywho i love that furby, did you know that they're banned fron N.S.A. head quarters. (go figure, who would take one to work?)
you have done well grasshopper, keep going.
sincerly
rob
From: Melissa
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2003 7:38 AM
Subject: Your site is a health hazard!!
Dude, I almost choked on my breakfast cereal when I saw those Tampons of Glory! And what's frightening is that they look perfectly normal next to those Little Patriots diapers. This stuff is hysterical!! Keep it up!
Melissa
Urbana, IL
From: ScholarLadi
Sent: Monday, April 21, 2003 2:16 AM
Subject: Pointed and wonderful
There has not been much about our country which has made me smile since March 19 (and before) but this site did the job!
I am very anti-war, very very anti-Bush... and horrified at the usage of the American flag on and in every conceivable type of object "Merchandizing America" can think of. To me, this is defacement of the symbol of America which stands for freedom and civil liberties. Which goes to show... look who is treating this sacred item with so much disrespect???
From: Keith
Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2003 8:36 AM
Subject: Great site!
'Patriotism is more a matter of community than a matter of how many and how high we wave our flags.' Wonderful sentiment, if only more people could share it. As a patriotic Welshman I was highly amused to hear that whilst there has been an awful lot of fuss about the waving of Stars and Stripes and Union Jacks in Iraq causing offense, no-one seemed to notice the raising of a Red Dragon on a building in Baghdad (last thing I heard there had been no calls to remove it) - but then how many people outside of Europe would recognise it anyway? By tying themselves to the UK and US flags the pro-war lobbies on both sides of the pond will be forever be tarnished with the overtones of racism, isolationism and (in the US case) religious bigotry that the two symbols have come to represent both within and outside of our nations - all of which is a complete insult to those who died for our right to wave them in the first place. The time has come not to take back our flags but to re-examine what constitutes being patriotic, so those of us opposed to the war cannot be accused of offenses bordering on treason - did we learn nothing from two world wars? The Welsh flag is the only 'British' flag not represented in the Union Jack and we often joke that this is because a dragon draped around the Cross of St George would look so good that the English would find it insulting, but (at least until we gain independence) why not? How about having each star on the S&S sized in proportion to the size of the state it represents? As someone who spent four months in Alaska I love the idea of reminding Texans that they're actually not from the biggest state in the union. We could take this even further (as part of a 'global rebranding exercise') and re-design flags to represent modern interpretations of national identity - Israel could have two, France's would have to be yellow, Greece's could be brown and grey (lots of smog, poor sewerage systems), New Zealand's could feature a sheep...... Iechyd da! Keith.
From: Tessa
Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 7:38 AM
Subject: Hi
Hi Barry,
I am a 17 year old Dutch girl and found ur site on the internet. I think the items are very amusing. But it's a good case the americans show people they love their flag a lot. I've been to America last Feb. and I noticed a lot of people have their flag hanging on their house. That's a very good case it shows you love your country and that ur proud to live there. In Holland we never fly our flag only at special holidays. Altough I don't like patriotism a lot it's a good thing to have people think good about their country. Americans sometimes do love it a bit too much to my opinion. Well I just wanna say I really enjoyed to look at ur site and keep up the good work.
Groetjes (regards) Tessa
From: Compassionate Conservatives
Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 9:20 PM
Subject: Flag-O-Rama
Greetings Barry,
Well done! Bravo! Sadly, I know a fair number of people who would actually purchase these items (yes, even the infamous Ford Phallus).
For what it's worth, we offer a different sort of satire... one for the ears. If you have a moment, please drop by our web site for a musical extravaganza that skewers Bush, Cheney et al ad nauseum.
Best wishes,
Clark Kent
http://compassionateconservatives.iuma.com
From: Elizabeth
Date: 16 Apr 19:52 (PDT)
Subject: [none]
I don't know if this e-mail will get to anybody, but i want to say HURRAH for you! I am weary of all the flags being flown just to be "in vogue". I believe the flag of our country is a symbol of all that we have and when it is flown with little respect for the symbol (ie: flown from the back of a pickup, dirty and frayed from months of flapping in the breeze) then that is indirectly a statement of how much we value our country and what we have because we live in America.
Okay, so if this doesn't go anywhere, too bad. I said what I wanted to say...and I enjoyed the satire!
From: Sharyl
Date: 16 Apr 16:11 (PDT)
Subject: opinion on ur site
I like ur site.
You may have already seen this
http://www.lone-star.net/mall/literature/warpray.htm
I'm a Vietnam Vet and I'll tell you the day we were no longer safe in this
country was when they killed Kennedy.
plus growing up jumping under our desks.
I hope Iraq doesn't turn into another Vietnam.
I have flags and stickers all over my vehicle and they are totally tasteless but
I'm at least aware of it.
Take care and don't let the terrorists get you
Sharyl
http://ajranch.com
From: Molly
Date: 14 Apr 22:15 (PDT)
Subject: Got something you might be interested in
Shortly after 9-11, I found a store that was selling stickers with pictures of the World Trade Center and "never forget" mottos on them, etc. Just the fact that those symbols of tragedy were emblazoned across STICKERS, children's toys, seemed sick. I have a picture if you want to see. I think it's a sad memorial and testament to the fact that America is wacked out of its gourd. Sadly enough the stickers sold out within a couple days. Americans apparently think the best way to express sadness is through their wallets. I have to wonder, is anyone paying attention to the irony here? How can our flag be the symbol of the "free" when it costs $29.95 (plus shipping and handling)?
From: Redcs13
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2003 11:08 PM
Subject: your web page
ROCKS!!
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!
DOWN W/THE TERRORIST SCUMBAGS!!
ps...i'm a yankee, but that confederate teddy is the funniest thing!
well done. :)
From: Paul
Date: 13 Apr 09:16 (PDT)
Subject: Amooorican schtuff
Oh so lovely. And the prices are incredibly low.
I laughed for quite a while on this one.
Thank you ever so much!!!
Best regards,
Paul
From: Leonore
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2003 1:38 PM
Subject: your GREAT parody flag site
Hello, and peace to you!
We want to say that we think your parody site is GREAT, very clever. We are also sick of seeing the flag not just exploited by companies but co-opted by right-wingers. We ourselves are leftist, anti-Bush, and anti-war, and so will never want to display the flag again, as that would make others mistake us for rightists.
In this sad time of an administration that thinks it's just fine to invade the country of anyone we don't like and which looks with suspicion upon anyone here who doesn't bow down and agree, it's great to see such well-done humor. Thank you.
Leonore and David
Denver, CO
From: ET2-James
Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 11:57 AM
Subject: Website
Hey Barry,
Although your website is a farce and actually funny as hell I really wish they had those tires. US Navy here. Funny site no hate mail.
Respectfully,
ET2/SS James M.
From: Bill
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2003 12:36 PM
Subject: Funny web page!
I liked your Flag-O-Rama page. Yes, I agree that putting the stars and stripes on every conceivable product is inappropriate and represents nothing but greed on the part of merchandisers. Is this what our country stands for? Perhaps it does, but only if we allow ourselves to be so cynical. :-(
As for myself, I own an American flag. I display it on holidays in a mounting bracket on my house. I take it in at night, don't let it touch the ground, etc., as is customary to show respect to the principles for which the flag is a symbol. I think that's enough!
Cheers,
BillPersonally, I wear MY flag when I'm out shopping for SUVs.
From: Michael
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2003 6:59 PM
Subject: Hilarious!
Great job!!!!!!!!!! I'm still laughing out loud about the Tampax and breat milk pump!!!!! Oh, my! What a great sense of humor! And don't let any angry "patriotic Americans" get to you.... they're just clueless about the big picture. Keep up the great work!
Michael
From: Wendy
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2003 5:39 AM
Subject: website
Love it! I am SOOOOOOO sick of all the flags. I would sure hang one of those breast pumps from my car antenna, though!
Wendy
Blind faith in bad leadership is not patriotismHA! I'd love to see that!!
From: redmundy
Date: 14 Apr 08:21 (PDT)
Subject: flags
It's good to know that there are still some sensible, free thinking Americans over there. I fear for your country, I really do, and admire your bravery.
Actually, it's my sanity that I'm worried about... :-)
From: StarryEyedHoneyB
Date: 14 Apr 12:28 (PDT)
Subject: Great site!
I for one couldn't agree with you more! Being Patriotic is something in the way you live, act and portray yourself... not in the size of your flag! I love the site, and the items are kool (real or not!)
And, Yes... I am patriotic!!!
Job well done!
From: Susan
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2003 11:13 AM
Subject: finally, a sane view WOW
Thanks for the great laugh! There is nothing better than the logical conclusion to stupidity.
When people finally figure out that they don't own god(sic), especially one wrapped in an American flag, we may have a chance to return to democracy (now there's a concept!).
Best to you - Susan
From: Michael
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 10:07 AM
Subject: LOVE MAIL
Great site and right you are! and remember mrbarry: getting hate mail these days is a badge of courage you should wear proudly!
From: Suzanne
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2003 11:23 AM
Subject: Flag-o-rama!
This Web page has given me the biggest laugh I've had in recent memory. My morning coffee definitely does NOT belong up my nose!
I strongly agree with the spirit of your page. The current wave of pretentious, paranoid patriotism makes me want to puke. Thank you for sending up this repellent trend in a manner that is highly witty and right on the money.
Like you, I love my country. But I am also deeply disturbed by the sick commercialism that 9-11 has inspired in all too many American businesses.
Thanks again for your original and very funny send-up of this virulent form of commercialism.
Best regards,
SuzanneGreat way to put it: "pretentious, paranoid patriotism". PPP!
From: Darrell
Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2003 12:51 PM
Subject: Long live the Bill Of RightsThis site reminds me of the statement made by the infamous Russian Premier Nikita Khrushchev:
If Russia wanted to hang the U.S. an American would sell us the rope.
The U.S. Constitution is what every soldier swears to when entering military service. Our Constitution wisely grants freedom for both the majority and the minority. So patriotic Americans, wake up and smell the Coffeemaker of Victory. Our freedoms exist because our majority protects the civil liberties of the minority.
Americans you want to show your patriotism, read our U.S. Constitution particularly the Bill Of Rights.
That’s my opinions and I’m sticking to it.
From: Rachel
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 1:20 PM
Subject: Great Webpage
Hello-I live in Bremerton, WA, near the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Since 911, I've been bombarded by "patriotic" (please pardon my "Freedom") crap. The convenience store next to my development sells little flags to stick on one's hood (thus completely obscuring the driver's side-vision) AND beautiful red, white, and blue cigarette lighters. Bumper stickers are the worst. One fellow had the following on his car: "United We Stand," "God Bless America," "ENVISION-- Using Your Turn Signal," and "OSAMA FUCKIN' LADEN." All on the same SUV. And there were kids with him. People think I made this story up, but I have witnesses--my mother and sister. I thought this stuff only happened in Bremerton.
This flag waving craze is more than distasteful; it's reckless. For instance, my family went to a 911 memorial at the Seattle Center. While we were walking out of the center, a careful of morons drove by waving two enormous American flags (the sort people hang on houses). The driver of this vehicle was a bit distracted and entered a crosswalk filled with pedestrians. Thankfully, nobody got hit. I can think of a million better ways to support your country. One way would be not trying to kill your fellow Americans.
Anyhow, your site really made my day. Every time I insist that products like this are gross, people think I'm saying that America is gross. I keep thinking that sooner or later people will realize that there are better ways to invest their time and money, but this stuff just keeps selling. Thanks for producing a wonderful satire!
Rachel
From: Fubar
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 9:56 AM
Subject: Descriptions
I certainly hope you didn't write the description for each item on your flagstore page.
If you did, it would have been nice had you told some truth and not just hyperbole and jewish lies.
The ONE thing that prompted me to write was the description for the Confederate flag item. Racism was NOT the reason for the flag and you should know that. Touting racism was the norths way of getting "victims" for their push to keep the south from parting ways with the "union".
Southern folk are NOT the ones that are saying Nuke Iraq either, it's those from red white and blue wavers from the north.
I feel sorry for the troops but do NOT agree with this so called war. We all know its to keep Israel from getting blown off the map once and for all for their past 35 years of terrorism against the Arabs of Palestine.
BTW, I don't support Hussein either but don't feel it's my place to murder him for his indiscretions. It's his people's place to remove him, not ours. The US is NOT the worlds police department, court, judge or jury.Jewish lies? This site isn't THAT deep. It's all in the disclaimer...
From: Christian-Laurent
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 5:07 AM
Subject: Lovely site
Lovely site !!!
And if u don't have enough sales in Us market, I suggest u to try to sell some of your items in France because even if our government's haven't the same idea on one subject (I forgot wich one...) we've got at least the same colors in our flags...blue,white and red...
May be you can try to sell somes at www.elysee.fr (the france white-house)
I'm kidding of course
Christian-Laurent, a frenchie who've nothing against anybody (even against my neighbours who make so much noise with their TV during the night) and deplore all the mess (swelled also by the medias) between Usa and France... ...
Have fun and take care
From: MiChAeL
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 8:41 AM
Subject: Flag-o-Rama
Thank, oh thank, oh thank fucking god that this page was satire. I was about to put myself out of my misery. LOVE the tampons... "Let freedom _flow_..."
mx.
From: Lara Hamza [mailto:larahamza@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, April 12, 2003 10:48 AM
Subject: Re: Excellent Website!
I'll bet! I teach English at Ohio State University and I sent your website to the dept E-mail list (!!)telling them it would make a great "teaching tool" for those of us teaching the analytical essay. I'll let you know how my students respond to it when the time comes. thanks!
Lara
From: Darlene
Sent: Friday, April 04, 2003 4:44 PM
Subject: (no subject)
our family is very patriotic and every time I go out I always look for patriotic things to decorate my house with. Since the war has started we have put our patriotic deorations along with yellow ribbons in support of our service men. I was wondering if you have any items that are patriotic that you are not offering anymore that are out of stock that you might want to give away for free.
Darlene xxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxx, NJ xxxxx
Email address is
xxxxxxxxx@aol.com
my work number is 732-xxx-xxxxYes, she included her address and work number. I think she missed the joke. :)
From: Robert
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 6:43 AM
Subject: "Patriot Hairby"
Just ran across your site, and may I say, "Good Job". Too few people understand the difference between Nationalism and Patriotism.
One suggestion, mainly for Patriot Hairby, but it could apply to anything on the page. It's the one thing missing from your satire that happened with most of the flag-waving consumer crap (and the flags themselves): "Made in Taiwan"
Rob Myers
From: James
Date: 11 Apr 20:00 (PDT)
Subject: Holeee-jumpin-jehosephat
I gotta see the hate mail from the folks who didn't get the joke! The marketing scum have been trivializing patriotism. good job.
Proud American and Veteran,
JakeJames
From: Paula
Date: 9 Apr 14:01 (PDT)
Subject: I'll take three of everything
Nice web site. I'm with you all the way. I was thinking of having a flag tattooed on my forehead. Don't want anyone to think I'm less patriotic than the next guy.
Have a great day.
From: Craig
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 4:30 PM
Subject: thank you
Enjoyed your flag site. It was forwarded to me via a friend. At first I thought it was real. One can believe anything these days. Especially from Americans. There are too many people out there like that.
One is a vendor called A.G.A.S. in New York. I think they are actually owned and run by some Israeli immigrants--ironic. They made big bucks on U.S. car flags during post-911. Because of that they were late on our orders for three flags--- the Peace, Earth and Love flags--- and they messed two of the designs up. We got screwed for 6K because of them.
What I would like to know is how you get so many visitors to your site!!! I was looking at your counters. We are not getting the hits we should at ours. You can check us out. Our address is below. We are nowhere near as funny as you though.
Thanks again,
Craigvisit us at:
http://www.believeinpeace.com
From: Sandy
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 1:42 PM
Subject: Thought you would like to know
Dear Barry:
I am taking an online-ethics class through our local community college in Colorado. This weeks topic deal with Aristotle and how he would look at patriotism. Our instructor provided a link to your website as an example of patriotism and satire.
Take care,
Sandy
From: Norm
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 9:47 AM
Subject: Thank you
Barry:
Thank you for the wonderful satire. I never know about the seriousness of a site I connect to thru Linky & Dinky and am glad yours treated the subject of fanatical flag wavers with humor and style. I find that those who wrap themselves most tightly in our country's emblem are those who have sacrificed least to preserve it.
I'm a Vietnam vet who has earned the right to call the actions of our president a callous disregard for the facts and for human life.
Keep up the good work.
Norman A. Peterson
From: Patterson, Noel T [mailto:NPATTERS@houstonisd.org]
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2003 10:18 AM
Subject: not hate mail - your sites are very funny
Now, seriously, how much for the shoes?
From: Dan
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2003 10:15 AM
Subject: KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
Greetings from "bubbaland" The told me to get a one needed to get a passboard when I moved but I didn't listen,
from Dan (Trim the bushes ) in florida.
From: Gina
Date: Tue Apr 8 09:03:08 2003
Subject: Your website
Dear American,I have an uncle who retired, decorated, one step below "General" from the Air Force, WW11. He was the personal pilot for the American ambassador to Germany during that time. My family has always had a "sense of community" and is VERY patriotic. I don't appreciate your site (this is not hate mail-I don't do that), because it attempts to "Mock" those who want to display the flag. it really does make you look unpatriotic, whether you realize it or not. You probably won't, because you have you point of view. I respect that, but I can't respect any kind of mockery of our Flag or country. I have a flag on the bumper of my car and hanging from my home-that's all. I happen to think that when MOST people were displaying the flag so much after 9/11, that it SCREAMED COMMUNITY. It showed everyone "We were together." Please think about all of our Soldiers and the risks they are taking-to give YOU the right to "mock " those who are proud of our flag and WHAT IT STANDS FOR!!!! I'm sure they would like to see some pics of us displaying our biggest "Symbol" of Freedom, don't you? I agree some can go overboard, but now is not the time for satire or this kind of humor. Thanks for stating that you do love your country...maybe those who feel as I do will understand better than me. Thanks also for taking the time to read this email from a fellow American.
Sincerely,
G.I clarified to G. that this site is satire, not mockery of the flag...it's all in the disclaimer, baby!
From: April
Date: Tue Apr 8 13:35:39 2003
Subject: well done
Thank you for creating the Flag-O-Rama website. I've spent years looking for a Hammer of Justice and those Tires of Pride are gonna look great on my totally unnecessary SUV. I'll be the envy of the gas station where I fill my tank two or three times a day with Patriot Petrol.
Are you real strict about that one Confeddy Freddy per trailer? Even if I got me a double-wide? I promise to pretend I'm a white christian.
Here's hopin' this patriotic fever lasts right through the holiday shopping season.
(Clever site. Thanks for the giggles.)
Peace,
April
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Warning: Pursuant to the USA/Patriot Act, all electronic transmissions are now read by federal and state law enforcement agencies. Remember the Miranda warnings when sending email as NONE ARE PRIVATE since the passage of the USA/Patriot Anti-Free Speech/Anti-Civil Liberties Act.
From: Heavy-Duty
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 2:14 PM
Subject: You should find someone
DUDE....... You should really find someone to produce and market those objects before they are stollen. Especially the Silverware ( anyone who can put color in like that will make a fortune, the Confederate Teletubby ( lots of gay rednecks and ravers), the Shoes ( old people need shoes), and of course the Tires ( do I even need to give a reason?).
Great
S#!t,
Heavy-Duty
From: terry
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 2:26 AM
Subject:
Fantastic site. Nice to see some people still have a sense of humour :)
But where, I ask, can I purchase patriotic toilet paper. Persumably with the flags of the current enemy of the state.
From: Kevin
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 3:47 PM
Subject: Love satire
I got the humor of your site instantly. I hope people took your disclaimer at the bottom seriously. If not, I would like you to get at least one piece of non-hate mail. I smiled big when I saw them all. I have a similar sense of humor. What alarmed me is, none of the items are that unlikely given the flag waiving. I hope no one profits from your humor by making real RWB coffee maker :-)
Kevin
Not pro war
Not anti-patriot
but very anti-jingoism
From: Ray
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 7:48 AM
Subject: Hilarious!!!
Your satire of flagitis is great!!!"Flagitis!" HAHAHAHA!
From: Barry
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 7:23 PM
Subject: kudos
no hate mail here! good site & sight for those of us sick of the corruption of the ideals of democracy. keep up the humorBarry (also)
From: Pat
Sent: Wednesday, April 09, 2003 5:26 AM
Subject: Flag-O-Rama
Thank You!That is the best satire I've seen since 9/11! And exactly how I've felt about the whole "all of a sudden we're a flag-waver" crowd. Where were their flags before 9/11? Thanks for the chuckles!
PatFairweather patriotism, anyone?
From: Cat
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 1:31 PM
Subject: flag web page, not hate mail
I did get a kick out of your web page. I have often thought about why the flag is on so many things, doesn’t it show disrespect to our flag to wash it, step on it, let it out in the rain, not put it in a respectable place of honor and so forth? I do have a problem with the fact people allow a flag on their antenna to the point of looking like a rag, this is showing disrespect for our flag and nation……just an opinion, thanks for listening……Cat
From: Paul
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 3:45 PM
Subject: Great site
I know its patriotic, man. Its your responsibility to voice dissent! And how!
Where is the American Flag TP? A good roll to wipe away fears, terrorist bugs, and commie klingons! (Come to think of it, there would be good money in Constitution TP and Bill of Rights TP; you'd make a killing with a government contract for the stuff!)
Ah hell. Whatever. Thanks for the laugh.
-Paul
From: Scott
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 3:11 PM
Subject: Gawd Bless yeeew!
I love it.
I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma home of big hair patriotic pick em up trucks & SUVs and this really hits home. I too consider myself patriotic but do not like what flag stands for lately. Also putting it on everything cheapens it's meaning and goes against flag etiquette.
Keep up the good work. Americans sometimes need a mirror held in front of them to see how ridiculous they look.
Take care,
Scott Fowler
From: Scott
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 10:27 AM
Subject: Satire
Satire! Ya mean I cant order them thangs!!! What has this country come to when I can't allow my self to be preyed upon by them that figures that they is ma bettas, and sell me tha garbage I thin is the most honorable!!! :-)Scooter
PS thanks for the site, I was getting worried it wasn't a satire, not the first one I was mistaken about!
From: T. S.
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 10:12 AM
Subject: New Balance
Hey I would like to buy some of these products, however I have a concern about the New Balance Sole Pride running shoes. I have it on good authority that this company actually makes its shoes hear in the US, this is hardly tolerable. if this catches on american garment and shoe manufactures will be out of millions of dollars in profits. How unAmerican is that?
But seriously why didn't you use nike or reebok hell even converse sells the chuck taylor logo to any sweatshop that has children to exploit.
keep up the great work
From: Petr
Date: 10 Apr 03:00 (PDT)
Subject: greetings
I´m not ether American or Antiamerican, thanks for that.
Thanks for your sence of humor ):-))
Good luck & God shave the queen!Petr (aka Gotreg)
From: Leah
Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 8:08 AM
Subject: Kudos
I'm glad to see this page. I have objected (in a letter to my groups) to the use of the flag from everything to cards with cute teddy bears waving it, to nude men and women wrapped in it. I do not consider it to be respectful of the flag, and I don't understand what teddy bears (even champagne glassess) have to do with patriotisim. Sincerely, Leah Hanson
Pagan Prattle
http://prattle.antipope.org/archives/000662.html
From: Portavita
Date: Tue Apr 8 17:02:29 2003
Subject: love the sneakers
send me how to order
From: AddictivePuma
Date: 8 Apr 16:53 (PDT)
Subject: No hatemail here!!!!!!
I just wanted to say thank you for your website. I found the link on linky & dinky and just had to look.
I agree totally with you about the marketing scum, but don't you think that perhaps, it's the utterly ignorant consumer that hate mail should be aimed at? I mean, really, if the companies making this crap didn't think it wouldn't be bought they wouldn't put it out there. Companies are going to sell what people are buying, right? I know that it's still wrong but if people weren't showing a "spending trend" towards "patriotic" symbolism, the companies wouldn't be manufacturing their items with flags on them. It's sad to think that people are over their dying for this kind of freedom, but it's that very freedom to sell what you want that is being fought for. Saddam and Bin Laden both want to take that freedom from the USA and other countries that have democratic governments.Yes, I blame the mindless consumers as well as the companies who make this crap. They feed off each other, and it's just not a good thing.
From: ahmed
Date: Tue Apr 8 11:02:37 2003
Subject: [none]
FUNNY. I don't blame you.
From: ShadowHunter72
Date: 8 Apr 17:47 (CDT)
Subject: [none]
Wartime Propaganda brings out the STUPID in people, huh? I found your page funny. :)
From: cannh624
Date: Tue Apr 8 12:51:09 2003
Subject: GREAT SITE!!!
I'm so glad to see someone poking fun at the patriotic foibles of the unbelieveably stupid!
Now if we could just get those folks who feel it is patriotic to fly flags at 75 mph on their vehicles to stop, I would be happy! (It's considered disrespectful if the car is moving faster than 10 or 15 mph... I don't remember the exact speed, so don't quote me!)
Thanks for the giggle... now send me that patriot hairby ;)
Cheryl
From: Jeffrey
Date: 8 Apr 20:20 (PDT)
Subject: How sad...
...that you even felt it was NECESSARY to put that long, involved disclaimer at the bottom. But you're absolutely right, of course -- the vast majority of Americans will NOT get the joke, and that's even more true today than it was when you put this together!
Well, gotta go and drop some bunker-busting bombs on a restaurant in hopes of hitting Saddam Hussein...gosh, those monstrous Mafia hitmen were SO barbaric when they took out Joey Gallo with just a few gunshots, "back in the day." Imagine what they could do with these bunker-bustin' babies!Saddam Sandwich with chips, anyone?
From: Ross
Date: 8 Apr 14:33 (PDT)
Subject: Flag-o-rama (no hate mail here)
Cute site. :-) Although I've got a flag on my car, yes, I do see the silliness of putting the stars & stripes on everything. Yup, I can laugh at myself.
BTW... I sure wish you really were selling those hammers... Estwing makes a d*mn good hammer... and it'd go well with hammering my point home to my liberal, socialist, gun-control-loving sister.
Ross
From: Robert
Date: Tue Apr 8 15:42:31 2003
To: flagflagflag@totalobscurity.com
Subject: colors
BRAVO!!!! Couldn't have said it any better. Your comments re: satire should be in the editorial section of every paper in the good ole US ofA !!!!!!!!
From: Stacy
Date: 8 Apr 15:55 (PDT)
Subject: flagorama
Very ...
VERY ...
Funny. :-)
From: Paul
Date: 8 Apr 20:00 (PDT)
Subject: Flag-O-Rama
Your site is truly a masterpiece. Satire at its finest!
Bravo!!
Paul D. Beasi
From: Claire
Date: 8 Apr 17:54 (PDT)
Subject: It's illegal, too
Hi,
I read somewhere about legal flag displays. Hanging it upside down is a distress signal and permitted. But it is illegal to use it to wrap packages, for clothing, for bedspreads, etc.
ps
I totally cracked up laughing at your site. I haven't laughed so hard or long in months or years!
Claire W. Gilbert, Ph.D.I wonder if boxing shorts are ruled out? I've seen those for sale too. Ugh.
From: Pete
Date: 9 Apr 03:51 (PDT)
Subject: Flag web site
Hi Barry,
I really like your site. You sure hit the nail on the head this time. The bad part is that so many well meaning people waste hard earned money on just such items. They would be better off to donate the money they spend on this stuff to a good charity. If people start sending you hate mail over this, tell them to send me some because I agree with you 110%. Then again how about letting me know when the "Confeddy Freddy" goes on sale.
Best of Luck,
Pete Daugherty
Elba, Alabama
From: Patrick
Date: 8 Apr 20:16 (PDT)
Subject: Nice...very nice
Thanks for the red, white and blue chuckle. Keep it up 'cause I can't wait to see your hate mail.
Patriotically yours,
A proud American
From: Phyllis
Date: 9 Apr 05:55 (CDT)
To: flagflagflag@totalobscurity.com
Subject: Flag Products
Hallelujah! That's exactly how I feel. Improper and Irreverent use of the flag is rampant. And don't get me started on the confederate flag wavers! THEY should be arrested for treason.
Peace,
Phyllis
From: Stephen
Date: 11 Apr 03:58 (PDT)
Subject: Your Website
I have just received a link to your website and I must say that as someone from the 51st State of America I found it very funny. Therefore on the same patriotic note I enclose a couple of attachments so you too can fly the flag in every e-mail you send like myself.
You will need to be running the All American Microsoft Outlook and then save the attachments in C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Stationery. Then in Outlook select from the dropdown menu Tools then Options, select the Mail Format tab and choose ‘Stars and Stripes’ from the Stationery and Fonts dropdown and your ready to go.
Happy mailing.Steve