Flagging the Homeland Reading Response

In “Flagging the Homeland Daily,” the author shows how nationalism and patriotism are constructed in subtle, daily ways. The physical symbol of the flag is a visible reminder of nationalism, but itself not sufficient for the deep and meaningful ways nationalism is inculcated. Nationalism is inculcated through daily discourse, in words, phrases, and gestures that are often taken for granted. Even if nationalism on an overt level is no longer in vogue, a more “banal” type of nationalism has taken its place, according to Billig. This banal nationalism is “not necessarily benign,” which is the author’s central argument throughout the text (p. 94). For example, the citizens of nation-states still have an us-them mentality, conveyed through the discursive meanings of seemingly innocent terms like “the people,” (p. 94). It is difficult to recognize these subtle forms of brainwashing because they have become habits of speech.
The mass media is of course complicit in conveying banal nationalism. However, it is also important to recognize that in the United States, some of the forms nationalism and patriotism take place are not covert at all, and nor are they subtle. Especially since September 11, nationalism and patriotism have resurfaced to form the foundation of identity. The backlash against taking a knee is a perfect example of how Americans are guilty of “flagging the homeland daily,” but reflexively and not in a meaningful protection of the rights and freedoms the nation professes to defend. In fact, Billig directly talks about the role sports play in the construction of banal nationalism. Even before the sports protests, Americans had new departments of state like the Department of Homeland Security, with the term “homeland” being waved proudly like a verbal flag. Billig refers to the “homeland deixis,” a complex function of social linguistics.
Nation building is a psychological mechanism, as Billig points out. It requires conscientious participation by the plebiscite, which feeds and reinforces the terms of that identity through a sanctification of certain symbols, geographic landmarks, or political figures. Beyond just being a political strategy, nationalism is a means of social control. Other keywords in banal nationalism include “sovereignty,” which implies a separation of groups into their respective national forms. Although he writes from a British point of view, Billig shows how all liberal democracies engage in the construction of banal nationalism, through the messages in their media and communicated via politicians and other public figures. Potentially inflammatory phrases like “greatest country in the world” are bandied about regularly, embedded discursively in daily rhetoric. It these types of banal nationalism only occupied the political sphere, then perhaps they would be less sinister or less nefarious, but the media has enabled the flagging of the homeland to creep into public and personal consciousness.
The author shows how the homeland deixis is a political tool and a strategy for social control. Even weather reports contain messages related to geo-political boundaries, which of course are meaningless from the point of atmospheric conditions. Ultimately, Billig promotes an intense scrutiny of national identity construction, as well as focused media literacy.



Works Cited
Billig, Michael. “Flagging the Homeland Daily.”