Study of Flag Waving in the Aftermath of Sept 11

Jack Levin
Gordana Rabrenovic
Janese Free
Colleen Keaney
Jason Mazaik

The Brudnick Center on Violence and Conflict
Northeastern University

In order to investigate the prevalence, correlates, and functions of flag-waving in the aftermath of the September 11th attack on America, we conducted 390 telephone interviews during January and February 2002 with a national probability sample of American adults, at least 17 years of age. Respondents were asked whether they display an American flag and, if so, where. They were questioned about their reasons for displaying a flag and about their attitudes toward Arabs.

Finding #1: The majority of Americans have displayed a flag since September 11, typically on the outside of their house. Our results indicate that some 60 percent of all Americans report displaying an American flag, the vast majority (almost 62 percent of flag-wavers) since the September 11th terrorist attack. In general, the more public and easily identified with the flag-waver, the more popular was the venue for showing the flag. The rank-order of flag locations ranged from "outside house" (80%), "on car "(47%), "on clothing" (43%), "inside house,"(43%), to "in office" (21%).

Finding #2: The majority of Americans displayed their flags in order to show support for the victims of the Attack on America. More than half also sought to demonstrate support for our troops, our government, and our national purpose against the enemy.

The reasons for flag-waving varied from non-militaristic humanism to nationalism. The largest number of flag-wavers (56%) reported wanting "to support victims of 9/11 and their families." A large number also cited wanting "to support our troops"(54%), "to symbolize America's strength and power" (54%), "to show national unity against the enemy"(51%), and "to support our government (50%). Only 7% admitted displaying a flag "to avoid appearing un-American."

Moreover, among those who did not display an American flag, 34% suggested that flag-waving was just a fad and that they show their patriotism in other ways. Far fewer respondents decided not to display a flag because "it looks politically conservative" or "I don't support the war in Afghanistan." The largest number who decided not to display a flag couldn't give any particular reason for their decision-some 43% "just didn't." Finding #3: Displaying a flag was related to a willingness to treat Arabs as potential terrorists-profiling, questioning, and detaining them in the interest of public safety.

Our results indicate, in addition, that flag-waving was related to attitudes toward the treatment of Arabs as terrorist suspects. Flag wavers (42%) were significantly more likely than respondents without flags (34%) to agree to the statement "I would keep an eye on Arabs in public places" and significantly more likely to agree (58% vs. 46%) that "I would support questioning Arabs as long as necessary in airports." Respondents with flags were only slightly more likely than those without flags to agree that "violence is permissible if an Arab American appears un-American" (17% vs. 15%) and were equally unlikely to report they "would exclude Arabs from my country" (8% of both groups).

Results obtained in the present study seem to suggest that flag-waving-whatever else it might symbolize--represents a personal statement as to an individual's support for the "war against terrorism." Not unlike gestures, hairstyles, expressions, and dress, the possession of an American flag is nonverbal information with which individuals hope to manage the impression of themselves that they project to other people. During the Vietnam War, wearing "hip" clothing was closely related to holding an anti-war and leftist political stance. It should not be surprising that in the aftermath of the worst terrorist attack in American history, many Americans would revert to flag-waving as a conventional and quickly accessible means of presenting themselves as loyal and patriotic.

For flag-wavers, anti-Arab sentiment may be intended similarly to send a message of patriotism. Our findings seem to reflect the opposition of most Americans to state-supported measures to express violence or exclude those of Arab descent. At the same time, many Americans are willing to endorse measures to cut back civil liberties in order to get a line on terrorists assumed to be from the Middle East.