On Sept. 11, three American firefighters were caught by a cameraman hoisting an American flag above the ruins of the World Trade Center. The picture is bound to go down in history as a symbol of American pride in times of crisis ? it has already deemed comparisons with the photo of Iwo Jima. One could say the picture is precious ? even priceless.
Wrong. In the spirit of capitalism, the rightful owners of that flag want their reward. Two Manhattan residents, Shirley B. Dreifus and her husband, Spiros E. Kopelakis, say that the firefighters removed the flag from their yacht, the Star of America, in the harbor and relocated it at the site of the World Trade Centers. The Star of America is a 130-ft, 3-story, fully furnished (with piano) yacht. Dreifus and Kopelakis say they don't want the actual flag returned, just the monetary value if it were to be sold in auction. Kopelakis says, "That will be good if we have some tax deduction."
They bought the flag for $50 at a boat show.
Trying to save face, they say the reason they want rights to the flag is to "make sure the flag is used appropriately, and not as a crass marketing tool," according to Dreifus. Odd thing is that both the photographer and the three fire fighters have done nothing of the sort (most people couldn't name them if asked!). Already they have refused any recognition and monetary award for a patriotic moment caught on film. In fact, the only thing they have done is created is a foundation called The Bravest Fund, which supports the families of emergency-workers affected by the crisis. Dreifus and Kopelakis have just taken a step to cheapen the situation. I hope everyone remembers those names.
For two people who are trying to protect the integrity of everything related to Sept. 11, they are just adding to the massive and disgusting commercialization of a horrible tragedy. On the streets of New York City, vendors sell little trinket-sized replicas of the Twin Towers, postcards, posters, anti-Osama/Afghani/Islam/any possible scapegoat shirts and apparel and a ton of other things trying to capitalize on people's sympathy. People have been, and apparently will continue, to produce things that denigrate the events of Sept. 11. They find a soft-spot in the human psyche and manipulate it into affordable and irresistible products. Sadly enough, this works.
Because everyone is trying to be so sensitive about issues dealing with Sept. 11, no one wants to try to tell people it's wrong to wear mass-produced pins of flags and buy paraphernalia proudly stating "United We Stand." However, there is a problem: someone is profiting ? someone took your patriotism and made it into dollars. That is wrong.
The two yacht owners aren't exactly selling anything, but they did sell their story. They wanted in on the action and demanded stipend for something that was pure. Keep in mind, this intrusive type of capitalism is exactly what Osama Bin-Laden and the Taliban dislike so much about the United States. On a much smaller scale, it is almost the same problem.
It's understandable that Dreifus' and Kopelakis' business was hurt by the terrorist attack. A lot of people were economically upset ? but they should try to take the fall with a little bit of dignity and grace. If not for their own image, but for the memory of everyone who lost their lives. They gave a flag, an image, a memory ? they gave people hope in a time of fear. Now why are they trying to take that all away? And if it's really that important, I'd be willing to buy you a flag. I'd rather cough-up the $50 to make you content, rather than see you exploit the situation more than you already have.
