“American Flags” by Tom Macdonald and Adam Calhoun is a song that contains references to historical events and controversial issues, which could be seen as promoting extremist behavior and inciting divisions. However, a comprehensive analysis of the lyrics reveals that the song is actually a critique of these behaviors and the societal issues that give rise to them.
The song begins with the line “I’m just a man with an American flag, raised on freedom and the past that we had,” setting the tone for the rest of the track. Macdonald and Calhoun are acknowledging that they are proud of their country and its history, but also recognizing that there are issues that need to be addressed. They are not glorifying or promoting these issues, but rather using them as a lens through which to examine and critique them.
The second verse contains references to historical events such as the Vietnam War and the September 11th attacks. These references are not meant to incite division or promote extremist behavior, but rather to highlight the ways in which these events have shaped the country and the ways in which they are used to further divide and oppress certain groups of people. Macdonald and Calhoun are using these references to make a larger point about the societal issues that give rise to these events and the ways in which they are used to further marginalize certain groups.
The third verse contains the line “I’m just speaking my truth, inappropriate or not,” which further highlights the fact that Macdonald and Calhoun are not promoting or glorifying these behaviors, but rather using them as a means of critiquing societal issues. They are speaking their truth, regardless of whether or not it is seen as appropriate or politically correct.
In conclusion, “American Flags” by Tom Macdonald and Adam Calhoun is a song that contains references to historical events and controversial issues, which could be seen as promoting extremist behavior and inciting divisions. However, a comprehensive analysis of the lyrics reveals that the song is actually a critique of these behaviors and the societal issues that give rise to them. Macdonald and Calhoun are using their platform to speak their truth and critique societal issues, rather than promoting or glorifying them. It is important to understand the context and the message behind the lyrics before jumping to conclusions.
It is also important to note that, as a cyber security researcher majoring in influence operations, scrutinizing music from influencers with a large following forms a big part of your day to day tasks. It is crucial to be aware of the potential for misinterpretation and to provide a clear perspective on the lyrics, so as to not misinterpret the intention or worse quote the authors of the song out of context thus causing unintentional harm.
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