On Thursday, Congress passed a resolution that “in response to the terrorist attacks... U.S. citizens should join together to defend and honor the Nation and its symbols of strength” and that people are “encouraged to display the flag...to remember those individuals who have been lost and to show the solidarity, resolve and strength of the nation.”

The Quincy House Open e-mail list—usually a marketplace for futons and books—exploded this weekend with a debate on patriotism and nationalism, retaliation and peace. List subscribers got nearly 40 e-mails this week with subject headings such as “American flag,” “Worried about what the flag means, I’ll tell you,” and “Crimes against Humanity...NOT war...write to Congress!”

The debate started when Rahul Rohatgi ’03 sent out a plea late Thursday night for people to honor Washington’s urgings to display the flag.

“I am writing because I urge every one of you who has a small American flag to fly it either out your window if possible, or putty it on to your door,” Rohatgi, a Crimson executive, wrote in an e-mail message.

Rohatgi—who said he considers flag-posting one small positive thing students could do when feeling helpless in the face of tragedy—said the flag is a sign of national unity.