Something has happened to society. Something very sad. All
of the symbols we have created to inspire and drive ourselves, and others, to
greatness are now looked upon with scorn. The Flag of The United States of
America is one such victim. I’m not exactly sure when it was first chosen as
the whipping boy of our country but the most politicized era of flag hate was
in the 1970’s during the Vietnam War. Every person who felt the war was wrong,
and fought U.S. Involvement, started burning The Stars and Stripes that
represent our country.
I will always wonder what could have happened if those who
burned The Flag in protest would have instead waved our Flag while performing
acts that they felt were more in line with the ideals they carried, for how the
government of these United States should act. The protestors who burned our
Flag instead, also, burned all their hopes and dreams for our country. They
gave up on the dream The United States of America has represented since the
moment The Revolutionary War was set into motion. Old Glory, our primary symbol
of who we wanted to be, was beaten, torn, and burned because people became confused
about what she is. The Flag of The United States of America is our goal, not
our present. Every time something happens that we disagree with we need to look
to Our Flag. We need to remember what we want to be, and realign ourselves with
that goal, that dream. Only through action, with a clear destination in mind,
will we ever reach the finishing line our forefathers set for us.
Next time something happens in our country that you disagree with, please don’t take it out on our one true symbol of hope. Instead, please raise Our Flag as high, and as proudly, as you can. Let her fly in the wind before all to see. Let her call out with every flap in the wind “I am still here! We are United in our belief that we are the greatest nation. We will strive to be better than we are at every moment. We are here to treat every living thing as our equal, for we are, none of us, more important than anyone, anything, else. We are the United States of America. We will stand as one people, for liberty and justice. We are here. We remember why we came. We choose to make our struggles help us grow, to make our country, and all those living here, the absolute best we can possible be.”
That is what The Flag of These United States of America stands for.
Next time something happens in our country that you disagree with, please don’t take it out on our one true symbol of hope. Instead, please raise Our Flag as high, and as proudly, as you can. Let her fly in the wind before all to see. Let her call out with every flap in the wind “I am still here! We are United in our belief that we are the greatest nation. We will strive to be better than we are at every moment. We are here to treat every living thing as our equal, for we are, none of us, more important than anyone, anything, else. We are the United States of America. We will stand as one people, for liberty and justice. We are here. We remember why we came. We choose to make our struggles help us grow, to make our country, and all those living here, the absolute best we can possible be.”
That is what The Flag of These United States of America stands for.
From now on, when in doubt, when in fear, or when unsure of
what to do: Look up at Our Flag and remember the dreams and hopes The Stars and
Strips hold. She is waiting for us to reach out and achieve that dream.
