It’s All About The Flag
July 10, 2009I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
Man, I will tell you, I still get chills when I read those words. But I would like to dissect the part about the flag. Please don’t be insulted by my saying this. It’s just a piece of cloth, it has no life of it’s own and that cloth could have easily been made into a shirt, a pair of pants or even a handkerchief to help you clear your sinuses. So it’s not the cloth that’s important. Is it the design? I have to say, that I find few things more beautiful than Old Glory flying proud in the wind with the sun setting behind it, but the feelings that the flag evokes can come just as easily from a cheap plastic sticker on a car. The creators of the red white and blue chose some beautiful colors but those same three in a different configuration will mean nothing. So It’s not the colors.
I could dissect endlessly and accomplish nothing more than to irritate and alienate you, so I shall cut to the chase. It’s all about respect. Our country has a rich history, some good, some bad, but it’s not so much about the actions of our forefathers as it is their intent. Here, for the first time in the history of our planet, we had a gathering of people of many different beliefs and yet there was no need for conflict. Everyone could live and believe as they pleased without fear of reprisal. Now that is something to believe in.
So I will salute the flag with my hand over my heart to show my respect and gratitude for all we have been given by those men who founded our nation.
Great comments. You put it in perfect perspective. I have a veteran friend who says:
“I think anybody should be able to burn the American flag; just do me a favor & wrap themselves in it before the douse it with gas & light it.” ha
In THAT light, I do NOT believe we should be able to desocrate IT in protest no more than we can shoot a bald eagle in protest.
It is the SYMBOL but its honor is in OUR respect & partiotism toward it. Good thoughts.
Hey Jerry, I know how you feel. I think that the most important thing that we as Americans have lost is respect. I don’t think that I even COULD burn our flag because I do respect what it stands for. The ultimate irony is that those who do so are showing contempt for that which allows them to perform the act. And it is an act, not of defiance but rather of cowardice. Let them do so in a country where such is a crime if they wish to show courage.