For many this is the symbol of freedom, it represents the struggle for Liberty that gave birth to this nation. Untold numbers of men and women have given their lives, so that this flag may continue to wave.
There are nations around the world that would not exist if not for the fact that our nation stood with them against real evil.
Of course, there are those who feel that this flag represents the very opposite of Liberty, and there are countries, and people, both around the world, and right here at home, who feel this flag has been used to enslave people.
I happen to believe that this flag does represent freedom. But not the convenient kind. Not the kind politicians will make flowery speeches about. Not just the kind of freedom that makes my eyes water when I hear of all the veterans speaking of their sacrifices. Not just the kind of freedom we see on the Fourth of July with patriotic songs.
I happen to believe that it represents the ugly freedoms as well. The freedom to criticize this nation and its leaders. The freedom to say unpopular things. The freedom even to do this.
I know how the sight of this must anger many, especially those who fought to protect this nation while carrying this flag. I too find it disrespectful to the flag and the nation and its people. But Liberty is not about the freedom to be popular, or to say and do only those things that will make people feel good. Liberty is the freedom to express your discontent, your feelings of helplessness.
In many cases, when we see this act of protest, it is done to get the reaction that it likely will receive, anger and confrontation. Other times, I think it is an honest cry of frustration with the system, a system that many feel they have no part in creating, or in operating.
The true test of our Liberty should be, are we as a people, a nation, strong enough to see this, and still be able to have a discussion of why anyone would feel the need to do this? Because if all we do in reaction is to shout at these people, we may be giving them exactly what they want, confrontation. But if we engage them, if we ask them to explain their discontent, then we may be able to get beyond such demonstrations, and actually begin mending long broken relations.
I know it is late on Flag Day, but let us all take a quiet moment to think about what this flag truly symbolizes. Is it just past wars and veterans? Is it just a symbol to wave at sporting events? Or does it truly represent Liberty?
The late great comedian George Carlin, said of symbols, “Symbols are for the symbol minded.”
So on a more substantive note, it is worth observing that 800 years ago today, June 15, 1215, the forerunner of our Constitution, the Magna Carta was signed.
One of it’s most important clauses reads
“XXIX. NO Freeman shall be taken or imprisoned, or be disseised of his Freehold, or Liberties, or free Customs, or be outlawed, or exiled, or any other wise destroyed; nor will We not pass upon him, nor condemn him, but by lawful judgment of his Peers, or by the Law of the land. We will sell to no man, we will not deny or defer to any man either Justice or Right.”
800 years on, the state can kill anyone, jail anyone and seize by civil asset forfeiture anyone’s “houses, papers, and effects”, all without “lawful judgment of his Peers, or by the Law of the land”.
How’d we lose it, Frank ?
Just like eating an elephant, a piece at a time!
How’d we lose it, Frank ?
Maybe by being snookered into accepting that “shall be the conservator of the peace” doesn’t mean shall be the conservator of the peace?
The symbol is always more important than what it represents. Humans are apes, some more than others.