As I drive around Citrus County, I am always delighted to see so many homes and businesses flying the flag of our country, the Stars & Stripes, Old Glory. It gives me hope that, despite political differences, we all want to do what’s best for our nation.
Lately, though, I’ve been seeing some disturbing “versions” of the American flag flying from homeowners’ flagpoles, and I don’t understand what is going on. There’s a flag that uses the stars and stripes, but the flag is black. Another one is black and white with one blue stripe. Still, another is black and white but with a few other stripes in green and blue. Most disturbing of all, people are flying a flag that combines Old Glory with the Confederate Battle Flag! The flag of the USA combined with the symbol of a “country” that went to war against us? And people were flying these flags on Veteran’s Day!
What in the world are these people thinking? Using the American flag – the symbol of liberty and justice for all – and desecrating it to make some kind of obscure point or glorify a war against this nation that killed hundreds of thousands goes against everything this country stands for. Flying a desecrated version of the American flag is not patriotic; it’s not honoring our country. I thought it was considered Un-American to misuse our flag in such ways.
There are many flags available that express opinions or political beliefs – we see them flying all over the country too, some blaring profanities in full view of local elementary schools. Others show flowers or butterflies or have “welcome” messages on them.
People can fly whatever decorative or message flags they want. But can we at least agree that our red, white, and blue American flag deserves to be hung with respect and not be shown in twisted, ugly versions?
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