09/29/03

Fifty stars and thirteen stripes: what does it mean?  A star representing each state in the union of states we call America.  Thirteen stripes representing the original colonies that won independence.  Red is for the blood of those who shed it willingly for the cause of freedom.  White is for liberty, and blue for loyalty.  The image of the marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima is ingrained in almost every American's memory. 

As a child, I remember reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every day.  This was a strict ritual, no clowning around was tolerated.  The flag, we were taught, was a precious symbol of our country and way of life.  I watched on TV as protestors burned the flag in demonstrations against the Viet Nam involvement.  I remember being scolded fiercely for allowing the flag to touch the ground when a friend and I were privileged to lower it from the school flagpole.  When I was a child, the flag was to be taken down during rain and at night.  The laws changed when I was a teen-ager allowing the flag to fly constantly with the consideration that it was to be appropriately illuminated.

I appreciate and revere the American flag.  I am pleased when others choose to display the flag as a symbol of their national pride.  I am saddened by those who intentionally desecrate or denigrate the American flag.  And I am angered by those who would seek to destroy the nation and people represented by the American flag.

But I find myself disappointed by an even more deplorable misuse of the American flag, and sadly, this form of misuse is by the hands of Americans.

After the events of September 11, 2001, our nation saw an interesting transformation.  For a brief time, public prayer and actions of faith were considered not only appropriate, but necessary.  A surge of American pride welled up in the national heart.  The display of the American flag blossomed.  Flags were displayed in rows down neighborhood streets, on businesses, clothing, bumper stickers, and the like.

This makes me wonder what has happened to the American pride, now, when I see a car whizzing down the road with a window-clip American flag torn to tatters.  I am moved to see the torn and bullet riddled flags of past wars.  These represent the struggles that we have endured to ensure the freedom we enjoy today.  But what does the torn and unraveled flag on a car represent?  The display of the American Flag should not be an empty symbolism, but rather a deliberate act that is accompanied with a sense of pride and reverence. 

Yes, display the flag, and display it proudly.  But, don’t let it become a rag of red, white, and blue ribbons trailing from a stick protruding from your vehicle window.  Don’t let it fall to the ground in the road only to be trodden by other vehicles.  What message does this send to the world when we do not even respect our own flag?

I am embarrassed by businesses who display a flag in poor repair.  I avoid those businesses.  The American flag should not be a passive marketing gimmick.  It is a symbol of our hardships and solidarity.  A symbol that represents the struggles of American sweat that bought the prosperity that we take for granted.

I challenge you to inspect your American flag.  If it is damaged in any way, you should either repair it, or dispose of it properly.  The American flag is not simply a fanciful bandana, it is our heritage.  Whether you are a native born American, or a foreign national enjoying the prosperity of this nation, the American flag flies proudly to ensure your safety and liberty.

God has blessed America.  I pray that He will continue to do so.  In the meantime, we must revere and protect the symbol of this nation, the American flag.