I'm not a flag waving patriot. I'm the first to admit that symbols are meaningless without the heart or soul behind them. Over the last two weeks I've worked on several Memorial Day related stories, so the flag, the symbol of it and, because of the people I've met, the soul of it has really been on my mind.
I personally don't see the appeal of the Rebel flag. To me, if we truly are Americans, then this flag represents the enemy and undermines the foundations of this country.
But, to each their own.
I guess.
The Rebel flag has also become a symbol of something not at all pleasant about this country and in some cases, I don't think it means what it means in other cases. It is used a great deal by radical white-supremacist groups and it is getting harder and harder to separate that stereotype from that of the "good ole' boy" anti-establishment rebel.
But in the last few years I've begun to see folks hanging this flag proudly alongside the American flag and that is just down-right confusing to me. Folks know we lost a great deal of Americans to defend America from the weaken position of separate nations. And under the stars and stripes we count all those soldiers from the south as Americans lost as well. So again, what is it we're trying to say by flying is proudly?
I'm truly curious.
One friend offered recently that it means "country" to him. I guess I assumed he meant country music?
Also in recent years I've seen this sort of thing pictured above. A melting together of the two flags. I know several veterans who get upset when the flag is hung backwards or incorrectly on the pole. I can't imagine what they think of this, and yet I've seen in one yard this flag, an American Flag from the 1860s and a Marine Corps flag. If I remember where that is I think I'll go knock on the door because that is truly curious to me.
Now in this picture, taken a week ago in Rocky Grove, Pennsylvania, I'm further confused with the American Flag half hung upside down. Again I should knock on the door and ask why this is. Maybe there is truly a good reason? Maybe they didn't realize it was hung up-side down? Curious.
Anyway, in this first Op/Ed column for my new website Eight & 322 I was just wondering what others might think and hope this might generate some further discussion on this day after Memorial Day. Please feel free to let me know your thoughts.
Hope you all had a safe and happy Memorial Day observance.
I personally don't see the appeal of the Rebel flag. To me, if we truly are Americans, then this flag represents the enemy and undermines the foundations of this country.
But, to each their own.
I guess.
The Rebel flag has also become a symbol of something not at all pleasant about this country and in some cases, I don't think it means what it means in other cases. It is used a great deal by radical white-supremacist groups and it is getting harder and harder to separate that stereotype from that of the "good ole' boy" anti-establishment rebel.
But in the last few years I've begun to see folks hanging this flag proudly alongside the American flag and that is just down-right confusing to me. Folks know we lost a great deal of Americans to defend America from the weaken position of separate nations. And under the stars and stripes we count all those soldiers from the south as Americans lost as well. So again, what is it we're trying to say by flying is proudly?
I'm truly curious.
One friend offered recently that it means "country" to him. I guess I assumed he meant country music?
Also in recent years I've seen this sort of thing pictured above. A melting together of the two flags. I know several veterans who get upset when the flag is hung backwards or incorrectly on the pole. I can't imagine what they think of this, and yet I've seen in one yard this flag, an American Flag from the 1860s and a Marine Corps flag. If I remember where that is I think I'll go knock on the door because that is truly curious to me.
Now in this picture, taken a week ago in Rocky Grove, Pennsylvania, I'm further confused with the American Flag half hung upside down. Again I should knock on the door and ask why this is. Maybe there is truly a good reason? Maybe they didn't realize it was hung up-side down? Curious.
Anyway, in this first Op/Ed column for my new website Eight & 322 I was just wondering what others might think and hope this might generate some further discussion on this day after Memorial Day. Please feel free to let me know your thoughts.
Hope you all had a safe and happy Memorial Day observance.
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