The American flag is a flag; its a symbol of the United States. So is our money, and the image of our US Capitol building. The famous statue of blind justice and our Supreme Court building are also symbols of this great democracy.
I heard a politician say that thousands have fought and died for our flag. The current Republican majority in the US Senate is distressed, as is our President, that the recent measure that would have brought the issue of a constitutional amendment to the US Constitution outlawing desecration of the flag to the voters failed by one vote.
The flag is a symbol; that's it. I can't speak for the thousands of people who have died fighting for our country, but I'm pretty sure they fought and died for the democracy and freedom we hold so dear in this country. How petty to sum up this democracy in a flag. How ridiculous to imagine that we can trounce on one freedom (the freedom to express ourselves) to preserve a symbol. I'd rather we work to preserve our freedoms, our democratic values, and our economic stability as a trust for our children. I'd like to pass on to my children a strong faith in our American ideals, formed by the framers of our Constitution and in our Declaration of Independence, achieved 240 years ago next week.
We are the oldest democracy in the world. Our core democratic ideals have withstood the test of time.
This administration, from the President to his closest advisors, has been described as the most secretive administration in history. He has also engaged in the most intrusive activities on US soil, in the name of national security.
Now, in the name of US pride, he suggests that the flag IS our democracy. He's wrong. Let's hope we, the people, don't let the erosion move into the absurd.