With my right hand over my heart, I was four and a half years old when I learned the 30 words that I would recite about 180 times each year, for 13 years without fail.
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag, of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
While I didn’t quite grasp the meaning of The Pledge of Allegiance then, the words were meant to instill in me, along with all school age children throughout our country since 1942, a sense of patriotism.
Old Glory, the Stars and Stripes, and the Star-Spangled Banner are all names our American flag is known by. It is a symbol of freedom, unity, and the American dream. Historians attribute its original design to Francis Hopkinson, one of our Founding Fathers and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. And you may remember Betsy Ross as the person who sewed together the very first US flag. A year after its creation, on June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress officially adopted it as representation of our nation.
Red, white, and blue are synonymous with our US flag. But why were those the chosen colors? Red is for valor and bravery, white for innocence and purity, and blue for vigilance, perseverance and justice. All principles our country was founded on. Since its origination, there have been 26 iterations of our flag to reflect our colonies, then our states. While it’s appearance may have changed, what it stands for has not.
From my journal: July 14, 2020, Newbury Park, California
“Last Saturday…more trucks on the overpass stopping traffic… people wearing MAGA hats, holding Trump signs, shouting with bull horns, and waving American flags…is our flag now a symbol for Trump and MAGA supporters?”
It was only four years ago that I gave this possibility any thought. Maybe I didn’t make the connection at first because I just thought of our flag as a symbol for all Americans, regardless of political affiliation. After all, the Stars and Stripes can be seen standing tall or waving proudly everywhere in our country. All public buildings, school classrooms, stadiums, polling places, churches, auditoriums, and even fire trucks display the American flag. You can see Old Glory flying high at parades, always positioned on the right-hand side of marchers, and above and behind speakers on stages. The American flag embodies all that makes our country the great nation that it is.
After witnessing many freeway overpass Trump rallies, as well as trucks roaring around our town displaying Trump stickers, signs and flags, I couldn’t help to be aware of this association. It’s hard not to see it. It’s hard not to hear it.
Walking around our neighborhood, when I see an American flag, most often it is accompanied by a Trump flag or sign. But if there is just a flag, does that mean the residents are MAGA Republicans? There are only two houses in our area with both an American flag and a Harris sign. Why is that?
Media coverage of events in recent times, has me asking more questions. Seeing self-proclaimed Neo-Nazi groups and White Supremacists at gatherings holding American flags, makes me wonder. Do they believe in the symbol they hold? Do they value equality, unity, and justice for all? And on January 6, 2021, when people stormed the Capitol Building carrying US flags that resulted in extensive property damage, threats, and loss of life…did they demonstrate love for our country?
These images greatly upset me. But why? Is it because I don’t share their beliefs? Their values? That I don’t condone their actions? Don’t they have just as much right to have, hold, and carry the American flag as any other US citizen?
I know I am not alone in my thoughts. I’ve talked with people who say they will not post a flag at their house because others will think they support, not the Republican party, but Trump. Some say they will only hang a flag if they also make their values known on a sign. Others say there’s no need to have a flag because their beliefs are their own. And still others say they only fly their flags on holidays like Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Independence Day, and Flag Day to show their pride in our nation.
Divisive as America seems these days, it’s no wonder that an act as simple as exhibiting an American flag is now interpreted in different ways. Will our American flag ever again be a symbol in which it was intended? If we want it to be, how do we go about making it so?
Just recently we decided to post an American flag at home. Now more than ever, I think it’s important to show support for our country and all the flag was created to represent. Unity, democracy, liberty, the promise of freedom of speech and religion, and to live in a land without a dictatorship. Are people going to walk by our house, see our flag, and make a judgment about us?
Going forward I’d like to be able to see an American flag and think of patriotism, instead of a political party or particular group. I’d like to be able to express my views without fear. I’d like to be able to see anyone holding, carrying, or exhibiting the Stars and Stripes as believers in what it exemplifies. Displaying our American flag is the first step in making the change I want to see. It is not just for some, but for all.
A Journal Journey 