Honoring and Celebrating Our Flag

Don’t we love the Fourth of July?

Don’t we love the fireworks, hot dogs, barbecue, parades, concerts and all the rest of the festivities surrounding this day?

It is a great celebration of America’s Independence. 

Drive throughout the streets of America and you see the American flag flown proudly, on display in front of houses.

But along with this grand salute comes an unsettling tenor of disrespect.

And it sickens me.

The Fourth of July may be the one day of the year we honor the true meaning of what this country represents, but the honoring of the Stars and Stripes is not a one-day thing.

It’s what we live by.

“ I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America…….

“God bless America, land that I love

Stand beside her and guide her

Through the night with the light from above….”

“O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light…What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight last gleaming. 

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight…..”

These are not empty words.

They all symbolize the same thing.

They represent respect to those who have risked their lives, suffered casualties, or died defending the United States.

Here’s what turns me off:

The Minnesota city council voted to eliminate the pledge of allegiance, then reconsidered following the necessary backlash.

Megan Rapinoe, who represents Team USA in the Women’s World Cup, has refused to stand for the national anthem and not placed her hand over her heart during its playing.

We all know about Colin Kaepernick and the NFL players who kneel during the anthem.

Making it known that you are protesting an issue is one of the great rights of American citizens.

There are many places in the world where that’s not possible.

But it is in America because of the tremendous sacrifices that have been made to give everyone the freedom they enjoy.

Are there things that are wrong in this country? 

Absolutely. 

It’s always been the case, and always will be the case.

This is not a perfect country.

But to disrespect the flag, and in turn, reject the men and women who have fought and died to make the USA a free country is unconscionable in my view.

If we didn’t have the country we have, there might not be a Women’s World Cup to compete for, and there probably wouldn’t be a National Football League.

And there might not be a city council that can govern in the city of Minneapolis.

I can accept people who want to protest about anything.

It leaves a bad taste in my mouth when people protest the symbol that gave everyone the RIGHT to protest.

This is not about politics.

Championship teams have the right to refuse to visit the White House.

But don’t refuse to honor the flag, which I believe, should be celebrated more than one day a year, on the Fourth of July.