This article is untimely at best. If I was going to write
this, I probably should have done it a year ago when the flag first started to
be embraced by the mostly well meaning but tragically mislead Tea Party et al. However,
like many others, and despite my interest in history, I did not know the
meaning of the flag. At one point I even created a parody that replaced the snake
with a pile of solid waste (aka poop). I thought myself quite witty. After all
who would want to tread on that? Given my contempt for the average Tea Party
member, it seemed funnily appropriate.
Then out of curiosity, I felt compelled to research the history
and meaning of the flag. Once aware of its historical importance, once aware of
the sacrifices made by the men that first flew that flag, I was ashamed of my little
joke. This is a flag that flew as a standard for the courageous American
sailors that proudly and bravely took on the most powerful navy the world had
ever seen. This flag flew in defiance of tyranny. This flag flew over the heads
of men that made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and countrymen. It
deserves the ultimate respect. It deserves reverence. It deserves the sanctity
of the blood spilt to defend it.
In my shame, I found anger, anger at myself for my own ignorance,
but even more so, anger at those that now fly the flag to support their
political agendas. Many of whom have never sacrificed so much as a single hour
for their country or community. It is now carried proudly by those that believe
their country and their countrymen are asking too much of them. Those that
believe their taxes are too high, those that believe that a healthy educated nation
is not worth the price. Those that believe they should not have to sacrifice their
money (let alone their lives) for their country. It is not patriotism but avarice that motivates most
of those that now claim that flag as their own, and what once flew as a symbol
of ultimate sacrifice now flies as a tribute to ultimate selfishness…
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