On Independence Day, the Fourth of July, we celebrate the birth of our nation. It was on this date in 1776 the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence and thirteen former British colonies became the United States of America.
The American flag, also known as The Stars and Stripes, the Star Spangled Banner and Old Glory still has 13 red and white stripes representing the original 13 colonies and stars for each of the states, beginning with 13 and now numbering 50. The first official American flag was adopted on June 14, 1777, a date now celebrated as Flag Day.
Many of us older Americans recited the Pledge of Allegiance daily in school and can still recite it flawlessly today.
“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”
The American flag is more than just the most recognized symbol of the United States. It has come to represent the freedoms and values that brought this country into existence in the first place. It is proudly worn and revered by our military around the world and as a sign of patriotism for us at home.
With this history in mind, I cannot help but look in disgust when our flag is desecrated. With this year’s Presidential elections, it has become an all too common practice. Our flag is ripped, trampled, burned – and worse – by those wishing to make a political statement. The irony is of course that the symbol of the nation that allows them the right to free speech, assembly and protest is the very symbol they destroy. Unfortunately, desecrating our nation’s flag has been ruled a form of constitutionally protected free speech.
If you have read anything I have ever written you’ll know I am a very strong advocate of our Bill of Rights. I have always maintained the First Amendment is the most difficult of our rights and this is a prime example. When it comes to desecrating our nation’s flag, I respectfully disagree.
While I could care less if someone wants to destroy their own property, the manner in which the desecration takes places is where I feel it crosses the line from protected free speech to inciting a disturbance. Protests staged to create and provoke conflicts are not free speech. Burning flags in the targeted presence of those who have fought to defend our nation, who have lost friends and family to ensure our rights, who have given parts of their own bodies and souls so that we can be a free country is not free speech.
It should be noted that flag desecration around the world is generally illegal and carries various forms of punishment from fines to prison sentences and more. But that’s not who we are as a nation.
While there will always be those who have no respect for our nation or the symbol of it, there are many who choose to defend it. These are the men and women who risk their own safety to rescue our flag. It could be a 75-year-old Vietnam War veteran or his 21-year-old granddaughter just returned from her first deployment overseas who choose to step in. It could be just another proud citizen who still believes in what our flag stands for.
To all of you patriots who stand by our nation’s flag, I salute you and thank you for defending Old Glory.
Bob
p.s. If you’ve never heard Johnny Cash’s Ragged Old Flag, I encourage you to take a listen. It’s a nice little reminder of what our flag has been through, along with the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.
The video is just over three minutes long and may be found at: https://youtu.be/a6vwXbQZvJo
#oddstuffing, #1stamendment, #billofrights, #oldglory, #defendingourflag #raggedoldflag