ego sum vexillum
I can see. I can see America’s children fearlessly pushing against the winds of injustice and unrighteousness. I can see through thick gun smoke the blood stains of this country’s veins on the shirt of every fallen soldier. I can see, through the smog of foolish choices, a country standing tall. I can feel the swell of patriotism in a soldiers heart as he wipes a salty tear from eyes fixed on me. I can feel the cold, polished wood of a soldiers casket, and I feel every mother’s tear. I can feel the hatred every time that I am burned. I can smell the harvest grains of a farm and the sweet odor of a fresh-baked apple pie on the window-sill. I can taste the overwhelming sweetness of victory, yet never have I tasted defeat. I can taste the freshness of the July air. I can hear the sounds of war and the sounds of peace. I can hear the glorious Star-Spangled Banner and I can hear the droning chants of Communism. I can hear the ominous thundering sound of a distant waterfall, but most importantly, I can hear the assuring voice of One who offers higher-ground. Though I may have no hands, ears, feet, tounge or nose, I do have a spirit -- the Spirit of America.
I am the flag.
InterAction:
14 June 20052. Kirsten:
And I think burning our flag ought to be at least a fineable offence. (Pay big money)
14 June 20053. JDG:
Truly. It sickens me. People who burn the flag are demonstrating the very freedom they excercising are by burning it.
15 June 20054. Kirsten:
Okay, well here's one for you. It's a little off the original subject, but after your comment back, I'm a little curious. What do you think about the Koran being flushed and stepped on and such? I mean, people can do something like that to our flag or our Bibles, but not the Koran - an untruthful piece of literature, and that of a false religion!
15 June 20055. dramaturge:
Actually, the Koran was never flushed. And while the flag is an incredible symbol of liberty and our nation, it isn't holy. It is incredibly disrespectful to burn it--but if you outlaw such things, where do you draw the line. The problem begins when it becomes illegal to mar national symbols, before long it becomes illegal to criticize them; then illegal to criticize the government. As much as I hate to say it because it sounds like a cop-out, it comes down to actual freedom of speech. Protest is legitimately protected by that, and burning the flag is a legitimate form of protest. If we outlaw their protest because we don't like it, what can we say if they outlaw ours for the same reason? It is, actually, a little ironic since in order to dispose of a flag properly, you must burn it. Kind of. . .interesting.
Now, as far as the Bible vs. Koran thing goes, both are respected pieces of religious literature. The fact that we as believers know the Koran to be false doesn't make it any less worthy of respectful treatment in public/secular situations. Millions of people revere it, and just as you want the Bible to be treated respectfully, they want the Koran treated respectfully. And treating it respectfully is a way to reach them. No one wants to listen to someone who disrespects them and what they hold sacred. Also, it isn't just the Koran that is hemmed in by military rules, etc. The Bible is also to be treated with respect. Though, if it comes down to it--followers of the Bible are not remotely as volatile as follwers of the Koran are: I think I want interrogators treating the Koran with respect. It's safer that way. Anyway, those are my 12 cents (with tax).
15 June 20056. JDG:
Please... no tax on my website!
Renee, you mentioned that the flag was a symbol of our nation and the liberty that it provides... that's my point exactly. I am not upset at someone burning cloth; I am upset because I consider an attack on a symbol of liberty an implied attack on liberty itself. If you do not like America, than let's talk about it. Palestinians were not burning the flag and shooting guns into the air because they'd like to see some changes in our country; they hate our country and demonstrated it by burning our country's flag.
That's what I originally meant to write in the previous comment, but was too tired to do so. :o)
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This entry was written by Jesse on Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 11:13 PM and appears in the America chapter. The previous article was entitled, "Forums: Alive and Well", and the next entry is called, "Pan-O-Rama". Bookmark the permalink, save it to del.icio.us or Digg it.
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14 June 20051. Kirsten:
Wow... You never really stop to think about things like that. And to think that someone would burn our flag. arg.