The Flag
For those of you who don’t know, today is the National Day of Prayer. We gathered at work today to pray for our country and they also showed played a song with a video (I believe the name of the song is, “Let Freedom Ring”). The video showed various national monuments, our soldiers, Arlington Cemetery, children, corfields, everything American in my mind. And it often cut to shots of our flag. As I was watching it with the familiar feeling of pride in my country welling up inside of me, I couldn’t help but wonder when our flag became so hated. And I’m not� talking about other countries, although that is relevant, but by our own people. My generation and the generation following don’t seem to have pride in being an American. There is no pride in what our flag represents - opportunity, liberty, freedom. Instead there’s a general disgust. We are now the oppressors, we hold people down, everyone is entitled to things instead of working hard and coming up with great ideas that become reality. It seems that since people are not happy with our government they hate our country. Someone the other day said to me that they would rather abort a child than have them born in this country under this administration. I found it terribly sad and disturbing. Our country is so wonderful because we are able to change our leaders, we are able to decide who goes into office. � No, my guy doesn’t always win, but that doesn’t mean that things are hopeless.
I was raised to have great pride in our country. I was taught that people can come from nothing and become someone great. I was taught that our country is the land of the free and the home of the brave. I was taught that I can speak my mind, even if my opinion is unpopular, because our government recognizes the importance of free speech and a free press. I was taught that freedom and democracy were two of the greatest things on earth. I was taught that as a great nation we have a responisbility in this world, to protect those who are weaker and who are oppressed. To stand for righteousness and for the freedom of all people. Goodness knows this country has not always suceeded in that, but it doesn’t make it any less great. It devestates me to think that people within this country despise our flag and what it stands for. I challenge those people to go live in the Middle East, or Azerbeijan or China or any other of the many countries that deny freedom and tell me that it’s better. And don’t go as an American, be one of the them. Don’t go as a celebrity, be a common person. Tell me how you feel when you get arrested for practicing your faith (whatever it might be), when you are beaten for something you said, when you are put in jail and the key is thrown away and you never received a trial. These people talk big about what an awful country the US is. They should be on their knees thanking God that they have the right to do that.
No matter what you think about this administration or any to follow, be proud to be an American. Don’t apologize for our country. Teach people what freedom and liberty really are. Help the oppressed, speak out for what you believe in, take the opportunities given and run with them. Work hard. Honor our flag. Remember that many people gave their lives so you could be free. Remember that the people that make up our government are not America. We the people are and for that we should be proud.