July 10, 2013

The Flag Stands For Freedom

By Tammy Derouin

As I watched decorations for the July 4^th celebration find their place, I recalled the words of Hillary Clinton during the Benghazi hearings, “What difference, at this point, does it make?”  She was asking, but also stating that it really doesn’t matter who’s responsible for the deaths of four Americans.  Although said for a different reason, what difference does anything make?  Why do we set standards?

Those words come to mind when I see the image of the American flag printed on anything that can be thrown away such as paper cups, plates and napkins.  The flag should never be used as drapery, clothing, and covering for a stand or as table linen.  Those words hit a nerve when I see the flag improperly flown at half-staff.  Standards and etiquette exists for a reason, least we forget why we have existed for 237 years. Before you lower our flag, place it next to a podium or hang it vertically on a wall, check flag etiquette. 

So why does it matter?  The flag stands for freedom.  The American flag represents who we are as a nation, a republic.  We are one nation under God.  We are the last beacon of hope.  If America falls, there’s no place to seek refuge, no place to live free. 

If we don’t treat the very symbol of our freedom with respect, we lose our history.  If we lose our history, we will lose any hope of having freedom in our future.  We have taken our freedoms for granted.  We celebrate as if they still exist, untouched by abuse of power. 

I spent this 4^th of July dealing with much uncertainty.  A holiday that was once an event to celebrate our freedom from tyranny has become a holiday with an uncertain future.  We celebrate but we do not see we are heading back into darkness. 

As I watched the firework display, several patriotic songs played in the background.  Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.,” (I’m proud to be an American) had a surreal feeling to it.  “The flag still stands for freedom and they can’t take that away.”  No “they” can’t take it away.  We have a document that states we the people have certain unalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Liberty is freedom.  We have been endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights.  Man cannot take away freedoms which man did not give.  We can however, give them up.  If we chose to do so, man is all too willing to take that which isn’t his.

We have a Constitution.  It’s our blueprint, our instruction manual on how to remain free.  Our government has decided it isn’t necessary; it’s an old, dusty document.  Have you ever played a game where the rules were in question?  Everybody has a different idea of how it should be played. There is confusion and hesitation.  A polite disagreement with smiles and uneasy laughter follow.  We can agree to disagree but what do we do to proceed?  The strongest arguers usually win and they are usually the ones that don’t want you to refer to the instructions.  They want you to take their word for it.  To keep the peace you smile and agree but deep inside you know something is wrong.  A board game is just a game.  We however, are in a game for our life.  Our very existence depends on knowing our instruction manual, our Constitution.  Are we going to sit back and take “their” word for it because it sounds good or are we going to call them on their misrepresentation? 

Understanding our history, knowing what is taking place today will secure our future.  Reading and understanding the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution is the first step.  Demanding that your representation follows the instruction manual is crucial. 

“The 5,000 Year Leap” is an excellent book.  It explains how the government is supposed to work.  It is a wonderful history lesson.  Too bad it isn’t used to teach our children.  If it were, we wouldn’t be in the mess we are in, depending on the bullies to guide us.  Controllers always know what’s best.  They don’t want you to be educated on the rules so they tell you it’s an old and dusty document.

The firework display was wonderful.  The uncertain feeling the day brought with it was unsettling.  There are too many unanswered questions.  What I see and what I feel doesn’t always add up.  What was once clear has become cloudy. 

I want to believe the flag still stands for freedom.  Respecting our symbol of freedom is a start.  Treat that which you love, your freedom, with the respect it deserves.

“But a Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.”

John Adams