July 12, 2017

The American Flag

By Tammy Derouin

Desecration of the American flag really strikes a nerve with me. It's the symbol of our freedom and it represents the United States of American. The flag should be treated with respect. If those who choose to destroy it understood the freedom it represents, the very freedom which gives them the right to desecrate the flag, I would think they would want to preserve and protect it rather than destroy it.

When foreign enemies desecrate our flag, it isn't surprising. After all, they are our enemies for a reason. They do not understand freedom. When Americans desecrate the American flag, it angers and saddens me. They do not understand freedom.

What is the purpose and what are they hoping to gain? Are they looking for attention that it will somehow put a greater emphasis on their grievance? As usual, the individuals cling to their rights, their freedom of speech or self-expression. Rights become very important when one feels they are being attacked unfairly. Isn't it interesting how left-leaning liberals cling to beliefs and ideals and their right to express their displeasure or their artistic visions because it's their right, but those who are center to right, on the political scale, are mocked and belittled for their beliefs and the desire to preserve freedom and the rights of all.

Americans have the right to speak freely and express themselves as long as they are not causing or calling for physical harm. If you do not like the message, you can walk away or turn the channel. I've never understood the need to destroy the symbol of our freedom. If the flag has no meaning, then neither do our rights.

I guess they do not realize how fortunate they are to be here. How sad that they missed out on learning about the history of this great nation and what makes them free. If you were blessed to have been born in the United States, it was the path of your ancestors which afforded you your birthright. Imagine all the places in the world where you could have been born had your ancestors taken a different path. Think about the nationalities which run through your blood. Would any one of them even come close to the freedom and lifestyle we enjoy?

On the surface, many other nations around the world may seem pleasant and inviting. They may be a good place to visit but would you really want it to be your home? Western Europe is learning some very difficult lessons right now. Open borders will destroy them from the outside and socialism, too much government control of their lives, will destroy them from the inside. Go further East, there's Communism and Sharia, neither one is open to individual rights. Simply being a woman or homosexual can be a death sentence. Yet, liberals are embracing the very ideology that will destroy them and our freedom. I do not understand. Why?

In the United States, those who came before us paid the hefty price to establish a nation based on freedom. The road to freedom began with the courage of fifty-six men who signed their names to a document declaring independence from a king, from Mother England. Once the last signature was penned, I wonder about the silence, the realization of what just took place as they looked around the room at each other. They signed their name to a document which meant certain death if captured. This was treason.

The Revolutionary War was necessary for the birth of our new, exceptional nation based on freedom. Our founding documents liberated us from tyranny and established a government of the people with restrictions on the government. The blood for this freedom has already been shed. The generations that have followed have maintained our freedom with more sacrifices. Freedom is not free. It takes educating our posterity, paying attention to those we elect to represent us, and making sacrifices so future generations will know the blessings of liberty.

A symbol was designed to represent freedom, the United States of America. Thirteen stripes for the thirteen original colonies and stars for each state that would help form a more perfect union. The history of our country is like no other, it's worth learning and understanding. Had these men not signed their names, igniting a chain of events that would establish freedom, we would not have the right to desecrate the very symbol which represents our freedom. With freedom comes responsibility. Live responsibly.

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

The Declaration of Independence