The House With the Flag (American nan rant)

[Carl]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3035003

NanceGreggs  (1000+ posts)         Wed Mar-19-08 08:55 PM
Original message
The House With the Flag   
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The day started with a phone call from my mother-in-law. My husband answered the call, and his side of the conversation was limited to, “Yeah, okay.”

He then came into the room and turned on the TV, stating that my Sweet Eileen’s only admonishment was that we immediately do so. “What channel?”, I asked. “Any channel”, was the reply – and I knew it wasn’t good news.

After an hour of stunned silence as we watched the events of September 11, 2001, unfold, still without speaking a word, we both headed to the place where our American flag was kept – heretofore brought out and proudly displayed only on occasions of celebration of our country’s principles and in observance of her sacrifices: Memorial Day, Veterans’ Day, the 4th of July.

We carefully draped the flag over our front porch, a symbol of our solidarity with those in NYC and D.C. who had already died, along with those who were still risking their lives so that others might be saved.

Our flag hung proudly for months that turned into years. When we called for Chinese food or pizza delivery and gave our address, we were invariably told, “We know where you are. You’re the House With the Flag.”

Five years ago, as we again sat in front of the TV, caught up in the same sense of utter disbelief as the launch of Shock ‘n Awe was announced, we silently went out to the front porch and took down our beloved flag – lest we be seen as complicit in what was about to occur.

Five years is a long time – time enough for thousands of soldiers to die; time enough for tens of thousands more to come home broken in body and/or mind, time enough to look at horrific photographs of torture, mutilation and death, time enough to see that the course we are on is doomed to failure, and time enough to know that this failure of epic proportions will have consequences for all Americans in the years – nay, decades – to come.

As we prepare to elect a new president while our economy fails, while our infra-structure crumbles, while our military tries to survive, while our jobs are outsourced, while our allies distance themselves, while our government lies, while the people in the highest positions in our nation continue to trample the Constitution, while the powers-that-be look the other way as our once-proud country becomes the bully-on-the-block instead of the Beacon of Democracy, I realize that in the great scheme of things, my request will be relegated to the bottom of the pile of things that could be done, should be done, must be done.

But my request is simple: Please give me, an American citizen, a reason to drape that flag once again on my front porch with a sense of commitment to my government’s position, a sense of righteousness in our behavior, and a sense of acknowledgement that everything that flag once proudly symbolized has not been forgotten, nor irretrievably lost.

 

Rabrrrrrr  (1000+ posts)         Wed Mar-19-08 08:57 PM
Response to Original message
1. Wouldn't that be something wonderful? To be not ashamed to fly the flag?
   I can't wait for that day, either.

I pray to God it's Jan. 20 next year.

I am ashamed of you.

Aussie leftie (202 posts)        Wed Mar-19-08 09:07 PM
Response to Original message
8. If there was a flag representing International Human Rights
   that would be the flag I'd fly.

 

Brigid (1000+ posts)         Wed Mar-19-08 09:08 PM
Response to Original message
9. I wait for that day . . .
   when being an American will be a source of pride instead of a source of embarrassment. I think it will take decades to get back to that point -- but electing a Democrat in November will be a start.

 

Become a conservative because then being an American is a source of pride regardless of which party the President is.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

But my request is simple: Please give me, an American citizen, a reason to drape that flag once again on my front porch with a sense of commitment to my government’s position, a sense of righteousness in our behavior...

TRANSLATION: America is only right when you say it is and to hell with all the other Americans that vote their conscience which may include killing terrorists and their state sponsors.

[DixieBelle]

Still trying to fill the parking lot puddle left vacant by the Bostonian Drunkard, hey Nance???

[dandi]

So what one individual or group of individuals does or says determines whether or not you are are proud to be American or display the flag honorably? The same flag under which hundreds of thousands have died fighting for your freedom, your right to spew as much ant-American bullshit as you like, unfettered by government?

Do everyone a favor - leave the flag in your closet. If it had a voice, it would thank you.