I am currently out of the country and have subscribed to the electronic version of the Sun Journal for a few years now. I enjoy keeping up with events and use the Regional tab which is specific to Farmington and my neighborhood, West Freeman.
I turned the page and on B2 saw a couple of visually impaired young men fishing. I am not sure if they caught anything that day but the picture surely caught my attention. In the background was a U.S. flag, laying on the ground. Was I seeing things? I had to go back a few times and tried to enlarge the picture. Maybe it was just a banner, maybe something that was close in color and design to our flag but not really Old Glory. I just went back again and must be mistaken. Donna Perry took a great shot, obviously she is not blind, near, far, blurry or red eyed. Did they not see the flag on the ground, did it just blow over at the instant the shot was taken. We can only hope that one of them jumped to the rescue and planted it back in its proper place. I travel quite a bit and have served in the Army on active duty and the National Guard and Reserve. My service has nothing to do with what we should all feel at the site of our National Colors being disrespected. To be here in the U.K. where thy can’t display their flag and to listen to the comments about our laws and government and to see our flag on the ground. It boiled me and I am sure others are filling your opinion box with the same sentiment.
Tim Callahan
West Freeman
Our Flag.
Respect it.
Simple enough
Tim….you are absolutely right. Although I did not see the picture, and now will try and find it, I truly hope it was not our American Flag on the ground. With all that is happening around the United States today, people should stop and think about and respect what our flag stands for!!
It is the flag, it appears they had it stuck in the bench, as the ground is rather stony and it blew over, the wind does whip through there at a pretty good clip.
i always find it interesting how selective some people’s “respect” for the u.s. flag tends to be. as if respect is a one-way street. are the “thin blue line” and “thin red line” flags that blacken-out and symbolically negate the principles the original red, white and blue are meant to represent respectful? are the misguided, historically illiterate fools who fly the u.s. flag alongside a confederate flag being respectful? are the paper plates and napkins printed with american flags that get smeared with potato salad and barbecue sauce at your 4th of july picnic showing respect? i’ve seen endless iterations of the american flag being distorted or dubiously mish-mashed with unrelated or contradictory ideas in tattoos, bumper stickers, and merchandise. how is this respectful? and why is the american flag so frequently commandeered to be used as a shield in opposition to ideas such as racial justice, equal rights, and the threatening bogeyman of armistice?
funny how some of the same people who point fingers and call names when they decide others are oversensitive and thin-skinned start to sniffle and snit when a piece of cloth made in china touches the ground.
where does respect end and fetishistic, blind worship begin?
i respect some of the ideas associated with the flag. i respect that others have strong feelings about the flag. and while it would be foolish to think that one’s military service somehow absolves them from any other conduct or character faults, i certainly respect the impulse behind being willing to sacrifice one’s self for the higher ideals of a perceived greater good.
but i would appreciate if others would respect people at least as much as they respect flags. simple enough?
The flag isn’t a symbol of freedom, it is the symbol of our country, nothing more, 13 stripes for 13 colonies and 50 stars for 50 states. And yes from my point of view, modified flags are disrespectful. If the various groups want a flag to represent them, they are more than welcome to design one.
Take a hike myopic!
to myopic. I noticed the many times you said respect & respectful in your comments. I am
saddened by your lack of respect for the flag that represents your comments concerning your [???] ability to make those comments. In many countries that I have visited, your right to comment about that countries flag WOULD NOT BE RESPECTED. If you cannot be respectful; maybe, you could be thankful.
I stand with you Myopic!!! I don’t care what the naysayers expressed about your post. You spoke a great layer of TRUTH!!
Pet peeve, if you fly the flag at night, illuminate it!
myopics comment reminds me of the song Imagine.
(Although he seems to have some I’ll feelings blended in but that ok)..
That song is as unrealistic as it is beautiful.
(Yes, I say you are a dreamer).
In this world there are enemies who are not content to just leave us alone.
Our country is far from perfect and has committed many sins. The root cause of that sin is the people in it.
Our country is built on solid respectful ideals and a belief in God (recognizing that “WE THE PEOPLE” need Him.
Yes,, the God who command us to love our neighbor.
If we followed Him,, no problems.
Just Imagine if we did that….
I agree with hrtlss and myopic- the flag isn’t an appropriate item for alteration to suit a new cause, for disposable convenience decor such as plates and napkins, for hanging from the back of your truck, for display alongside the defunct and out-of-date Confederate flag, or for any other ridiculous “patriotic” purpose. I respect the flag as a symbol of the ideals of this country, and I really don’t appreciate the many frivolous uses people make for it.
Myopic:
“it would be foolish to think that one’s military service somehow absolves them from any other conduct or character faults” YOU ARE CORRECT. VETERANS HAVE FAULT’S JUST LIKE PEOPLE THAT HAVE NEVER SERVED .”i certainly respect the impulse behind being willing to sacrifice one’s self for the higher ideals of a perceived greater good.” YOU’RE PERCEIVED GREATER GOOD IS ALL AROUND US. AMERICA, AMERICANS, THE CONSTITUTION AND IT ‘S AMENDMENTS, THE BILL OF RIGHTS, PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY THAT WANT TO BE CITIZENS, REFUGEES, THE ABILITY FOR YOU AND I TO DO WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW. DEBATE WITHOUT IMPRISONMENT. BUT IF FOR ONE SECOND YOU THINK THAT THE FLAG IS A PIECE OF CLOTH WITH COLORS, YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY LOOKING AT THE FLAG AND KNOWING THAT IT IS HOME, FAMILY, FREEDOM AND A WAY OF LIFE THE REST OF THE WORLD WANTS TO EMULATE. IT IS A TARGET FOR PEOPLE, WHO FOR WHATEVER REASON, ARE TRYING TO KILL AMERICANS AND OTHERS OF DEMOCRATICALLY GOVERNED COUNTRIES. IT IS HARD TO EXPLAIN myopic. ALONE, WATER, AMMUNITION, HOPE, FEAR, PITY, RAGE AND A FLAG. MAYBE IN YOUR POCKET, RUCKSACK OR TATTOOED ON YOUR CHEST. IT’S ALL YOU HAVE. THAT’S IT. NO SUBARU WITH BUMPER STICKERS, NO CELL PHONE, INTERNET, DOG, WIFE, COLD BEER, WKTJ,,,,NOTHING. HOPEFULLY ANOTHER AMERICAN NEARBY WITH THE SAME PATCH ON HIS/HER SHOULDER. SUBDUED, GREY MOSTLY. MAYBE DRESSED IN THE LOCAL GARB BECAUSE OF SOME POLITICAL B.S. BUT ALWAYS WITH THE FLAG. ITS ALL YOU HAVE. IT SYMBOLIZES SOMETHING THAT YOU MAY FIND BUT I HIGHLY DOUBT IT. YOU ARE BORN WITH IT. ENJOY THE DAY myopic.
I agree wholeheartedly with Myopic on this one.
As for myself: I pledge allegiance to the Principles for which the flag is Supposed to stand. One nation indivisible with liberty and Justice for ALL, regardless of socioeconomic status.
I hope someday these principles will be achieved.
Thank Napoleon Bonaparte that the flag has become for many the sacred symbol of the state. After the French revolution when Napoleon grabbed power, he sensed that the decreased importance of religion (the French revolution was anti-clerical) meant that people needed to believe in something else. So he took the Tricolor, a battle marker, and turned it into a sacred symbol for France. He used songs, claims of French superiority, and created modern nationalism that was powerful enough that for a time France controlled most of Europe.
This nationalism can be dangerous, and I for one refuse to treat any symbol as sacred. This kind of “secular religion” of nationalism and state/symbol worship is emotional at base. I choose to see the US Constitution as the closest thing to a “sacred” document, and believe in its values. Values matter. Symbols can be manipulated and lead people to emotionally connect with the state even when the state is not acting in accord with its values. My allegiance goes to the values and principles of the constitution.
But where did flag worship start? With the French – we’re just emulating them!