The Waving Flag, Through a Patriot’s Eyes

The Stars and Stripes seem to fly everywhere these days, from houses, shops, cars and even bicycles. It’s such an impressive display of patriotism that I’ve been wondering how I could be so patriotic and yet feel so uneasy about it.

Why not, I thought, just join the celebration? Focus on the many wonderful things our government is doing. Perhaps the flag is supposed to symbolize just those things -- not the bad things that are of such concern to me.

Such thinking, though, is feeble rationalizing. I cannot get around the truism that the flag stands for what the nation altogether is, no more, no less. I firmly disapprove of some important government actions, vital components of the nation’s entirety. Accordingly, I clearly understand that I should not, cannot, join the flag-wavers at this time.

I must, of course, respect their right to honor the flag as they wish, and I must try to keep an open mind on the issues involved. I will not, however, concede any loss of patriotism.

Dewey Wasser

Thousand Oaks