In times of peace, when a national hero or recognized public figure has died, places of business and governmental offices fly the Flag at half mast. It has been a symbol of a country in mourning. The rules for flying a flag at half mast include on Memorial Day, the flag is set at half mast until noon, then raised to full staff until sundown. There are 5 other "official" dates the flag is to be flown at half mast. All instances are to memorialize our fallen, and the death of someone important.
My question is : Why aren't we flying our flags at half mast every single day that we have a military presence in Iraq? Our soldiers die, singly and in groups. Civilians, who took it upon themselves to help rebuild a war torn country from rubble into something resembling a 20th century country, die doing the job they were hired to do. We, the citizens left behind, do NOTHING to honor our fallen, stand idly by while our President sends more and more troops to die needlessly. This isn't about politics, or policy, or even the government. This is about respect of our fallen, our sons and daughters and fathers and mothers and brothers and sisters, the people that took an oath to protect us from the deprivations of despots and dictators.
When this war with Iraq started, a lot of the people alive during World War 2 were dying. Those still alive recalled a tradition of people with family in the military flying a stylized flag in the windows of their homes. Taking pride in your families involvement in fighting for freedom half a world away. The idea caught on once again, and families proudly displayed symbols of their support for our Military. Flags, ribbons, car magnets, t-shirts and bumper stickers abounded, all red white and blue, all showing support for the cause of freedom. Sadly, we're seeing this less and less. Yes we have a diverse and varied culture here in the US. Christians and Muslims and Jews work and live side by side on a daily basis. Most take pride in being "American", but somewhere in that pride came shame. Ashamed of a government that invaded a country on the flimsiest principle and then, when time came to take responsibility, shirked it, letting one or two people take the fall for the blunders made at the highest levels. Ashamed at being reviled by other countries at our war mongering culture.
We are proud to be a "country of promise". Chinese immigrants call the US "The Beautiful Country" when they try to come here with dreams of freedom and prosperity. People swim, walk, hide in trucks and boats to get into this country, inspired by a lady standing in the Harbor in New York, stories told of streets paved with gold and money here to be made. And it's ALL an illusion. This isn't a land of promise and prosperity. Freedoms are taken from us, day by day. Under the guise of names like "The Patriot Act" our right against illegal search and seizure has been taken from us. In order to protect us from "terrorists", our right to privacy has been taken. Taxes take over 57% of the average wage earners earnings. After defeating Iraq, an oil rich country, gas prices have soared, higher than during the fuel embargo of the 1980's. And We The People allow it. We do not stand up, we do not rise in righteous indignation and demand our rights back. We sit idly by and drive our SUVs and pay the outrageous gas prices and hope our belongings aren't seized in a government raid when time comes to pay for some "new" plan to thwart "terrorism".
We should fly our flags at half mast every day. In honor of the servicemen that continue to die
everyday in foreign countries. And to honor our Constitution, that is dying by degrees in the halls of the government we elected.
1 comment:
Here Here!! I agree and am ashamed that as an American, I too, have fallen by the wayside in the honoring my fellow American brothers and sister that so faithfully protect the freedoms which I have come to enjoy and take for granted. The time is long overdue to replace the flag that once waved so beautifully out on the patio, standing proudly for all to see that within those walls resided a person who was BLESSED to be an American. Her colors have faded in the warmth of the sun, cold of the rain, and her stance became as tattered as with the winds of change. However, her spirit is still alive and kickin ass, just like the great men and women of our military!! And THAT alone, deserves my proper tribute, for the respect my military shows me in protecting my freedoms.
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