I am the only one on my block with the American flag waving proudly. The first thing I do when I move into a new house is to put the flag out. The second thing is to plant a cherry tree. I would hang an American bald eagle over the doorway but I haven’t found a suitable one yet.
I get this habit from my father. I love seeing the flag waving in the wind. I love listening to it flap in the wind. I love what the flag represents, good and bad. I suspect the cherry tree tradition is also a patriotic tradition on my father’s part but for me it represents my home. I have had a cherry tree in the front yard of every house I have ever lived in. Ever. I went to the big box hardware store today to look for a cherry tree. I moved in too late last year and was not able to find one. I found a few and they looked pretty good and were fairly inexpensive. I didn’t have my truck with me and would be unable to get it home unless I put it on the roof of the car and I didn’t want to do that since I still haven’t fixed the damage from the angry birch tree. Which really doesn’t make any sense since the damage has already been done, but I didn’t.
I’m surprised that I am the only one on the block with a flag. I know a lot of us hate the war but does that mean we don’t love our country? Does flying my flag peg me as a supporter of the war? I don’t know, I don’t really care. I don’t know when flag day is, I should I suppose but since my flag is already out I don’t need to worry about missing it, I do remember a time not too long ago when everyone flew their flag. The house without a flag was the anomaly and not the norm. What has happened?
What happened?
IMHO, people no longer have deep-rooted values, but instead cling to fashion. I’m not talking about God and Country, but rather a sense of community, the social contract, and the idea of cleaning up one’s mess. Community pride is so degraded that towns and cities have to advertise and exhort people to take part in community pride events. Wouldn’t it be a nicer world if people would pick up litter and help their neighbors? Maybe little displays like a flag and a cherry tree, when not particularly in fashion, will gently remind people that we’re all part of something bigger.
Meh, it won’t happen while American Idol is on.
I agree with gdad. Communities have degraded. Not since 911 have I seen flags flying in abundance and those that do, do not follow the protocol for display of the flag. But at least they have the flag out.
I will admit, I had one out until the display pole broke. I’ll take your thoughts to heart now and look to have one flying soon.
Allow me to put in one pet peeve of mine. Apparently I live in an area that is prejudice. I live in the northern states. A few “neighbors” have the confederate flag flying. When I asked about this I was told it was white pride or that white supremacy group. Personally, before I ever knew the reason, I wanted to go ripe them down, now even more so! Sorry if I offend anyone, but that’s just my feelings.
We need more flags to remind us that we are part of a large proud community/nation.
BTY, I believe flag day is June14.
I was thinking it was the 12th, knew it was in June. I haven’t seen a confederate flag waving in these parts but I have seen them hanging in people’s garages. These people tend to be of the backwoods, a little too inbred sort of group, not people I would let my kids near.
Faith, every time I see one of those yahoos with the confederate flag on their pick-em-up trucks, it makes me want to shoot my death ray at them, but I’d be afraid they’d run over an innocent as they died. Plus, my death ray is imaginary, so it really wouldn’t work. I would love to ask them why they support treason against the United States, though.
Well, gee, I guess I should take down the Confederate flags I use as curtains on my windows. No, really! That’s what I have! I bought them at the local Rebels-R-Us. I would never lie about that. Never!
I’m surprised that I don’t see many Confederate flags around here, since I live not only in the Land of Ancestor Worship, but the capital city of the Confederacy.
Thanks for the reminder that it’s a good time to unfold my American flag and set it flying out front. I’ll have to do it myself since I don’t have a handy darky lolling about the house. Ever since I helped elect the first black state governor in the US, it’s more difficult to find cheap domestic help around these parts.
On a Saturday morning in Huntington, WV, a month after 9/11 I received a red/white/blue ribbon with silver stars from a mentally challenged child who had made them at home with his mother. I still have it to this day. On the drive back to Cincinnati I stopped at every store to to try to find a new American Flag to buy but they were all sold out.
I guess, many Americans are what sports fans refer to as fair weather fans. They become Patriotic when needed but then slowly slip back into their holes.
I guess the good thing is that at least they’re are there to rally when we “really” need them.