Stars and Stripes For a Little While June 14, 2007
Posted by Andy in andy roth, Flag Day, rants, soapbox.trackback
This holiday is elegant in its simplicity. The mail still comes, nothing is closed, you don’t have to buy gifts, prepare elaborate meals, host fancy parties, sing any particular songs, or even send anyone a card. All that is expected of you is to display the flag as a sign of your patriotism and love for the US of A.
Sadly, this small gesture seems to be beyond most everyone. Looking around my neighborhood, the stars and stripes are few and far between. This is even worse when you consider that Francis Scott Key himself is buried less than 10 minutes from here. Our minor league baseball team is the Frederick Keys and the “good” mall is the Francis Scott Key Mall.
What makes me even madder are all those people that had flags coming out of every orifice six years ago. Where are your flags now, people. I guess it is no longer cool and trendy. Fair weather patriots. It is a sad commentary that someone has to blow something up to make us care about being Americans.
Oh, say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave? Sorry Francis, it does not.
Andy\'s SoapBox 
Whooo… good one!
Ouch — sad, but true. It waves at my house, everyday. Happy Flag Day!
I converted to flying the Gadsden (“Don’t Tread on Me”) flag because my local American Legion members expressed displeasure at flags flying in the rain, at night without spot lighting, etc.
So, I choose a flag associated with American history that isn’t bound by US flag etiquette.
Plus I think it’s kinda cool.
It’s not just flags, though now and again patriotism is disheartening. Most of us have probably stopped thinking about issues like people still struggling with the aftermath of the tsunami, and even as recent as the shooting Virginia Tech massacre. We forget. I’m not saying it’s acceptable, but I think it’s more than just patriotism.
I was wondering, do you had any more blogs?
@5 – yes I do:
A software testing blog and my my personal blog.
I also plan to post more to this SoapBox blog in the near future.