There's been a lot of bad things said about this country in the last seven or eight years. Unfortunately, a lot of the mouths that have uttered such drivel belong to our own leaders. Nor only politician's by the way, but school teachers, professors, celebrities; they are all leaders to one extent or another, and some of them seem obsessed with trashing the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. Quite honestly, I don't understand.
I own both a jacket and a hat bearing a U.S. flag patch. And I'm proud to wear them. Sure we have flaws in our country, but this is still among the best places to live in all the world. I don't see refugees risking their lives flee to get to China or Sudan, do you? No. They come here because they know there's freedom, liberty, and opportunity on our soil.
That flag on my hat is just a symbol of what makes the U.S. such a great place. According to the late Charles Thompson, former Secretary of the Continental Congress, the flag's colors are symbolic of purity and innocence (white), hardiness and valor (red), and vigilance, perseverance, and justice (blue). In other words, the flag symbolizes the ideals that were of utmost importance to the Americans who fought and died for her liberty.
I, for one, am a patriotic American who is proud of his country. I am not ashamed to honor the men and women who have given their lives, not only in defense of the U.S., but also in the fight to set other people free. That's what America is all about. Freedom. Seeing a WWII, Vietnam, or Korean vet patch makes me want to go up and personally thank the man wearing it. The same goes for Iraq and Afghanistan vets.
On the other hand, one thing that really riles me is seeing ungrateful protesters burning Old Glory right here on our soil. Our Constitution certainly gives them the liberty to do so, but burning the flag is a protest of that very liberty. If it weren't for our codified freedom of speech, burning a flag in protest could cause you to be brought up on treason charges. It happens in other places around the world.
I appreciate Americans who fly the flag with pride. Be it with a patch on the shoulder, a banner flying from the front porch, or a mini flag on the back of a motorcycle. Those of us who do are telling are friends and neighbors we believe in liberty. We believe in freedom. We believe the United States is a country worth living and dying for.
If you love America, isn't it time you stood up and said so? Get the biggest, loudest flag patch you can find and sew it on your favorite jacket. While you're at it, add one that shows support for our 2nd amendment gun rights or honors the innocent victims of 9/11. Be proud to wear the flag. After all, you're an American.
