Heart4kidsadvocacyforum's Blog

From my entire childhood I cannot remember a time that an American flag did not fly proudly at our home and at my Dad’s Church. We said the pledge of allegiance every morning at school, and at special events. I had an affinity to this flag as a symbol of our country trying to become a place of possibilities for all its citizens, a refuge for people in need of sanctity, and a promise that I had some control over my destiny in this country. I valued the support our government provided for the disabled and people struggling economically. From a child’s perspective in the era of my childhood, the flag gave me a sense of security. As a teenager and college student I came through the Civil Rights Movement and the Viet Nam War, and my faith in my country took a devastating hit.

The imperfections and contradictions of the people and the actions of our government, disappointed me and at times angered me.  I had personal experiences with how the laws of the land were delved out in alignment with your economic status, class lineage, and the color of your skin.  Our parents were civil rights activist, so we were exposed to a different side of the “American Dream”, but at the same time they taught us that our country was worth the efforts to stand up for the possibilities of what our country had the potential of being for us and in the world. 

I can’t give up on the dream of living in a country that cares about all it’s people.  I can’t give up on the beacon light of hope and stability our country can provide for war torn countries and countries where people live in famine and hopelessness.   I can’t give up on the country of my birth, even though it is an everyday struggle to feel honored and respected.  In recent years the symbolism the flag had in my life began to not just fade but frighten me as I began to sense that the conservative element had confiscated it and used it to promote its agenda of hate and divisiveness. 

As I see that flag in so many of the pictures with our candidates and as I saw it at our Democratic Convention, something stirred within me, and I felt a renewal of my relationship with “MY” country.  I refuse to allow this element of destruction and hatred take my country backwards instead of moving it forward to the manifestation of becoming the dream of being a more “Perfect Union!  I bought a new American flag, and I am having it installed in the very spot on our family home where my father hung it for over 50 years.  We have the power and tenacity to save our Democracy and our country.  Get the VOTE OUT!  Blue up and down the ballot!!! Fly our flag everywhere you can, and the bell of liberty ring out across this country!  We are not going back!