imported post
I_Hate_Illinois wrote:
SNIP It's not a matter of blind patriotism to stand with your hand over your heart during the National Anthem. It's simply a gesture of of respect and appreciation for the country you live in and, more importantly, the people who have died to give you the right to choose whether you sit down or stand up. They chose to stand up for our freedoms, so I choose to stand up in memory of them during the national anthem.
Not arguing with anybody. Just taking the idea and running further with it. Expanding on it.
A "nation"is apolitically associated group of people. Notthe government, not the countryside, not the fruited plains, nor the majestic purple mountains. A group of
people.
What does the flag represent? It represents the American people. Each and every individual American citizen. Omitting none. Given a big enough flag, you might be able to have one fiber for each individual American.
When we pledge allegiance to the Flag, what are we
really saying?
At its very core, we are pledging allegiance TO ONE ANOTHER.
What is the subject of the National Anthem? The Flag.
"Whose broad stripes and bright stars.."
When we stand for the National Anthem, with our hand over our heart, what are we really doing? We are showingrespect for ONE ANOTHER, and those who have gone before.
Attheir very core, the Flag and the National Anthem are about
us. What greater respect can be paid to a fellow American than to pledge allegiance to him? What greater respect than to stand with hand over heart while
his National Anthem is played.
You might ask, "What if he is notworthy of my allegiance?" You might question, "What might I have to dofor him if I give my allegiance?" "What if his political goals are different than mine?"
This is already solved. There really is only one valid, workable concept that letsyougive your allegiance to him, and his to you, regardless of creed. All others risk collision, discord, and division. That concept is
liberty.
I think that at the very center, the veryheart, of genuine respect is the statement, "I recognize yourfreedom, yourliberty, to be who you are, to think what you think, to do what you want."It is more than respect, it is appreciation.
Allegiance goes one step further and says, "I will support you, I will defend you." The only possible valid, workableallegiance isone that says, "...in maintaining your liberty"
What greater respect can one man pay another than to genuinely recognize his liberty? His freedom?
