Hijacked The Flag?

Washington, DC headline: "For years, Trump and the right hijacked the American flag" (Washington Post; Nov. 16, 2020).   Say what?  Hijacked?   You've got to be kidding.  Those on the right aren't the ones burning the flag while rioting and looting.  They're the ones standing for the flag to honor patriots who serve it.  

Does the hijacked author fly Old Glory to show respect for those who serve America? 

Does the hijacked author fly Old Glory to show respect for those who serve America?  Clearly, NOT, since she usually flies it "only on Independence Day." Obviously she sees no value in it on Memorial Day or Veterans Day … not even on Sept. 11^th.        She bragged about posting the nation's colors on Nov. 7^th when the presidential election was called by the mainstream media, so why not 4-days later--Nov. 11^th? The actual hijacker made her case; let me make mine regarding the matter.   Veterans Day, like Memorial Day, tends to be introspective, sometimes emotional, for the small percentage of the population that have served America in uniform.  For those who fought in combat, poignant memories magnify stark imagery even further.  U.S. military veteran numbers continue to decrease, the most recent figure being 17.96 million in 2018  which was about 7% of the adult population (Census.gov; Jun. 2, 2020).  The number was 26.40 million in 2000.  So, even with the surge in enlistments post-Sept. 11^th, 2001, an ever declining fraction of the U.S. population has had the privilege to serve America in uniform.   And, YES, it is a privilege … not necessarily a pleasure.  There's a distinct difference.   As someone who had that honor, Nov. 11^th, 2020 served as a reminder as to why the disrespect shown to those who serve in uniform--any uniform, anytime, anywhere--is a despicable act.  Those who do it have no shame, no principles, no worth.  

---

They take the disrespect personally

How does it happen?   Some face-to-face; most not. When someone disrespects the American flag or national anthem they're spitting in the face of those who serve the nation honorably in uniform--any uniform, anytime, anywhere.  Even more unforgivably, they're spitting in the face of everyone that died serving the country in uniform--any uniform, anytime, anywhere. Although I didn't volunteer to serve America in uniform and only did so 19-months after being drafted in 1968, I take the disrespect personally.  And while no one spit in my face, literally, when I returned from Vietnam, the spitting, figuratively, was relentless in 1969/70.  Confronting it daily made the disrespect personal to me.   My early departure from Vietnam was due to shrapnel wounds, with 2 of 3 clearly qualifying as "close calls."  I was lucky and I left Vietnam proud of my combat service.  That pride led me to take the vilification personally.   Over 58,000 of my brothers and eight sisters in Vietnam weren't so lucky and their departures were beneath the American flag.  For them, I take the disrespect especially personally.  They deserve the utmost respect, particularly from those who never risked their lives for the privilege of living in the land of the free.  Those who have understand, "there but for the grace of God," whether they believe in God or not.  They've made America the home of the brave. When you've walked the Valley of the Shadow of Death with comrades-in-arms in uniform--any uniform, anytime, anywhere; every color, every culture, every religion--the American flag and national anthem have a higher, "thou art with me," meaning.  Every uniformed service veteran I know, male and female, concurs.  They take the disrespect personally. 

---

Support Canada Free Press

---

Honoring the American flag has nothing to do with who the President is at the time

When the national anthem plays, they stand at attention, facing the American flag, hand over their heart, honoring their brothers and sisters.  They know the sacrifices, valuing those who make them.   Moreover, honoring the American flag has nothing to do with who the President is at the time, contrary to what the hijacked author asserted.  Strangely, though, others have jumped on the same ridiculous bandwagon, noting gleefully "how anti-Trumpers are reclaiming the American flag" (Politico; Nov. 29, 2020).  Nonetheless, the vitriol spewed throughout makes it clear they never valued the flag anyhow.  If they'd listen to themselves while looking in a mirror, they could both hear and see where the hate resides.   It's not where they're pointing--absent the mirror.  Was I pleased when President Carter pardoned the draft dodgers who fled the U.S. during Vietnam when so many of my brothers and eight sisters died there?   NO!   Did I continue to honor the flag and those serving it when he was in office?  YES! Was I pleased when President Obama traveled the world apologizing for America when American servicemen and women are responsible for much of the world still being free? NO! Did I continue to honor the flag and those serving it when he was in office?  YES!

---

STAND!  HONOR AMERICA; HONOR THE FLAG; HONOR SERVICE TO THE FLAG!

So, wake up America.  Convey your respect to those who serve the nation in uniform--any uniform, anytime, anywhere; every color, every culture, every religion.  The overwhelming majority serve honorably; they've EARNED your respect.  SHOW IT TO THEM!   Flying Old Glory "only on Independence Day" is make-believe patriotism at best.  And waving the flag while disrespecting those who serve the flag is hijacking at its worst.  That's why I stood with our President, proudly saying "no thanks" (Fox News; Nov. 26, 2020) to kneeling NFL hijackers on Thanksgiving and all other days hijackers play.  Want to prove you value the flag? STAND!  HONOR AMERICA; HONOR THE FLAG; HONOR SERVICE TO THE FLAG!