It's time to take back our flag

I propose a campaign to take back our flag. The flag is ours. It is a symbol of being an American citizen and loving this country. It means I am patriotic to the ideals upon which this country was grounded. It does not mean I agree with where the country has gone in past and recent years. It does not mean that I am proud of slavery, of lower wages for women, of racism and sexism or the wage gap and tax inequality. It means I have hope that with our constitution and our laws that we can do better because we have the tools in place to do so.

I am irritated that I only see our American flag flying with Trump flags or confederate flags now. Those are not the patriots of America but the instigators of Democratic downfall. So how much do we continue to take from that group of people who over the last four years have wreaked fear and havoc on the American people and impinged on our rights to feeling safe and free? I find myself cringing at camo now. I worry that everyone has a gun in their pocket at the grocery store. I was not alone during this election with fear of hanging a Biden sign on my car or home. My own Biden sign was stolen once and then run over by a vehicle a second time.

I am patriotic. Don’t tell me I am not just because I am not storming the White House. I care about the people of all colors and all races who live in this country. I care about our water and clean air and wildlife. I am sick of the term “environmentalist” being used as a dirty word. Yes, I hug trees and care about leaving a natural world intact for your grandchildren as well as mine. When did that become wrong?

There is a saying that counselors use regularly stating, “nobody can take away your power unless you let them.” We have allowed the far right to take away the meaning of our American flag, and frankly, that pisses me off. It is time to take the power of being an American back. What if everyone who cares for our country and considers themselves patriotic hangs an American flag back up on their homes or cars? The US flag should not stand for Trump or his crazy followers. It should stand for the America that we love and that once made us so proud. It should stand for the hope that the future can be better, and that we are not on some downward spiral. Let’s take it back.

My suggestion … hang an American flag this week to show that you support the America that makes us proud.

JANE HOOVER

Sandpoint