Love it—- sorta. We are all in a funk looking for an America to sing about. Think about this- you and your friend walking , bumping into each other, talking and laughing. The trees are still growing and listening to your chatter. The sky still turns blue and the holly berries red. The children are rehearsing being angels, wise men and manger animals.
Yes. Things suck. But other things are beautiful and evolving even while we worry about the things that suck.
I live in a rural area and it's mostly Trump country. You can tell who's a Democrat and who's a Republican when you drive by the houses. The MAGAs all have Trump flags in their yards. The Democrats all have American flags in their yards. We fly the red, white and blue proudly. Whenever it gets a frayed by the wind or faded by the sun, my husband puts up a new one. We put on the biggest fireworks display on the 4th of July for miles around. I agree with you Anne. We need to reclaim patriotism. We need to take back the flag. One yard at a time.
I've looked at flags from both sides now. From up and down and still somehow....
I'm a weird little patriot. Bad conduct discharge but I still tear up when the flag passes. There were a series of trumpet notes that played for the raising and lowering of the flag. Tears.
And Taps. That will make me into a puddle on the ground.
Molly Ivins and you in the same room?! I could have died and gone to Heaven right there! But I'm not dead, and this doesn't seem like Heaven to me, but I'm not giving up on helping to create Heaven on Earth. Help those who are in the line of fire. (Oasis Legal Services comes to mind.) Thank you Anne, for helping me to hold onto the small bit of sanity that I still have. 🙏🏼
I feel this to the marrow of my bones. Anger rises in me that they seem to think they own the American flag, the American experiment, the American everything. But the facts show they don't. More and more are jumping ship. We just need to remember that the steady stream of people leaving the sinking vessel eventually adds up to a movement. Hard times, indeed. But we have each other and that means everything.
My HOA Board insists on having a Pledge of Allegiance, and I am the only person who refuses to stand. This is not my country. I won't wear a flag pin. Thanks for having me look at clouds!
I really like the flag pin idea and owning up to our patriotism in a bigger way. But would love it if our flag pin had a subtle design nuance that showed our awareness that the America as we’ve known it is under siege and we are not going to let anyone take it away. What might that look like?
I hate that the MAGA folks have co-opted the flag, insinuating that those against Trump don’t love our country. Our country is complex and wonderful and imperfect. Maybe there is some variation, not upside down but a flag against a yellow circle or something - something that offers hope and yet differentiates from the MAGAS.
Love it—- sorta. We are all in a funk looking for an America to sing about. Think about this- you and your friend walking , bumping into each other, talking and laughing. The trees are still growing and listening to your chatter. The sky still turns blue and the holly berries red. The children are rehearsing being angels, wise men and manger animals.
Yes. Things suck. But other things are beautiful and evolving even while we worry about the things that suck.
i'm grateful for your honest truth-telling mingled with hope. thank you, anne!
I live in a rural area and it's mostly Trump country. You can tell who's a Democrat and who's a Republican when you drive by the houses. The MAGAs all have Trump flags in their yards. The Democrats all have American flags in their yards. We fly the red, white and blue proudly. Whenever it gets a frayed by the wind or faded by the sun, my husband puts up a new one. We put on the biggest fireworks display on the 4th of July for miles around. I agree with you Anne. We need to reclaim patriotism. We need to take back the flag. One yard at a time.
I've looked at flags from both sides now. From up and down and still somehow....
I'm a weird little patriot. Bad conduct discharge but I still tear up when the flag passes. There were a series of trumpet notes that played for the raising and lowering of the flag. Tears.
And Taps. That will make me into a puddle on the ground.
My Flag Too!
Molly Ivins and you in the same room?! I could have died and gone to Heaven right there! But I'm not dead, and this doesn't seem like Heaven to me, but I'm not giving up on helping to create Heaven on Earth. Help those who are in the line of fire. (Oasis Legal Services comes to mind.) Thank you Anne, for helping me to hold onto the small bit of sanity that I still have. 🙏🏼
I so need to read essays like yours to stay hopeful, in a thoughtful way.
I feel this to the marrow of my bones. Anger rises in me that they seem to think they own the American flag, the American experiment, the American everything. But the facts show they don't. More and more are jumping ship. We just need to remember that the steady stream of people leaving the sinking vessel eventually adds up to a movement. Hard times, indeed. But we have each other and that means everything.
I took back the flag! I was tired of the repubs owning it!
I have a friend who said something profound about the MAGA movement in 2016.
He said: “They stole my flag, man.”
Yes, but they stole/warped/lied about other things important to Americans. It’s time to take them back.
I’m with you, Ms Lamott—I’ll be sporting a flag pin, right side up from now on.
I swear I think it could work…and the thought makes makes me cringe a bit. But think of the conversations we could have.
I’m in.
I think.
I like the flag pin idea, Anne. I love the flag and hate that one side seems to own it. Time to take it back! We are patriots.
I love the upside down flag pin. Or a purple baseball cap that says Make America Free Again
My HOA Board insists on having a Pledge of Allegiance, and I am the only person who refuses to stand. This is not my country. I won't wear a flag pin. Thanks for having me look at clouds!
I really like the flag pin idea and owning up to our patriotism in a bigger way. But would love it if our flag pin had a subtle design nuance that showed our awareness that the America as we’ve known it is under siege and we are not going to let anyone take it away. What might that look like?
I hate that the MAGA folks have co-opted the flag, insinuating that those against Trump don’t love our country. Our country is complex and wonderful and imperfect. Maybe there is some variation, not upside down but a flag against a yellow circle or something - something that offers hope and yet differentiates from the MAGAS.
I am wary of wearing a flag pin, but I bought a new outdoor flag for our home recently. It is so pretty and grand! My flag too.