Even A Bit Beaten Up, ‘Old Glory’ Still Flies Proudly

Born on the 4^th of July, I became a Yankee doodle dandy by default. That is, if you accuse me of being a red, white and blue-bleeding, unapologetic patriot, de fault is with my mom who gave birth to me on that day.

Sighting an American flag flowing in the breeze has always thrilled me. Hearing the “Star-Spangled Banner,” “God Bless America,” and John Philip Sousa marching tunes like “Stars and Stripes Forever” puff up my chest with pride. When Lee Greenwood sings, “God Bless the U.S.A.,” and declares he’s “proud to be an American,” I know what he means.

 

Fireworks, with their brilliant explosions of light and thundering booms, provide a fitting way for marking the anniversary of our nation’s birth as an independent nation. From its inception, the United States of America has been unique, the envy of many around the world. I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

 

Growing up, I didn’t know of anyone being ashamed about their American citizenry. Independence Day was a day of celebration for just about everybody. But somewhere along the line, things changed. It’s often been said, “United we stand, divided we fall,” and factions exist today that seem determined to capitalize on division. Whether it’s the dysfunctional discord that currently infests the halls of Congress, anti-American rants on college campuses, or social media diatribes that amplify the flaws of our imperfect land, we often seem a far cry from “one nation under God.”

As my patriotic fervor builds for yet another Independence Day, it’s accompanied with a growing sense of sadness. Yes, the USA has its flaws – as has every nation throughout history. That’s because it’s made up of broken, sinful people. But even with its blemishes, our country remains a destination point for many people, not somewhere from which to flee.

 

Freedom has been a hallmark of our nation; contrary to naysayers and critics, I believe in many respects its citizens have never been more free. Rights to free speech, worship, the press, assembly, keep and bear arms, a fair trial and many others are extended to us, guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and other amendments added through the years. The founders of the United States demonstrated uncanny foresight in the crafting of those documents.

 

These treasured freedoms have come under attack, but they remain worth fighting for and protecting. On this Independence Day, as with all the others we’ve observed through the decades, we remember the countless thousands who gave their lives so that we might be free to live as we choose.

 

At the same time, I can’t forget the even greater freedom we have been offered, one that carries no national banners or boundaries. In Galatians 5:1 we’re reminded,“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

 

This slavery isn’t a reference to the inhumane form of bondage that has existed through most of history all around the world. Or even the practice that finally was abolished in the United States by the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. No, it’s even worse – the universal, spiritual slavery described by the apostle Paul in the New Testament book of Romans:

“For we know that our old self was crucified with [Christ] so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin…. Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin…you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:6-18).

 

Today there are those who would debate how “free” our freedoms of speech, worship, the press, or owning guns should be. But as followers of Jesus Christ, we have the assurance that our freedom from sin has been achieved: “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:22-23).

 

The United States, in my opinion, is the greatest country in the world, even with all of its warts. But I know this is only a temporary home and my ultimate allegiance must be elsewhere: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). One day I will join with many family members, friends, and countless people I’ve never met to celebrate a very different kind of “independence day,” a glorious celebration that will never end. 

Confessions of an Unapologetic Flag-Waver

Is patriotism dead? On life support, perhaps? In some ways it would appear to be. Protesters burn American flags for various reasons – or non-reasons – and many pundits view that as their right to free speech.

Immigrants from other nations benefit from living in the U.S.A., but show disrespect for American traditions. On the West Coast, Muslim residents of a housing complex protested when a fellow resident proudly displayed the flag, claiming it was offensive and made them feel threatened. Can we say, “Really? Seriously?”

Statesmen in the past seemed to revel in the Stars and Stripes, but today numerous elected officials apparently view such practices as wearing an American flag lapel pin, or even putting their hands over their heart during the singing of the National Anthem as beneath their dignity. Celebrities, many of whom have enjoyed firsthand the benefits of “the American dream,” boldly declare how ashamed they are of America.

Again, the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to free speech – politically correct, of course – so I suppose they’re exercising that right. But as a bonafide “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” born on the 4^th of July, I would hope this Independence Day the patriots among us will again rise up and declare our pride in our flag, our nation, and in being true Americans.

The United States is far from perfect, and people are entitled to object in a dignified manner to injustices and wrongdoing. But when I see the 50 stars on a field of blue, along with the stripes of red and white, I don’t see them symbolizing materialism and greed, prejudice or social disparity. I see them as representing the courage of men, women and children who came to our shores centuries ago to start a new life. I see them as emblematic of the thousands upon thousands of lives sacrificed to protect the values and principles upon which this nation was established.

The website, www.usflag.org, discusses the colors of the American flag and what they represent:

The colors red, white, and blue did not have meanings for the Stars and Stripes when it was adopted in 1777. However, the colors in the Great Seal did have specific meanings. Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, reporting to Congress on the Seal, stated:

"The colors of the pales (the vertical stripes) are those used in the flag of the United States of America: White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & valour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice."

Also, from a book about the flag published in 1977 by the House of Representatives:

"The star is a symbol of the heavens and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial; the stripe is symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun."

I wholeheartedly believe we can respect and revere the American flag, which has weathered storms both internal and external, while acknowledging much remains to be done on many fronts to better serve and protect its citizens. Even though my immediate ancestors came to the United States in the early 1900s, they and subsequent generations have enjoyed much of what this nation and its society have to offer. For that I’m extremely grateful, and hope that in some small way I’ve been not only a beneficiary but also a contributor.

That being said, I don’t believe we are – or ever truly were – a “Christian nation.” There has always been room for disparate beliefs, as well as unbelief. And history shows our founding fathers reflected the spectrum of these. But our Declaration of Independence speaks of all men being “created equal,” not evolving, and “being endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” Our statesmen through the centuries have affirmed belief in the divine, ranging from George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, to Abraham Lincoln, to more contemporary Presidents and government leaders.

The United States has long stood as unique among the world’s nations. Some have termed it, ‘The Great Experiment.” While I can’t prove it empirically, I believe our nation has prospered in large measure due to the blessings of God to whom we as a people have given deference, as least until recent decades.

Today our flag flies in figurative tatters, battered by unconscionable violence, strife and discord that would hardly be reflective of how a “Christian nation” should act. But we’re not without hope. It will require taking to heart – and putting into practice – an Old Testament promise that’s often repeated, but soon forgotten:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Dating back to the 1960s, first our judicial system and then our houses of law determined we didn’t need God. Perhaps we’d become so prosperous as a nation that we concluded we should declare independence from Him. And God, although sovereign, seems to have acquiesced, telling us, “If I’m not wanted, I’ll withdraw and remove My hand from you. See how that works out.”

I may be in the minority, but in my view, it’s not working very well. On this Independence Day, maybe it’s time to consider that independence from God isn’t such a great idea.

Just How ‘United’ Is the U.S.A.?

Being born on July 4^th, making me what composer George M. Cohan called “A Yankee Doodle Dandy,” I’ve always had great fondness for Independence Day. I wear American flag T-shirts, we proudly display the American flag in front of our house, and I’m always stirred when patriotic songs like “Stars and Stripes Forever” are played.

The observance, of course, commemorates bold statesmen like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Patrick Henry signing documents in 1776 declaring the new nation’s independence from Great Britain. (Wish I could have been there!) This act created the United States of America, but 236 years later one has to wonder just how “united” the U.S.A. really is.

We’re a nation polarized on many issues. A great divide tears at the very fabric of the U.S.A., with citizens in sharp, passionate and sometimes vitriolic disagreement on issues ranging from abortion to firearms, from healthcare to immigration, from sexual preferences to whether we should be “one nation under God.” We seem more untied these days than united.

How did we get this way?

Over the past several years I’ve had the privilege of writing two books about successful, privately owned companies that have now reached the fourth generation of family ownership. These businesses are among the tiny minority of companies that manage to remain “in the family” for more than two generations. That’s because it’s not easy to pass along values, vision and ideals from one generation to the next. Especially in a complex entity like a company – or a country. These businesses have been the exceptions.

A “generation” is typically defined as about 30 years, the span during which children grow up and start producing the next generation. Doing the math, this would mean the U.S.A. is well into its eighth generation. Considering how difficult it is to perpetuate a successful enterprise even to generation No. 4, it’s little wonder our nation is wobbling with generations 7 and 8.

It used to be “democracy” was synonymous with being governed by the majority, but in recent decades, “minority rule” seems to have taken over. Every special interest group is flexing its muscle, the vocal minority imposing its will on a comparatively silent majority.

Perhaps one factor contributing to this fragmentation is confusing unity with uniformity or unanimity. When the U.S. Constitution states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,” that does not mean identical. When it talks about the “inalienable right” to “the pursuit of happiness,” this does not imply guarantees or entitlement. The individual carries the responsibility for engaging in this pursuit. But as a society, we seem to have forgotten that.

The Bible offers one of the best descriptions of unity found anywhere: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose” (Philippians 2:1-2).

Of course, we can’t consider this as a guideline because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s edict in 1947 about the so-called “separation of church and state.” This judgment has since become construed to mean not only that the state cannot impose religion upon the people, but also that people must avoid any inclusion of faith in the public square.

Gradually, our nation has drifted away from a conscious awareness of God’s involvement in daily affairs of mankind – despite declarations to the contrary by founding fathers like Jefferson, Adams, George Washington and others. And it seems God, understanding He’s no longer welcome, has graciously withdrawn. Without a constant spiritual compass, we’ve acquired a condition described in the Bible as “everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). This description seems apt for where our “tolerant,” politically correct society today.

So the real question is not how did we get this way, but rather, where will we go from here?