Is It Normal To Carry The Flag Of The Country You Are Trying To Destroy?

Our country is under siege, and the president will not be delivering an address to unite us.

My honeymoon in 1992 marked the first time I was out of the country on the 4th of July. Something was unsettling about not being home to celebrate our country. When we were pulling out of our port in Curacao, I was very excited to look through our porthole and see the stars and stripes flying on a ship we were passing.

The flag has always been a source of pride to me. And the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. I usually make sure I am wearing some flag-themed apparel. I love my country!

As I watched news coverage at the Capitol today, I didn’t initially focus on the flags. Trump supporters have carried flags at all of the Trump rallies, so I’m used to seeing them alongside the Trump flags. Although I disagreed with the Trump supporters, I knew they were also American citizens and had just as much right to carry the flag.

Later I thought of how I could show my unity with those who support our democracy. The flag was the first thing that came to mind. And I thought about going in public and waving a flag. Would I be viewed as an American or as a Trump supporter? That made me sad.

I voted for Trump in 2016. I have had many life changes since then, and I’ve come to realize I made a mistake. I wrote about coming to that realization in this post:

I wrote the above article in June 2020. I was frustrated with Trump’s ongoing downplaying of COVID-19 and his refusal to do anything to help the country fight it. And I was frustrated with his handling of racial unrest.

Trump refuses to act like a president. I understand that his supporters may like that about him, but I think a big part of the president’s job is to unite the country. Throughout history, there have been numerous times that presidents have been called upon to address the nation after a crisis. During my life, when this has happened, I have felt we came together as Americans first, without party affiliation.

In 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation. I remember listening with tears in my eyes.

“The future doesn’t belong to the faint-hearted but to the brave. The Challenger crew was pulling us into the future, and we’ll continue to follow them…The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye, and slipped the surly bonds of Earth to touch the face of God.” President Ronald Reagan

In 1995, Bill Clinton spoke at a memorial for the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. Here is an excerpt from his speech:

“Today our nation joins with you in grief. We mourn with you. We share your hope against hope that some may still survive. We thank all those who have worked so heroically to save lives and to solve this crime — those here in Oklahoma and those who are all across this great land, and many who left their own lives to come here to work hand in hand with you. We pledge to do all we can to help you heal the injured, to rebuild this city, and to bring to justice those who did this evil.” President Bill Clinton

In 1999, President Clinton addressed the nation again after the school shooting at Columbine High School. He spoke about it on a podcast in 2019: “There are certain things, if you’re president, you need to say,” Clinton said. “There are certain other things you need to not say.” He knew that addressing the nation was important. I may not have agreed with Clinton at the time, but I listened to his remarks, and they were comforting.

“To the families who have lost their loved ones, to the parents who have lost their beloved children, to the wounded children and their families, to people of the community of Littleton, I can only say tonight that the prayers of the American people are with you.” President Bill Clinton

On September 11, 2001, I worked as a supervisor in the customer service department of a health insurance company. That morning I was feeling sick. I don’t remember what my ailment was, but I was thinking about staying home. Then my sister called, she was in tears when she told me two planes had hit the World Trade Center.

I immediately turned the TV on and watched in horror as the first and second towers collapsed. I knew I needed to be at work that day. I pulled myself together, dropped the kids off at school and daycare, and headed to work. The day was somber. My staff took phone calls and tried to sound professional as National Guard jets did touch and go drills and flew right over our building.

My staff was anxious for updates. They didn’t have smartphones in 2011, and the internet was not the first source of news at that point. I left to buy a small TV. During the day, people came by on their breaks to get updates. I don’t remember the first time I saw a flag, but there were flags everywhere in the weeks to follow. We needed to feel united, and the flag was our symbol.

President George W. Bush spoke to the country that night:

“Good evening. Today our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices: secretaries, business men and women, military and Federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror.

The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our Nation into chaos and retreat, but they have failed. Our country is strong.

A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we’re the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.”

A few days later, President Bush went to ground zero and gave the following remarks to rescue workers:

President Bush: Thank you all. I want you all to know — it [bullhorn] can’t go any louder — I want you all to know that American today, American today is on bended knee, in prayer for the people whose lives were lost here, for the workers who work here, for the families who mourn. The nation stands with the good people of New York City and New Jersey and Connecticut as we mourn the loss of thousands of our citizens

Rescue Worker: I can’t hear you!

President Bush: I can hear you! I can hear you! The rest of the world hears you! And the people — and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!

Rescue Workers: [Chanting] U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!

President Bush: The nation — The nation sends its love and compassion —

Rescue Worker: God bless America!

President Bush: — to everybody who is here. Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for makin’ the nation proud, and may God bless America.

Rescue Workers: [Chanting] U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!

Transcript available here.

There have been other tragedies and other speeches since 2001. I included the above addresses from two Republican and one Democratic president to provide examples of what it sounds like to be presidential.

As I write this, it is 1:05 AM PST. There have been several messages from the president. None of them could be considered presidential. Congress has now certified the vote, and the president apparently agrees to a peaceful transition. Too little, too late, Mr. President.