The Identity of the United States of America

The following may be an exemplar of brevity or a long winded rant.  We'll see how angry I become.  I just finished watching a story on Fox 5 News about the apparent disdain for the U.S. Flag and other U.S. Symbols in public places.  Russ Spencer cited a Kawanis Club group that wasn't able to bring a flag into an Olive Garden (Olive Garden since changed its tune and the situation has been rectified) as well as a hotel clerk now allowed to wear a U.S. Pin (albeit the hotel chain apparently had a no pins policy, yet had selective enforcement of said policy).  I was aware of the hotel clerks ordeal; however, the Olive Garden incident was news to me.  Spencer also cited situations of parents complaining about "force patriotism" at school with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Do not comment with the argument of "its the hotel's policy to have no pins; thus, the person should've worn a pin of a U.S. flag anyway."  If you do, then you clearly miss the greater point.

Now, (I can feel my blood starting to boil), I have no patience with political correctness.  I'm a firm believer in you can say the truth without being a jerk; however, the notion of no one should ever be "offended" (which is a word I abhor with no exceptions) by anything said or displayed is ludicrous.

Rarely do I type with all caps; however, this message is simple and must be heard in the way I would shout it:  IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY SEEING THE UNITED STATES FLAG, THEN LEAVE THE UNITED STATES!

I become infuriated with "citizens" who tap all of the resources available to them through citizenship that refuse to embrace the symbols of the United States.  You'll notice my useage of the United States, and not "America."  America encompasses many different countries.  I'm focused entirely on the United States of America.  I am loyal to only the United States of America, and if you wish to consider yourself a citizen of the Unites States of American, you should embrace opportunities to display or gaze upon one of our most important symbols:  the Flag of the United States of America.

Do not lob arguments to me about fair-weathered patriotism.  I.e. I'm writing about my loyalty to the United States just because I saw some news story.  I do not campaign daily only the virtues of the United States, and I do not feel such a campaign is necessary.  It is understood that being a citizen, I believe in such virtues.  I will say this.  If the Star Spangeled Banner is being played or sung, my yap is shut (unless I'm singing the first verse), my hat is off, I'm standing at attention, and my right hand is over my heart until the hymn has been completed.  Even though I follow no organized religion, I say the Pledge of Allegiance in its entirety every day at work.  "Under God" used to bother me, not anymore.  Rather than asking the quesiton of "who are you to have "Under God" in an official state text," I now ask "are two words really that significant if we're supposed to be accepting of all faiths in our citizenry?"

Do the aforementioned acts make me "better" or "more patriotic" than anyone else?  No.  It is simply how I display it.  It's the same as a person wearing a flag pin or someone singing the hideous song, "God Bless the U.S.A.," and cheering for the late cymbal crash near the end of the tune.

Onto "forced patriotism."

What keeps any culture alive over time is the teaching of tradition.  How can our children assume an identity as a United States citizen, without understanding basic ideals of patriotism?  I think (for any form of school system--but especially with what's currently available) if there is government-mandated primary and secondary education (and the requirement for most to be in a government-maintained school), then certainly the government of the country it represents should teach then later require some basic acts of patriotism toward said country.  As mentioned parenthetically, I think the Pledge, the Star Spangeled Banner, and other symbols of our country should be taught even if education was privitized and there was no government presence at work.  Again, IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR CHILDREN BEING REQUIRED TO LEARN AND DISPLAY BASIC SYMBOLS OF PATRIOTISM, RENOUNCE THEIR (AND YOUR-IF NECESSARY) CITIZENSHIP AND LEAVE THE UNITED STATES!

As I have mentioned before when commenting on illegal immigration, I would expect nothing different from any other country.  If you are a citizen of France, I would expect to see the expectation that the citizenry should be respectful of national symbols and have a knowledge of vocal symbols of patriotism.  I don't think it would be unreasonable for children to recite a pledge of allegiance.

Perhaps this issue can be described and solved with some simple questions:  If you do not pledge allegiance to the United States, how can you call yourself a United States citizen and reap the benefits of citizenship?  If you are ashamed or offended by the presence of the Red, White, and Blue, how can you call yourself a citizen?  Finally, if the thought of being identified as a United States citizen disgusts you, then why not renouce your citizenship and emigrate, rather than remain and be misreable?

Final comment--this was effectively stream-of-consciousness writing.  Quips about minor grammatical and mechanical errors will be ignored.