Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Flag is Our Shepherd
I Intend to Offend - Issue 1 | 01/02/2007 | Rebecca Rincon

Posted on 01/04/2007 11:00:57 AM PST by rgrincon

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last
The Flag is Our Shepherd

While living in San Diego, I was often enraged whenever I would see something other than our own stars and stripes flying boldly along an antenna or waving shamelessly at a football game. The blood pressure would rise and I would feel that little vein next to the corner of my eye begin to bulge obscenely. The urge to throw something usually became overwhelming until I grabbed the nearest cigarette or beer - or both - to numb the senses and try to accept that free speech was free even if the act offended the amendment that protected it. However, if said smoke or liquor were not available, the protests I did stage would be at best worthy of Yosemite Sam and at worst - the WWF. And more often than not, the rebuttal from the foreign flag offender would consist of the claim that I was a racist and hated all brown people. I often replied that if the definition of a racist had been changed to include anyone that didn't submit ass-up free-of-charge to the minority opinion, then I fully agreed.

But whether or not Merriam-Webster has indeed updated the definition of racism, this argument is hard to win. Because this is where thinking ends and feeling begins. Once you've made an attack on someone's character that will stir others to attack simply on the fuel of emotion, the falsely accused is left battling a crazed mob on the edge of a crumbling cliff of intelligence. It is because of this relentless assault of ad hominem nonsense that I chose to rebut the claim that I am a racist, and that I hate all brown people because I don’t want to see a Mexican flag flying in an American football stadium.

So why is it that I and other hard working Americans get so upset when we see a foreign flag fly over our soil? Well…the answer is in the question isn't it? Hard working Americans know that the reason they have the ability to work hard and become prosperous is because of our flag and what it represents. Not necessarily the government or current political agendas hiding behind it, but the true essence of what our flag stands for: Opportunity.

Under those stars and stripes, we have the opportunity and ability to make something out of nothing. And without that flag or the support of it, that opportunity…YOUR opportunity…simply dies. Just like it died in the countries whose citizens have since relocated under the skies of old glory, but still celebrate the flag of the ideals that have destroyed their homeland. True Americans live and die for what our flag symbolizes: that the people behind the red, white and blue can make their lives BETTER. Therefore, to wave your cheap foreign polyester blend so blatantly in the faces of Americans who generation after generation have laid the foundation of this country is an unpardonable injury. Then to call us racists because we don’t support your flag on that foundation is the unforgivable insult.

Finally, to those on the fence: Remember that waving the American flag or being patriotic doesn't mean that you agree 100% with the politics behind it. Nor does it mean that you are a redneck hillbilly that has no culture or class and can’t form a complete sentence as this article is meant to prove. What it means is that you fully appreciate the opportunity you've been given and that you want to pay respect to the country that provided it. The American flag is our shepherd. It walks us through this world of injustice and suffering to ensure that we have the right to be happy and the right to prosper. If you want to support a flag dedicated to suffering, inequality and tyranny, then go back to the country that flies it and stop pissing the rest of us off.

1 posted on 01/04/2007 11:01:02 AM PST by rgrincon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: rgrincon

Welcome. Nicely done.


2 posted on 01/04/2007 11:02:07 AM PST by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rgrincon

ok...


3 posted on 01/04/2007 11:02:07 AM PST by dakine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rgrincon

Welcome to Free Republic. Very nice Post!


4 posted on 01/04/2007 11:02:49 AM PST by areafiftyone (Politicians Are Like Diapers - Both Need To Be Changed Often And For The Same Reason)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rgrincon

5 posted on 01/04/2007 11:05:16 AM PST by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rgrincon

Nice, very nice.


6 posted on 01/04/2007 11:06:12 AM PST by Bahbah (.Regev, Goldwasser & Shalit, we are praying for you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rgrincon

Welcome to Free Republic. Very well said!


7 posted on 01/04/2007 11:08:10 AM PST by jazusamo (http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/DefendOurMarines.htm)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dakine

Didn't even read it, did you?


8 posted on 01/04/2007 11:08:22 AM PST by ShadowDancer (Life is not tried, it is merely survived if you're standing outside the fire.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: ShadowDancer

Ya' think? Over one paragraph, I get lost....


9 posted on 01/04/2007 11:10:36 AM PST by dakine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: rgrincon

Excellent !!!!!!


10 posted on 01/04/2007 11:10:38 AM PST by Kimmers (It's not what you take when you leave this world behind, it's what you leave behind when you go)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rgrincon
Remember that waving the American flag or being patriotic doesn't mean that you agree 100% with the politics behind it Those of us that some call RINOs or those with opinions other than 100% conservative are often belittled. Today I voiced an opinion someone did not agree with and they made fun of where I live, when I asked them not to do that but to stick to the discussion, I was told I was not an adult. It would be helpful if most here recall this is a forum for discussion and not just a sing only if you are with the choir. Good post btw.
11 posted on 01/04/2007 11:13:56 AM PST by SF Republican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: theDentist
No sir. It gives you the right to TRY.

It walks us through this world of injustice and suffering to ensure that we have the right to be happy and the right to prosper.

Any country that makes prosperity a right guarantees poverty.

12 posted on 01/04/2007 11:14:03 AM PST by DManA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DManA

I believe you wanted to post your answer to rgrincon.
I merely pointed out it was a well-written first post.


13 posted on 01/04/2007 11:15:35 AM PST by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: theDentist

Pardon me. You are correct.


14 posted on 01/04/2007 11:16:09 AM PST by DManA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: rgrincon

Very well said


15 posted on 01/04/2007 11:32:24 AM PST by wastedyears ("By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." - Benjamin Franklin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SF Republican
It would be helpful if most here recall this is a forum for discussion and not just a sing only if you are with the choir.

While I respect your right to disagree this is first and foremost a Conservative Forum and a platform for Conservative ideas and action. It is not, nor has it ever been a non idealogical general discussion forum.

16 posted on 01/04/2007 11:33:40 AM PST by pgkdan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: pgkdan
I would hope that even conservatives would not agree 100% of the time on 100% of the issues - does not seem healthy. Maybe I am just naive to think people should discuss options or some people may have a different opinion than mine without me calling them names.
17 posted on 01/04/2007 11:48:40 AM PST by SF Republican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: All
"... to numb the senses and try to accept that free speech was free even if the act offended the amendment that protected it."

Then stop doing that! Your senses are numbed, but so are the senses of most Americans. The senses of our nation are numbed! There is no such amendment that grants free speech that offends. Read the First Amendment carefully, especially the first word; Congress shall make no law respecting ...

It has only been over the course of the past eighty years that Democrats and Republicans alike have stripped the citizens of their absolute constitutional right to make laws respecting the establishment of religion, speech, press and assembly. We must renew the First Amendment as it was written and intended. We must determine if we will continue to accept a government dictating to the people, or reestablish our nation as people dictating to the government.
18 posted on 01/04/2007 12:46:33 PM PST by backtothestreets (Invite Jesus to pray with you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rgrincon

EXCELLENT!


19 posted on 01/04/2007 1:26:08 PM PST by Conservative4Ever (Dear Santa...... I can explain.....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rgrincon
Welcome to the FR!


20 posted on 01/05/2007 8:09:33 AM PST by darkwing104 (Let's get dangerous)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson