1. ‘In early 1861, the full government of the United States endorsed the legitimacy of slave ownership. In January of 1861, the Mayor of New York suggested secession from the Federal government. In April of 1861, the Federal government sent secret naval squadrons to Charleston and Florida to fight their way into the ports.
The Federal flag flew over all these institutions of treason, bigotry, hostility and division.’
2. ‘Pointing at symbols and making absolute statements is the pastime of argument baiters.’
I wonder how you square your second statement above with the first. By ignoring the rest of our history to focus on these few seems to be “the pastime of argument baiters.”
‘The “might makes right” fallacy in logic does not change the facts.’
Neither does ignoring that in the end, at least in the time of your examples, determination, perserverance, sacrifice and might did make right.
The history of this country from the time of the first settlers until today is full of instances of less than stellar humanity on the part of its citizens.
Overshadowing those failings, IMO, are the stellar acts of this country that show courage, sacrifice of lives and treasure, perserverance against the forces of evil in the world that personify the goodness that is this country. The Flag as a symbol of freedom to the world and rightly so. Those who see it otherwise are jealous and petty purveyors of despair.
Our system of gov’t is neither perfect nor is our citizenry’s exercise of it perfect. It is however, the best thing currently going in this world. We should be thanking God that we live in it.