Fun with Flags ~ Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

We rally around so many flags, banners, and protest signs.  We wave our flag and disrespect the flags we oppose.  I wonder if we realize that we betray our anger and hatred towards people through our free expression of hatred toward flags?

There are flags I see that trigger that in me.  They bring to mind evil acts done by nations or groups where people were harmed and human rights violated.  The fight is to remain one who loves my enemies.  It is easy to join in the spewing of hatred and demonizing “the enemy” to justify it. 

My obligation is to find a way to voice my concerns about injustice and wrong without hating the people involved.  Within our own nation we seem to have forgotten how to disagree without hating each other.  We have forgotten that our freedom to descent is begotten under the same flag. 

We can disagree.  If I hate you for disagreeing with me or disrespect your banner I am in the wrong even if my position is right.  If I win my cause by harming or destroying you, that is also wrong.  Further, if I disrespect the flag of the nation that provides me the freedom to fight for my cause, then I am ungrateful and hypocritical. 

I cannot follow Christ and fail to obey the rules.  They are simple to recite and hard to live.  That does not mitigate my obligation.  My heart must be for the people involved in every issue.  I must love an unpopular president even if his policies are opposite to my views.  I must love those who hate my country and burn my flag.  I must also look at my own values and assure that they do not violate that same obligation to love others.

It does not matter what my cause is, if I go into the fray with hatred in my heart I lose.  Even if I win I fail.  One can throw all of the situational arguments at it that one wishes.  None of them justifies unkindness and hatred.  It is a truth we may not like but it is truth.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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Fun with Flags ~ Stars and Stripes part 2

Greetings Dear Reader,

You have a constitutional right to burn the flag.  The Supreme Court has made it clear that this expression is protected under the first amendment.  As I mentioned yesterday legal and wise can be two very different things.  We do need to consider the hypocrisy of burning the flag if we are American citizens.

I have friends that I love dearly who have begun to see that only the freedoms they value are worth protecting.  They rant against our system of government and spew obscenities about our leadership.  They exercise the freedom provided under out flag to hate the nation that provides it.

We have some very serious problems as a nation.   I do not, however, see people clamoring to get out.  I do see thousands of people choose a hard existence here over remaining in their home country.  We need more social justice.  We need to assure that all things are done with equity.  

The hypocrisy is that most others systems of government will not allow you to protest in this way.  They wish to impose their laws over your freedom to descent.   If you want to overthrow democracy you wish to overthrow the freedoms that allow you to wish to overthrow it.  It does not work.

I am not blind to the injustices that still exist.  I think there is a greater one.  It is the injustice of destroying the symbol instead of working for the cause.  I mean really working.  Protesting draws attention in almost all its forms but it does not create the change.  It is the everyday work that is required by everyone in every moment.  Working for genuine change is what makes a difference. 

As a man of faith, I am required to obey the laws of my government.  Unless that law violates human rights, I must peacefully work for change or accept the law.  Further, I am required to respect and pray for my political leaders no matter how I feel about their lives, politics, or social media.  No matter my opinion of the person in the oval office, the governor’s mansion, or the senate seat, I am required to love him or her.  I cannot follow Christ if I equivocate this in any way.

You are free to burn the flag.  I wonder, however, if one can do so with a heart filled by love and grace?  I know that I cannot hate anyone with a clear conscience.  There are people I want to hate.  I must discipline my own mind and heart to be free from that.  I must be respectful and work for peace and justice through peace and justice.  To me, burning the flag is not a peaceful act. 

Freedom Never Cries – Five for Fighting

I took a flag to a pawn shop
For a broken guitar
I took a flag to a pawn shop
How much is that guitar
I took a flag to a pawn shop
I got me that guitar
What's a flag in a pawn shop to me?

I saw a man on the TV
In a mask with a gun
A man on the TV
He had a ten year old son
I saw a man on the TV
His son had a gun
And he says that he's coming for me

.

I never loved the soldier until there was a war
Or thought about tomorrow
'Til my baby hit the floor
I only talk to God when somebody's about to die
I never cherished freedom
Freedom never cries

I wrote a song for a dead man
To settle my soul
A song for a dead man
And now I'll never grow old
I wrote a song for a dead man
Now I'm out in the cold
What's a song to a dead man to me?

I never loved the soldier until there was a war
Or thought about tomorrow
'Til my baby hit the floor
I only talk to God when somebody's about to die
I never cherished freedom
Freedom never cries

You can cry for her
Die for her
Lay down your life for her
Kiss and wave goodbye to her
Anything at all

You can cry for her
Die for her
Make up your mind to her
Anything at all, oh

There's a baby on the doorstep
Wailing away
There's a baby on the doorstep
Longing for the day
There's a baby on the doorstep
Who'd give his life to take
A flag to a pawn shop
A flag to a pawn shop

May he forget why he is crying some day

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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Fun with Flags ~ Stars and Stripes part 1

Greetings Dear Reader,

This is an excerpt from Sheetrock on the Road.  You can get the entire novel on Amazon.  When I wrote it, I had no idea it would become so relevant:

“There are many who do not understand the importance of the national anthem.  Before we begin what has been often called the national pastime, we first pay tribute to a nation that allows us to have such leisure.  When I was a boy this meant that you stopped talking, put your hand over your heart, looked at the flag, and sang with all your might.  You showed reverence for the moment.  Vendors stopped selling hot dogs, peanuts, and beer until the song was over.  I do not know what has changed but people stopped teaching their children about this and those children grew up into ignoramuses who talk on their cell phones, shout for the beer boy, or even complain about the national anthem itself.  That song is hard to sing, has too many high notes, and is still one of the best reminders that people died so that we could go to baseball games.  So, the next time you are blessed enough to go to a baseball game, hang up your cell phone, put down that beer, stand up straight, put your hand over your heart, face the flag, and sing till your throat hurts.” 

As the football pre-season begins we are already hearing protests of those taking a knee or raising a fist during the National Anthem.  I am not saying that those protesting do not have a just cause.  Even if they did not they have a constitutional right to protest whatever they please. 

What drives me to the wall is their choice of where and when.  It may be lawful although that has not been legally established yet.  It is not, however, wise.  It is not prudent.  I do not care what your cause may be or how just it is. That is not the right time to draw attention to it.  It disrespects the thousands of men and women who have given their lives and limbs so that you can get paid to play a GAME.  Real wisdom understands that there is a time and place to make your concerns heard.  This is not it.

The purpose of the National Anthem is to remind us of the freedom we have to enjoy public sporting events.  It is to call to mind those who died so you could play ball.  When you disrespect that moment, you dig into far more than your cause. 

Our nation is not always right but I do not see anyone of those protesting the anthem leaving so that they do not have to endure the problems.  There is a Canadian football league.  Again, I am not saying your cause is unjust but this is not the kind of fun with flags that solves problems.

I care about your concerns and I value justice for everyone.  I even care about justice for those who died to give you the freedom to disrespect their sacrifice.  You treat the dead unjustly when you disrespect the flag and the National Anthem.  I cannot follow in faith if I do not seek justice in all things, not just your cause.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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Fun with Flags ~ Interactive Interlude

Greetings Dear Reader,

Apparently there exists less understanding of the history of the Confederate flags and the South’s succession from the Union than I thought.  My post yesterday triggered some virulent responses from people who know me well enough to see past the issues to the effort.  It also showed how monocular we can become over our banners or the banners we hate.

As a teacher for most of my adult life and someone who loves history it saddens me that we carry so little understanding of the past into our present.  We cannot change the past.  It is there to teach us.  If we ignore part of history to favor our agenda then we no longer carry the truth.  We may be absolutely right concerning our position.  If we are right then right will bear up under the whole truth. 

If we have to ignore facts or even suppress part of the truth to further an agenda then our cause is no longer righteous.  Justice must be for everyone.  We cannot afford to ignore the truth in order to further even a righteous agenda.  When we hide truth, we lie.  When we ignore truth, we abandon the high ground for unjust willful ignorance.

If we do not see history as it truly Is then we will not understand why people rally around flags that represent horrible ideals.  Seeking truth and understanding does not validate evil.  Seeing how things came to be when they are bad may point out the thread that we can grasp to unravel a banner of hate and wrong.

I must embrace all truth no matter how I feel about it.  I cannot minimize its impact on history or my need to see the actions of those living in that time relative to the things that motivated them.  Again, I apologize that I stepped on some toes yesterday but liberty cannot survive without truth.  I cannot follow if I ignore truth to hold on to my ideals.  Perhaps the flag of truth is one of the few worth waving.

Faces of America – Dan Fogelberg

There was a time, a simpler time
When a man could be sure of where he stood
I used to work at the yard, working honest and hard
The hours were long but the pay was oh so good

I had a family and friends, oh so many friends
We'd drive to the lake on holidays
Back then it wasn't so dear for a sandwich or beer
At night I still dream I can see their faces

Certain things that you depend upon
There are places that you know
And the faces of America
Oh, where do they go, where did they go

I was born on a farm, a mid-western farm
I rode on the tractor with my dad
And though we never had much it was always enough
And we made the best with what we had

But then came four years of drought and the bottom dropped out
My father was broken like the rest
And I can still see his hands pining over his lands
And the bankers grow fat on the flesh of the dispossessed

Certain things that you depend upon
There are places I can go to sift the ashes of America
For someplace I used to know
Someplace I used to know
Someplace I used to know

There was a time, a simpler time
When a man could be sure of where he stood
I used to work at the yard, working honest and hard
The hours were long but the pay was oh so good

Certain things that you depend upon I used to think were guaranteed
Like the right of every man to work And feed his family
And the faces of America seem so distant and estranged
Have their eyes become too blind to see
How much their hearts have changed
How much their hearts have changed
How much their hearts have changed

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

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(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Fun with Flags ~ Stars and Bars

Greetings Dear Reader,

Once again just my addressing this may step on a few toes.  Please indulge me as I try to resolve this issue in my own mind.  I assure you that I am sensitive to those who find the topic offensive but my intent is honest analysis and not to offend anyone.

When the controversy erupted over the use of the Stainless Banner by racist and hateful people our society demanded that it be removed from all government use.  The issue of slavery was presented as the reason that this symbol is so offensive.  What seems ironic to me is that the demands violated the other major issue of southern succession that has never been properly addressed.

Slavery is wrong, full stop.   The South was correct, however, on the issue of the rights of individual states to determine most of their own laws.  We see this evident in the current changes from state to state over marijuana laws.  When we think about the issue of the legalization of marijuana we are all for state’s rights.   Why then are we hypocritical about other things.

I agree that it may be time for the Stainless Banner to be permanently furled by official government offices.  It is not, however, the right of anyone to oppress a state into that action.  If we are going to allow states to self-determine based on the will of the people then we must be consistent as long as those laws do not violate human rights. 

I have long understood why this flag is offensive to some.  It is a part of my heritage having grown up in the South.  That does not mean that I embrace the idea of it being a symbol that should be used today.  I think that if we want to accomplish this, however, we need to do so with honest conversation that recognizes the rights of others to choose.  The honey versus vinegar idea applies.

The other thing we must do to be consistent is to recognize that the Stainless Banner is not the same thing as the Stars and Bars.  In fact, if one does a little research into the history of Confederate flags there are several that we will still see in common use in some forms.  If we are going to call for all Confederate flags to disappear, it is a larger task than we realize.

What I must consider is if the flag I wave is offensive by what it symbolizes.  If it is, and that offence has merit then I should not wave it.  If, however, you demand that I abandon a flag you must help me understand why your feelings supersede my freedom to choose.  I will always be sensitive to the offense that things cause.  I will not be manipulated by the easily offended.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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Fun with Flags ~ The Christian Flag

Greetings Dear Reader,

Before you dismiss this as irrelevant to you, please give me a moment.  I promise that this is not going to be without something for you to carry.  I am starting with this one because if we are going to have a banner it needs to be one that communicates and one that we are worthy to carry.

First a little bit of history.  The flag was conceived by Charles C. Overton in 1897.  It was adopted by the National Council of Churches in 1942.  As with every flag the colours and symbol have meaning. 

“The ground is white, representing peace, purity and innocence. In the upper corner is a blue square, the color of the unclouded sky, emblematic of heaven, the home of the Christian; also, a symbol of faith and trust. in the center of the blue is the cross, the ensign and chosen symbol of Christianity: the cross is red, typical of Christ's blood.”

So what?  So, if anyone is going to wave this flag he or she had better be ready to stand for its meaning.  Like the term “Christian”, I do not believe that the flag any longer communicates what one would wish.  To many it is a symbol of hypocrisy, bigotry, and hatred.  I am not saying that this is true, but to many, perception is reality.

Those who claim to follow Christ must act like it.  If I am going wave this flag I had better represent peace, purity, faith, trust, and Jesus.  I do believe.  I do try to live the love and peace of the Gospel.  I am also flawed and crooked.  I cannot wave this flag and ask others to see me.  The flag is not bad.  I wonder if we should hold off on unfurling it until our actions earn us the right to do so.

I can be kind, generous, and loving.  I can help those in need and seek justice for everyone.  If I do the good things that the Gospel of Jesus requires then I do not need to engage in flag waving.  If I am working out the Gospel in my life and in the lives of others then my hands are too busy to hold a flag anyway.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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Fun with Flags ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

If you have not seen The Big Bang Theory then you will not get the reference above.  Here is the first installment from the show within the show, Fun With Flags.  It is funny and also informative.  It also triggers some sardonic thoughts in my mind.

We wave our flags for the things we support.  Whether political, social, or spiritual we look for those who rally around that flag we wave.  We wave it to proclaim our loyalty and draw in those who are loyal to our causes as well. 

I ponder the good of flags.  I dwell on where the lines of loyalty should be and what is included or excluded by that loyalty.  I consider what flags I wave and what they communicate.   Some flags are a part of my heritage and others I have adopted on my own.

It is vital that I know what the reasons are for every flag I support, salute, or wave.  Some flags I cannot support.  Some are soiled but I still support the ideal in which they were conceived.  The idea of flags is a good one but I must consider the ones I value and why. 

As I raise each one to consider it I ask for your company Dear Reader.  I request that you share your thoughts and questions with me along the way.   This part of the journey is serious but not somber.  Let us have some fun with flags.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Contacts for Aramis Thorn:

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