I do love my country

 My son asked me a day or so ago if I had ever been politically correct. PC as many call it today. My answer was the same as always. NO! I do not say things or do things to make me look correct in the eyes of the people I am around. 

With the political climate today, that proves hard to do because you never know when someone might pull a gun or some other such BS because you disagree with something they said or did. People in many instances won't even place a political sign in their yards for fear of retribution in some way. I say bring it on but I am in the minority and unfortunately, the other side seems to just bully people in to being quiet.

But yesterday as I was cruising through my social media accounts, I saw several posts, some positive and some negative about the display of flags everywhere. I tend to not notice because like anything else, I have other things to think about but these people were so angry and vitriolic about Americans who do not display a flag in their yard or on their vehicle or hanging off their head or any number of photos I saw yesterday. Everyone who does not celebrate that way was invited to leave the country because obviously, we are not good Americans. 

The flag at the top of the page is the only one I own. It is the flag that draped my father's casket at his funeral. I was brought up being proud of being an American. I have never, ever, not been proud of being an American but I don't hang a flag outside my house. I don't have mini flags plastered all over my car and I don't stand every time a flag passes by because I would then spend all my time standing and not accomplishing much during the course of my day. I believe there are many who hide behind a flag and not our Constitution in thinking that makes them a patriot. My father took an oath to
"I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." His oath was to the Constitution, not the flag. 

So to all you flag waving, Bible thumping people who believe that I do not love my country, am going to hell because of my beliefs, and should go elsewhere simply because I do not display American flags all over my yard, please refer back to the Constitution, where that right is guaranteed. That was what my father fought for and what I, as an American am still fighting for and will continue to fight for until my last breath. 

I am not quite sure how we got to this point in this country but I sure wish people would stop and think about it. We could actually have a conversation. Ooops, sorry. You don't know how to debate or have educated discourse. I keep forgetting. 

For those who would question what I am saying, educate yourselves and check out our Constitution, especially i: 

4 U.S. Code § 8 - Respect for flag
No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.

(a)

The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.

(b)

The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise.

(c)

The flag should never be carried flat or horizontally, but always aloft and free.

(d)

The flag should never be used as wearing apparel, bedding, or drapery. It should never be festooned, drawn back, nor up, in folds, but always allowed to fall free. Bunting of blue, white, and red, always arranged with the blue above, the white in the middle, and the red below, should be used for covering a speaker’s desk, draping the front of the platform, and for decoration in general.

(e)

The flag should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a manner as to permit it to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in any way.

(f)

The flag should never be used as a covering for a ceiling.

(g)

The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.

(h)

The flag should never be used as a receptacle for receiving, holding, carrying, or delivering anything.

(i)

The flag should never be used for advertising purposes in any manner whatsoever. It should not be embroidered on such articles as cushions or handkerchiefs and the like, printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard. Advertising signs should not be fastened to a staff or halyard from which the flag is flown.

(j)

No part of the flag should ever be used as a costume or athletic uniform. However, a flag patch may be affixed to the uniform of military personnel, firemen, policemen, and members of patriotic organizations. The flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing. Therefore, the lapel flag pin being a replica, should be worn on the left lapel near the heart.

(k)

The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.