The Upside Down Flag
Posted: Saturday, August 13, 2011
by Jack H. Schick
As a Friend, United States law does not require me to swear to anything or take any oaths. It has been that way since 1696, under British colonial law and continuing to this day. A Quaker may instead affirm that what he says is the truth, in the same way the President and other government officials may “affirm” rather than “swear” when the oath of office is taken. I also have a problem with idols, icons and symbols. There is a big difference between a thing and that which symbolizes it. As Friend Robert Barkley said about the Bible: “[It is] only a declaration of the fountain, and not the fountain itself…by the inward testimony of the Spirit alone do we know [Truth].” I may, however, choose to waive my religious rights “under protest” or for convenience of procedure. I won’t be eternally damned for it. There is a lot of individual freedom in the Quaker faith.
I don’t like it when someone desecrates or burns the flag. It makes me mad, but I don’t want a constitutional amendment to prevent it. I emailed my representatives with that opinion when it came up in the Congress a few years ago. I believe that those actions, abhorrent as they might be, are protected by the Constitution of the nation that that flag symbolizes. I don’t see how desecrating the flag does anything to diminish the country. It may insult and anger me and others, but I believe that the freedom to “speak” by desecrating a symbol, an icon actually strengthens the nation.
Randy Sills Sr. of Levittown, Pennsylvania began flying a United States flag in front of his house—upside down. An upside down U.S. flag is the “official sign of distress” according to federal law. Sills said, “We are in distress. I love this country. I just don’t like where it’s going.” Unemployment is high. The national debt is unsustainable. The national credit rating is downgraded. Gasoline and food prices have dramatically risen. Our leaders butt heads over politics, ignoring the people. We’re involve in two (or is it three), unending wars. Sills cites all of these in his argument that we truly are a nation in distress.
Sills encountered some problems by making his “statement,” though. Messing with the flag tends to get a lot of people fired up. Local veterans groups, many neighbors and some people from across the region are outraged. "People don’t respect the flag when they do things like this,” said one. Others reacted: “What an embarrassment! What a disgrace!” “Whatever his reason is it’s not good enough to disgrace the flag.” “Yes, the country is in distress but this is not how one protests.”
There is another side to the debate, too. The law defines the parameters of protest. Looking at it that way, Sills is well within the law and is also within his rights. Some people agree. One said, “This man is demonstrating one of the greatest freedoms we have in America, freedom of speech.” (No, it wasn’t me. But, I do agree).
It may be his right. It may be legal, but Mr. Sills has reacted to the hubbub. His flag now flies right-side up. Some neighbors came to talk to him in a reasonable manner, told him how they felt. “I didn’t want to offend anyone by this,” Sills said. “My voice was heard, I believe. It will stay up there hung properly for the love of our country….”
Sometimes, if reason and rationality can overcome emotions and dogma, agreements that serve the good of the many can be forged. Sometimes a protest can be issued, and for convenience of procedures, a right will be waived. Flexibility, understanding and consideration for others are big considerations for any group of people. Perhaps the reasonableness of Mr. Sills and his Levittown neighbors can be an example for our political leaders. There are thirteen stripes and fifty stars on that flag. It is a symbol of a heck of a lot of cooperation and consideration, back then and now.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)thank you. Your article should be read in Washington. Sincerely Randy Sills SrIt's an honor to have you comment. I hope it was close enough to accurate.
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