No Flag? No Red, White, and Blue?

I learned something recently that shocked me. It was on social media, but I personally know many of the people posting, so I'm confident the sentiments expressed are real, which makes me very sad.

Our nation's 250th birthday is upon us and I come to find out that a portion of the population doesn't really feel like celebrating. It seems that they don't feel good about flying their American flag or wearing red, white, and blue, and it all stems from the fact that they're profoundly displeased with our current national leadership, with the President's policies and divisive rhetoric and tone. Celebrating the 4th this year, they believe, might indicate support for President Trump.

I do not question their sincerity, their judgment, nor their integrity. Each, I believe, is informed and principled, operating from conviction, compassion, and character. The ones I know are both Christian and patriotic, loving both God and country, in that order. I deeply respect them and their right to celebrate, or not to. That very freedom is a big part of the reason I will unabashedly celebrate on July 4th.

In my entire life, it honestly never crossed my mind that flying a flag or wearing red, white, and blue, or enjoying a picnic and a parade, has anything to do with who you voted for in November. Way back in 1976, I was just 13 years old when we celebrated the Bicentennial on Sunday July 4. I knew good and well I was sitting in church with people who cancelled out my parents' votes. We were less than 15 years from the Civil Rights Act, only three years from American troops leaving Vietnam, and not even two years from Nixon's resignation over Watergate. People had really strong opinions and were deeply divided on many things. Didn't matter. We were Americans, one and all, and people the nation over celebrated, regardless of what they thought about the folks in Washington, DC.

I've voted in every state and national election - and most local ones, too - since turning 18. I won some and lost a lot of others. No matter. Once Regina and I bought our first home in 1989, we've proudly had a flag flying out front ever since, regardless of who was living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Why? Because that flag and its red, white, and blue are not the property of any party or President, but of this nation. Donald Trump, nor any other President, has the power to keep our flag rolled up and tucked away in a corner.

Last Sunday, we visited a church in LaGrange, Georgia. They sang patriotic hymns and the sermon had a "God and country" theme. The preacher's point was that we could love our country - and we should - and we could and should be grateful to God for our country. But, he emphasized, our ultimate freedom comes from Jesus Christ and our ultimate allegiance is to Him. No one asked me who I voted for. I never thought to ask anyone how they cast their ballot. It never dawned on me that the lady in a green dress might have been making a political statement about the present administration. I just figured she liked that dress. Nor did it occur to me that the folks in patriotic colors were actually all rabid Trump supporters. The truth is, all of us in that sanctuary are Americans, one and all, and I'm sure there were folks who love the current President, and those who loathe him. I couldn't have cared less.

So, I hope my friends will have a change of heart come Saturday morning. I hope they'll go to a parade, take in a fireworks show, have a cookout, eat watermelon (or peaches from Middle Georgia!), and wear their red, white, and blue. I hope they'll fly that flag and drape their porches with patriotic ribbons and bows. It's our nation's 250th birthday, for heaven's sake! And together, we can work toward "that more perfect union," regardless of who the President is or what anybody thinks of him. We're Americans, no matter how we vote.

One last thing. Not joining in the celebration won't do one thing toward building unity. In fact, it'll likely do just the opposite. Why? Because skipping out and not participating serves only to create more people in silos, and that's the last thing we need.

And I promise you this - if I see you at a Fourth of July parade, or out wearing your red, white, and blue, or if I pass your house and see a flag flapping in the breeze, I promise you I won't assume you're a supporter of President Trump or a Republican or anything of the sort. I'll just assume you're an American, just like me.