A Symbol of Hope

Remembering the Fallen, Honoring the Flag

 

On June 14, 1885 a small town school teacher in Wisconsin by the name of Bernard Cigrand, felt inspired to organize his school in paying respect to the American Flag. The day was chosen to commemorate the day when the second continental congress convened in 1777 and decreed that the flag for our country would be composed of 13 stripes, red alternating with white and that the union would be represented by a new constellation of 13 stars on a blue background. The official day was established in 1916.

Amidst the current state of national turmoil and upheaval, I would like to share some of my thoughts about the flag, our country and my hope for the future.

At the time of the revolution the American states were anything but united. Each had its own culture, set of laws and geographic boundaries. They did share the goal of self governance and so came together to fight the common enemy, the English Empire. Many of our Founding Fathers felt driven by a higher power to establish this land. Our pledge of allegiance references “One nation under God.”

In less than 100 years our nation grew to include 34 states. There was, however, one tenet of society that was not based on freedom, equality, “liberty and justice for all.” It was the practice of slavery and it threatened to tear apart the seams of the nation and our flag. At its root, slavery was born on economic greed, first from the slave traders and also from the land owners who bought the slaves. Many of them were "church going, God fearing” people. I can only imagine the mental gymnastics that had to occur to appease their souls. We know that many convinced themselves that their black slaves were less than human or that they had been cursed by God. These beliefs were fiercely held onto because to recognize the humanity of a black person was an open admission of guilt, it would require serious introspection and change. It was a declaration that they personally had desecrated a child of heaven and were living under the condemnation of God. Roots to such ideas permeate the history of my own religious tradition. It is “the nature and disposition of almost all men,” as our own cannon of scripture declares, “as soon as [almost all men] get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.” At its core, I believe that racist thinking is a misguided form of self justification, an attempt to cover our sins.

The Civil War ensued and stands as a starting point towards true equality among the citizens of our country. The abolition of slavery was a huge step in the right direction but it was only just the beginning. I take heart that this land has always been a land of fresh starts for those willing to try again. Just as the flag has changed to incorporate new states in the heavenly constellation, the deep seeded feelings of bigotry can change as well.  

My church for a time did not allow black members to hold priesthood authority. This was thankfully changed in June of 1978, perhaps a bit late but it was for us another step in the right direction.  In December of 2013 the following was released: "the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse or that it reflects unrighteous actions in a premortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other race or ethnicity are inferior in any way to anyone else. Church leaders today unequivocally condemn all racism, past and present, in any form." I take hope in seeing that not only can policies be changed but that hearts can be softened. We are coming closer to our doctrine that "The Lord denieth none that cometh unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female;...all are alike unto God." It is well past the time when all are alike unto man as well. 

Clearly as the recent events surrounding the death of George Floyd attest, there is more work to be done. I believe that in this land of "equal opportunity" we need to do more of just that, make opportunity equal.  Our ability to get a good education should not be dependent upon our zip code. Educational excellence will serve to the caste system of economic desparity. I think that many of those in need would benefit more from a paycheck than a payout.  I recently listened to a TED talk by Bryan Stevenson, an attorney who has dedicated his life to those living on death row.  In it he said, "ultimately, you judge the character of a society, not by how they treat their rich and the powerful and the privileged, but by how they treat the poor, the condemned, the incarcerated" (and I add, the sick and the afflicted).

That resonates with me. Only when we create opportunity for all races will we stand united. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free," says the inscription on the Statue of Liberty. This image of free and easy breathing is particularly poignant in reflecting a man suffocated to death by a knee on his neck. So amidst all the uncertainties and mountains yet to climb, on this flag day, I will fly my flag in honor of freedom.  Freedoms that have been fought for and freedoms yet to be fully implemented in all sectors of our society.  I respect those who choose to kneel in front of that flag in honor of those who have fallen, to keep their memory alive.  I will chose to raise my flag with the optimism that all segments of our society can stand united, that divisions can be healed and our nation will become even greater in the days to come.  God bless America, God bless us all.