posted March 23, 2003 05:07 PM              

Betsy Ross would be quite surprised to see how successful her creation has become. But Thomas Jefferson would be disappointed to see how little of the flag's real meaning remains.

Charlotte Aldebron, 12, wrote this essay for a competition in her 6th grade English class. She attends Cunningham Middle School in Presque Isle, Maine. Comments may be sent to her mom, Jillian Aldebron: aldebron@ainop.com

posted March 25, 2003 10:25 PM              

"We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another."
Jonathan Swift

posted March 31, 2003 03:40 AM              

A Lesson For Americans

by Mike Dalka

My Grandfather was a glider infantryman in WWII, an advisor in Korea, and lost one of his sons, my uncle Gary Edwards, in Vietnam. I worked in his auto repair station during high school and he flew his flag in front daily. One day while I was sweeping the oil dry out of the bays it began to sprinkle rain. He told me to go get the flag and I said "gimme a second." He said, "It is raining, go get the flag NOW." Well I popped off my mouth about how he should cool it, it isn't going to melt or some such typical teenage comment.

My grandfather is the toughest man I've ever met. He explained once that he thought basic training was some sort of country club during WWII, because he was used to hard work anyway, and at home he didn't have indoor toilets or hot running water! And when I said whatever it was that I said to him, he turned deep crimson and I thought, "God save me, he's going to kill me for talking back." Instead tears welled up in his eyes and he squeaked out "You don't understand what this family has paid for the right to fly that flag." Then he turned his back on me and went out and got the flag. I just stood there feeling like the smallest person to ever live. Those words cut me so deep. I wish the entire country could have heard them.

My two-cents--Yes, the American flag is a "piece of cloth" but it is an "emblem" of our country and it is "symbolic" of our birthright and our heritage of liberty that was purchased with blood and sorrow. I would rather live in America than in any other country. I am proud to be an American and I am proud of our flag and the men and women who fought to keep our country strong. As for the hungry people, etc., I don't know of other countries who have as many places to care for the sick and hungry with volunteers and charity than this country. I'll stop here because I could go on and on.

posted March 31, 2003 12:27 PM              

My sister joined the Army because they told her they'd help pay for her PhD. She graduated basic training September 14, 2001. Just a very few days after an important event here in NY. We have always been a patriotic family and flown flags inside and out all year round. My sister injured her foot badly right before she was sent over in January and could have gotten out of the Army. We all encouraged her to do that. Her response was "this is the most important thing I'll ever do in my life.""We wave the flag so readily in this family, now, like generations before me, it's time for me to back up that flag and do what my government asks of me."

When we pledge allegience to the Flag. We are not "pleding loyalty to a piece of cloth", we are pledging loyalty to Freedom of speech, freedom of(from) religion, freedom to do or say or become anything you want whether the guy next to you agrees with it or not. Right now she is over there defending our right to go to work on a Tuesday morning and not have a plane flown into the building where you work. Your right to not be afraid to open your mail - that there are no bombs, or anthrax or worse. The right to drink a glass of water without hesitation.

posted March 31, 2003 01:07 PM              

aldebron@ainop.com

I dare you.

posted March 31, 2003 01:20 PM            

I think it's time for humanity to evolve beyond nationalistic rhetoric.

There's nothing wrong with loving your home and culture and having respect for those who have defended your home. I'm not trying to disrespect your family members.

But I do think the root of much of humanity's problems is that we can't seem to think in terms of the global community and we get too caught up in celebrating our nation as if we are 'better' than everyone else. I disagree .. we are just different and we should celebrate that diversity.

We are all human and we all have to share this planet and if we don't start thinking of ourselves as one humanity, a humanity that is splendidly diverse for sure (any good ecologist knows that the more diversity a system has, the more strength it has..), but equally a humanity that has ALOT in common across the whole, than we will destroy ourselves, ultimately.

I think this little girl was right on target with pointing out that too many people espouse this deep seated love for the US but they don't do the inside work to try and see to it that everyone in the country has equal access to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The soldiers are willing to go kill and die for the flag but how many of them are willing to volunteer to feed the homeless or volunteer at a nursing home?

I know you two probably will not agree with me because there is nothing this culture of war has done better than convince people that war is the only solution to some problems. That is something that I fervently believe to be false. That's just my ONION though..

I respect that you feel differently and I think that we will both agree that the beautiful thing about this country is that we can say what ever we want. The soldier may go fight in other countries for my freedom of speech and I and others like me with fight here against the corruption in our own government that seeks to curb our freedoms.

Anyways, my point being..I think Charlotte has her finger on the pulse of human evolution and I applaud her insight.
Oh and about the flag being this symbol of US greatness..well, why can't Charlotte and the other children be symbols of the vitality and wonderousness of humanity?

If you insist upon fighting to protect me, or 'our'
country, let it be understood, soberly and
rationally between us, that you are fighting...to
procure benefits which I have not shared...in fact,
as a woman, I have no country. As a woman I want no
country. As a woman my country is the whole world.
-- Virginia Woolf, Three Guineas, 1938

"Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia,
nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood.
But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy,
and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether
it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a
communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice the people can always
be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have
to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the
pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.
It works the same in any country."

posted March 31, 2003 04:56 PM            

quote:

---

If throwing condescending insults & pettying the people you debate with is your way of winning an argument than you should reevaluate your train of thought.

---

I'll promise to work on that one if you do too!
This is exactly the tactic that I've seen you using!
Like I said, we are more alike than you may realize. or maybe you do realize?

Hey..I've never said that I've evolved above humanity..I'm down here in the dirt with everyone else okay? You are inferring such conclusions all on your own.
Peace, brother.

posted March 31, 2003 05:23 PM              

Methinks Leo types pay money for Kitty Litter though.

And even more money for the silica crystals so the poopy smell doesn't escape the box

I love you all, poopy smells or not

posted March 31, 2003 09:09 PM              

Right now, insulting the flag is insulting the military is insulting my Sister. No one gets away with that (except me).

I'm 34. Not too old to remember being a smarmy 12 year old who was just soooo much smarter than the rest of the stupid world. I don't blame her. I blame her parents.

Not everyone who stands behind the ideals of their flag is a rhetoric spewing sheep. That speech of Charlotte's is the rhetoric - from her parent's mouths directly to her pen.

I despise the thought of war. That is why I didn't vote for Bush. I saw this all coming. Daddy was a war monger. And, it stood to reason that Jr. would come in an attempt to finish what Daddy started.

I like your idea of a Global Community. I think it valid goal and I think it could be a realistic one if everyone would play nice. However, like in any group, we have a few bullies.

Car bombing in the World Trade Center
Oklahoma City
USS Cole
Planes into the World Trade Center
Anthrax in the mail.

How many more times must we let the bully beat us up for our lunch money before we take action? Even this weepy watery Pisces/Cancer/Cancer can see we've been pushed too far. Maybe it's because I'm from New York and every day the pain refreshes itself. Maybe it's because my sister is there and I try to protect her with every fiber of my being.
It doesn't really matter. It's done. The President has sent them and we need to support our troops. The CHILDREN of our country. Yes, Children, most kids join the Service right out of High School. Only 6 or 7 years older than this little girl who is spitting on them.

Heaven willing, this will be over quickly. The other bullies will see that we will no longer be so easily pushed around. And, that little girl will never live through days like we have had to.

posted March 31, 2003 09:13 PM              

Maybe Charlotte should think about how she is living in a country, represented by a flag, that allows her to write essays like that.
Do you think she'd get away with that in Iraq? Do you think she would AFTER we liberate them from under the insane dictator?

posted April 01, 2003 11:58 AM              

{{{grabs groin obnoxiously}}}

right 'ere lady!