Since Sept. 11, the citizens of the United States have come together and have tried to demonstrate their patriotism in anyway possible. Cars have flags waving violently on their radio antennas, red, white and blue ribbons adorn lapels, but most tragically of all, the stars and stripes of "Old Glory" have been wrapped around the sweaty, dirty bodies of Americans everywhere.
Citizens want to display their patriotism proudly across every body part imaginable, but don't realize that what they are doing is desecrating and putting the flag to shame. I doubt that the founding fathers pictured their beloved flag made into boxer shorts adorning hind ends or as bandannas to catch filthy sweat.
When Betsy Ross designed that flag in 1776, she designed it with freedom, pride and liberty in mind. It was a banner of hope for colonials fighting against the English, not a tie for Uncle Ralph to spill gravy on.
In times of war, great Americans have treasured and risked their lives to protect the flag, folks like Captain Stephen Driver and Barbara Fritchie. Both lived during the period of the Civil War and both in the South where the American flag was hated by the Confederacy.
When the Civil War broke out, Driver took his flag and sewed it into the lining of a quilt to hide it from the Confederacy. In 1862, the Union marched back into Nashville and placed a small flag upon the capitol.
With there being such a poor excuse for a flag above the capitol, Driver saw his chance to bring back "Old Glory's" pride. He ran to his bed and ripped apart his quilt. At the ripe age of 60, he ran to the capitol and raised his flag proudly.
Legend has it Fritchie was even more daring then her fellow Southerner. When the Confederacy marched through her hometown of Frederick, Md. Fritchie ran to her window and taunted the troops with her American flag. She was later immortalized in a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier.
"Shoot if you must this old grey head, but spare your country's flag." If only more Americans felt the way that this 95-year-old Southern woman did. Wearing a glittered decal flag across your chest on a mini T-shirt does not show that same patriotism, it only shows that you can't find a T-shirt that fits.
If Americans want to prove that they can be patriotic they need to find the proper means to express themselves and the best way is through actions.
If you are a young, able-bodied person then get out and protect your country. Join the army, the marines, the navy or the air force. Instead of pretending that you're going to save the country in your backyard, get out there and fight for your right to freedom. Defend your flag, your Constitution and your homeland.
Perhaps joining the military may seem a bit excessive, but there are other places you can start out. When the Red Cross shows up for one of their monthly blood drives, don't pretend to have just gotten a piercing, a tattoo, or even worse, pretend that you have anemia or some incurable disease. Step up to the needle and give a pint for your country.
Blood supplies are always in demand and who knows whom that blood could go to, perhaps a young soldier serving their country in the ultimate sacrifice. If this seems a bit too harsh, start a food drive for a local food bank.
By doing this you are helping your fellow citizens and making America an even greater country to live in. Maybe some of the food that you raise can be sent to Afghanistan for relief efforts, and who knows what can happen when a few try.
If all of these efforts seem just too much to fit into your class schedule, then simply lose those flag covered boxer shorts, but make sure to correctly dispose of them by burning them. Then go to your dorm or apartment window and fly "Old Glory" proudly to show support for the land that you love.
