A school assignment gave me a sad but hopeful revelation of the future...And made me so proud of my own child.
More below.
Over the holiday break my child's school had an assignment to write a 250 word essay about what they feel when they look up at the flag. I admit I was tempted to help him, but decided to let him do it all on his own. I'm glad I did. He made me proud, made me cry, and gave me hope. With his permission, I wish to post it here:
When I look up at the flag I feel sad. I feel sad because the flag is used as a symbol to torture people, kill people in war, spy on them here, and take kids away from their families. I don't think that is what the flag is supposed to stand for. I remember learning in History class about the men and women who fought and died in the American Revolution to give us the freedoms we are losing now. And that makes me sad, because I think we forgot what they did all those years ago.
But I feel hope too, because I hope kids my age and other kids growing up will fight like they did in the American Revolution to get the flag back to meaning freedom and peace and to never have to kill us in a war again. I want to do what I can to help that happen because I love my country and I love my parents who always taught me what I should feel when I look at the flag, and I want to feel that.
So even though I feel sad now, it is not sad at the flag, but sad for what it has become. But I think that if all of the young people in the country pull together we can bring it back. Then when I look up at the flag I will feel proud to know that we brought it back. And I think those who fought for it since the American Revolution deserve to see that too.
It starts with our children. Our young people are our hope for the future, and frankly, I have hope that the future can be brighter if we show our children to care by caring ourselves. Nurture them, love them, guide them, and the seed will grow.
So as the new year approaches I also say to our young people, get involved, care for your country, and especially, learn from the mistakes of the past. And know that those of us who are older and wiser about this life will be right there beside you to help you take our country back.
Happy New Year, and may it bless us with peace.