Driving back to Ann Arbor from Northern Michigan on 09/12/01 it was weird and moving to see all the American flags displayed. They were everywhere, symbolic of our unity and pride. I remember thinking I wanted to do the same - fly our flag. I didn't do it right away, and after a while I changed my mind. It seemed like most people displaying the colors were also displaying comments of the "my country right or wrong," "these colors don't run," or "America - love it or leave it" variety.
In the years since, it seemed like the conservatives had co-opted our flag. Old Glory bumper stickers always seemed to be next to "support our troops" and "W" stickers. It seemed like patriotism meant not questioning our government.
Here's something I'm not proud of: a couple years ago, a girl at work was handing out American flag stickers on July 4. She smiled and offered me one. I smiled back and said "no thanks, I'm really not that patriotic." It was a little joke. I got a couple laughs, because it was an unexpected thing to say. But really, I just wasn't comfortable wearing a flag sticker because I was afraid people would think I was a republican.
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