I don’t live in California but I grew up in California and I utilized its public schools from kindergarten through college. I love the diversity, entrepreneurialism, forward thinking, and ambitions of the Golden State. I love that it leads this great country in so many ways and I look forward to California-izing America over the course of the next few decades.
Since I bought a house I have always flown the American flag on holidays. It’s a tradition I picked up from my liberal mother who grew up in the Midwest but raised me in California. That tradition shared by so many of us is a great way to add symbolism to our day off and a little purpose to our usual selfish-laden holiday activities. I’m not a stickler for details on these things though, as I frequently fly the flag for about a week around the holidays, not being exact on the day I put the flag out or take it in. Nothing wrong with that. The Fourth of July may be one day but at my house the flag will probably fly for a week.
Well, something changed this past Thanksgiving and I believe I started a new tradition that will probably last four years (hopefully not more) at my house. I live in a northeast blue state. But after the election I was very proud of my California roots as the state soundly rejected the false and bigoted offerings of Donald Trump. The state of California led the surge of popular votes against Donald Trump. He will never have a mandate in this country. His view will always be a minority view in this country. And that is largely due to the large and beautiful state of California. To me, at this point in time, the California state flag represents more than just the state of California. It represents the popular majority of this country that values diversity, the middle class, social safety nets, strength, and democratic governance free from foreign intervention. It represents the best of the entire country.
After the election I saw fit to buy a California flag for the first time ever. I flew the American flag on Thanksgiving, as I always do, but promptly on Friday morning I took down the American flag and put up my new California flag. And I let that flag fly for a week. I offered no comment to my in-law relatives who visited, about half of them are Republican, and none of them have any California ties like me. But they knew without a word. I offer no comment to the folks who fly a yellow Don’t Tread On Me flag in support of more power for the powerful (whether they know it or not). I fly the flag of the State of California because America is a great country and we progressives have a vision for its future. A vision that includes all of us and includes a better, more progressive future that is more economically and culturally healthy than we’ve ever had. A vision that is supported by the majority of Americans. Feel free to join me in this tradition.