Earlier, I’d seen the Newsweek cover that featured a picture of Palin in running gear. I admit that I had a strong negative reaction to it, but it wasn’t strong enough to cause me to actually read the associated article. After all, just how many ways can people point out Palin’s shortfalls? Then Palin took to her Facebook account to complain about how sexist the cover is. Of course the blogosphere and some media outlets are echoing her complaint, yet ALL of them are missing the point that bothered me the most.
Unlike Palin’s reaction, my disgust was at the treatment of the American Flag.
Perhaps it’s a result of my up-bringing. You see, I probably qualify as part of that "real America" that Palin talks about. I was raised in a small mid-west town, the daughter of a steel mill worker and a house wife. I served in the military and paid my own way through school. After that, I worked for various aspects of the Department of Defense for over a decade.
As I graduated high school, the American steel mills were decimated by a combination of prolonged lack of investment by their steel baron owners and the introduction of imported steel. At that time, I’d had over 12 years experience in the various scouting programs, 12 years of saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag in school and had been in several civics programs that emphasized Robert’s Rules of Order and the proper Flag etiquette. With unemployment at rates similar to those we're experiencing today, I opted to join the military rather than hope for a job in my home town.
In the Marine Corps, protection of the flag was emphasized. After all, the flag symbolized what we were training to defend and protect. The blue cannon symbolizes vigilance, justice and freedom. Her fifty stars the states. Thirteen red strips honor the blood shed by the original colonies and the white strips the purity and innocence that we protect.
We were taught that the flag is always to be respected and never abandoned. She should be destroyed before allowing her to fall into enemy hands. She is NEVER to touch the ground (in the event that happened, the flag was to be destroyed in a ceremonial burning). The flag never flies at night unless lighted appropriately and only a storm flag may be flown in inclement weather.
In the Marine Corps, we didn’t once mention a "real American" or those other Americans. Our motto, "Semper Fi" meant always faithful to God, Country and Corps. Protection of the flag, at all costs, was a part of our indoctrination so that we could serve it as proudly as the thousands who’d gone before us.
We swore to defend The Constitution, the one that says that we as a people elect our President. My Christian faith tells me that I support my President because he is God appointed. (Roman 13:1 "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.") My upbringing and military background says that I support my President because he is my leader.
Which brings me back to the Newsweek photo of Palin leaning on a flag draped over a bar stool. It isn’t the first time the flag has been mis-treated and won’t be the last. And, I suppose that, truth be told, I and millions of others have served to protect Palin’s right to relegate our national symbol to a prop like that bear skin draped in the Governor’s office where she once worked.
That was my first and would have been my only impression had she not chosen to whine about some sexist nature of the printing a photo that she herself posed for. Personally, I don’t "get" the sexist nature of the photo, she did pose for it after all. But, seeing that image again, and repeatedly, has brought my blood to a boil.
I can’t help but think how similar her disregard for the flag is to her disregard for animals like the bear that once lived in that skin. Like the bear, who’s hide is now an empty trophy piece to be displayed as a symbol of macho-conquest, I can’t help but feel like Palin is leading her followers to a point in politics where the flag will be left as nothing more than empty shell representing a nation that once was.
Just as I served to protect her right to turn our precious national symbol into a photo prop, I and thousands of others served to protect MY right to express my disgust with her treatment of our national symbol. I would disrespect those who died for my freedom if I didn’t speak up.
Ms. Palin,
With all due respect, in MY AMERICA, people respect the flag for what it is. She is the symbol of EVERY American, be they left, right, liberal, conservative, rich or poor. She’s the symbol that promises safety to the millions who live here and who’ve immigrated here in hopes of a new chance or safety from prosecution. She is the symbol that our military members are fighting and dying for as I write this. She is draped over our returning dead as a symbol of their courage and honor.
The American Flag is not a slip cover for your bar stool and not a prop to be tossed about for a photo shoot. Either treat The American Flag with the respect she deserves or don’t touch her at all!
It is you who owe an apology to all Americans for posing for that photo. And yes, Newsweek owes an apology too... not because they've been "sexist" but because they chose to feature such a disrespectful display of our flag on their cover.