Proud To Be An American

I drove around my neighborhood to look for American flags and I made some very interesting observations. There were not many flags around and when they were the majority of them were not flying high and proud. The first flag that I saw was at a small bank and it was on the flag pole, it was one of the flags that were powerful. I then saw a flag in the window of an apartment, but it was a sticker and very small, it was in the midst of other stickers and did not make a strong appearance. Most of the flags that I saw were not the visible either. The flag that made the biggest impression on me was the flag that was completely tattered and looked like it had been through a lot and had been hanging outside for a long time.
During our discussion in class we were debating about when and where it is disrespectful to have the flag present. Some people believed that it was disrespectful to have the flag on silverware or on a dumpster, but I completely disagree with this. Shattering a mug that has an image of the American flag on it is not offensive, but tearing an American flag to pieces is offensive because it is the actual, tangible flag and the real symbol of America. When an American flag is completely tattered and dirty like one of the flags that I saw, it needs to be replaced. I think that is kind of insulting to hang an American flag that is destroyed. In my opinion it resembles vulnerability and weakness and that is not how America should be viewed. America is powerful and strong and American’s should have a lot of pride. The flag does represent that and I do believe that American’s should show that and the easiest way is to always have the flag raised or hung high and completely visible.

This is the American flag that was given to me and does hang in my house; it is not the flag that goes outside though. It is the flag that was flown over the capital and was dedicated to me.

This is the certificate that came with it as proof.