Last time I went backpacking in rural Missouri, the American flag was everywhere. Unfortunately I have come to view the flying of our national flag more an expression of nationalism than of patriotism. And that scares me.
Last weekend I went backpacking in very rural Arkansas. I say rural. In order to get to the trail-head, I went down several small, paved, county roads, and finally turned on a dirt county road which I followed for miles before turning onto a forest service road. I was officially in the boonies.
I had not noticed driving there as it was dark thirty by the time I turned off US Hwy 65 to do the above. However, driving out Sunday, it was daylight. What I noticed when I finally got out of the national forest and back into areas that were vaguely peopled was how many Confederate battle flags were flying or hanging on the porches of the abodes in this area. At least one house had the Rebel flag and a Tea Party flag both displayed.
I probably just did not clue in on it as a kid, but I saw this flag as a symbol of Southern pride. Or perhaps, as an expression of a slightly rebellious nature. It is not how I see this flag these days. This flag has become more a symbol of white supremacy, or white frustration. It has become a symbol of folks unwilling to let go of the past and move into a more diverse future.
All those Rebel flags scared me and saddened me.