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There are five examples of war atrocities committed under the US flag shown below. A complete list would be much longer.
When we stand and salute the flag are we also praising this, as well as racial injustice, etc? That flag is not pristine and does not stand for all we claim- all that has been drilled into us almost daily since birth. The truth is there are plenty of reasons for someone who is capable of thinking on their own to refuse to stand and salute the flag. If I were black, I see no way that I could stand and salute that flag.
As Frederick Douglass said in a speech on July 5, 1852, "The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me."
That was a long time ago and things are still not right for black people. We all have to admit that fact.
I support Colin Kaepernick and the black community in the fight for justice. I love this country, but I am not blind to the fact that we have a lot of work to do to make it right, and I am not in favor of supporting something that is obviously wrong.
This country was meant to be made up of people - families, friends and neighbors, like those out on the streets trying to do what they can to initiate change. We have strayed from that ideal, and our country is now defined and ruled by bigwigs in Washington and the corporations and rich plutocrats that support and direct them, and the people have little or no power.
Which group does the flag stand for? This is not the country our founding fathers intended. The policies and actions taken by this country no longer represent the will of the people. Like it or not, that flag has become a symbol of a country run by interests whose main goal is money, power and control, including control of the people of this country.
We need to take steps to take back control of our country. We can only do so together, and we can only come together when our black brothers and sisters feel that they are on equal footing and have an equal part and equal say in the actions taken.
Work can only start if we all open our hearts and minds and seek the truth. We have to admit that there is a problem before we can begin to seek a solution. I do hope that process has finally started. We all need to do whatever it takes to make sure that the words of Frederick Douglass no longer define the status of any citizen in this country. Maybe then, we can all gladly stand and salute our flag.
1. No Gun Ri, Korea
In July 1950, around 400 South Korean civilians were killed in the town of No Gun Ri by US forces from the 7th Cavalry Regiment.
2. My Lai, Vietnam
On March 16, 1968, the Charlie Company, 11th Brigade entered the village of My Lai, in an area of Vietnam where many members of the American brigade had been maimed or killed by Viet Cong forces, PBS reported. The troops ended up killing over 300 civilians under orders from their Lieutenant, William Calley, who told his men to enter the village firing, though there had been no report of opposing fire, PBS reported.
3. Abu Ghraib, Iraq
In 2004, the world was shocked when photos were released of American soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib. The photos, which showed Iraqi detainees being beaten, abused and sexually assaulted, fueled Arab and Muslim rage against the United States.
4. Haditha, Iraq
On November 19, 2005, a group of US marines killed 24 unarmed men, women and children in the city of Haditha in Western Iraq. Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich admitted to telling his men to “shoot first and ask questions later."
5. Azizabad airstrike, Afghanistan
On August 22, 2008, Afghan civilians who had gathered in a small village for the memorial ceremony of a militia leader were killed by in an airstrike by US soldiers. The airstrike's estimated casualties varied widely between 30 and 90.
When we stand and salute the flag are we also praising this, as well as racial injustice, etc? That flag is not pristine and does not stand for all we claim- all that has been drilled into us almost daily since birth. The truth is there are plenty of reasons for someone who is capable of thinking on their own to refuse to stand and salute the flag. If I were black, I see no way that I could stand and salute that flag.
As Frederick Douglass said in a speech on July 5, 1852, "The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me."
That was a long time ago and things are still not right for black people. We all have to admit that fact.
I support Colin Kaepernick and the black community in the fight for justice. I love this country, but I am not blind to the fact that we have a lot of work to do to make it right, and I am not in favor of supporting something that is obviously wrong.
This country was meant to be made up of people - families, friends and neighbors, like those out on the streets trying to do what they can to initiate change. We have strayed from that ideal, and our country is now defined and ruled by bigwigs in Washington and the corporations and rich plutocrats that support and direct them, and the people have little or no power.
Which group does the flag stand for? This is not the country our founding fathers intended. The policies and actions taken by this country no longer represent the will of the people. Like it or not, that flag has become a symbol of a country run by interests whose main goal is money, power and control, including control of the people of this country.
We need to take steps to take back control of our country. We can only do so together, and we can only come together when our black brothers and sisters feel that they are on equal footing and have an equal part and equal say in the actions taken.
Work can only start if we all open our hearts and minds and seek the truth. We have to admit that there is a problem before we can begin to seek a solution. I do hope that process has finally started. We all need to do whatever it takes to make sure that the words of Frederick Douglass no longer define the status of any citizen in this country. Maybe then, we can all gladly stand and salute our flag.
1. No Gun Ri, Korea
In July 1950, around 400 South Korean civilians were killed in the town of No Gun Ri by US forces from the 7th Cavalry Regiment.
2. My Lai, Vietnam
On March 16, 1968, the Charlie Company, 11th Brigade entered the village of My Lai, in an area of Vietnam where many members of the American brigade had been maimed or killed by Viet Cong forces, PBS reported. The troops ended up killing over 300 civilians under orders from their Lieutenant, William Calley, who told his men to enter the village firing, though there had been no report of opposing fire, PBS reported.
3. Abu Ghraib, Iraq
In 2004, the world was shocked when photos were released of American soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib. The photos, which showed Iraqi detainees being beaten, abused and sexually assaulted, fueled Arab and Muslim rage against the United States.
4. Haditha, Iraq
On November 19, 2005, a group of US marines killed 24 unarmed men, women and children in the city of Haditha in Western Iraq. Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich admitted to telling his men to “shoot first and ask questions later."
5. Azizabad airstrike, Afghanistan
On August 22, 2008, Afghan civilians who had gathered in a small village for the memorial ceremony of a militia leader were killed by in an airstrike by US soldiers. The airstrike's estimated casualties varied widely between 30 and 90.
