The American Flag Belongs to All Americans

My 11-year old said something to me yesterday, that really shook me up. She said: " Mom, can we move to another country, because America just isn't good anymore?" Hearing her say that, really broke my heart. I asked her how did she come to such a conclusion? She said Americans are always mad at each other and she doesn't understand why people are being so mean to President. Even a few kids at her school were upset when they were told they had to write a letter to President Obama. She remembered a few years ago, no one was upset when they had to write a letter to President Bush. She talked about the people yelling at the town hall meetings and carrying the ugly , hateful signs. She said: "Hitler was bad, Obama is good, why can't they see that?" She went on to tell me that one of her classmates dad is a republican.

I said it doesn't matter; then she jumped in and quoted what I've always told her.. "as long as they are nice." I asked her how did she know that he was a republican? She said he has a flag on his car. That was another eyeopener for me. She associates the American flag with the Republican party. I told her that the flag belonged to every American, not just the republicans. I wondered how many children thought this? I realized that at 11, she has lived through 9-11 and two wars. She was too young to remember a time of peace and a time where there was seemingly harmony in the country.

I wanted to tell her that things will get better, that the country would come together again, that politicians would start putting country, before party; that good people would start drowning out the voices of Sean, Rush and Bill. Then I saw a clip of some republicans rejoicing at the fact that America lost the Olympic bid, and I knew that the damage may not be repaired, at least not while Obama is President. So I let her read a letter I wrote to the editor a few years a ago. the letter said:

Some Bush Supporters have told anti-war people to "love it or leave it." Meaning if you criticize America your don't love it. I see America as my mother, father, sister, brother or child. If you're right I'll fight like hell to defend you...But if you're wrong I'm going to bring it to your attention. I'll never walk away from you, even when things get tough...Because I love you. I want you to live up to your full potential and l I won't accept anything less. This is why I have spoken out against the invasion of Iraq, and every single day... I'm proven right..

I doubt reading my letter changed her mind or made her feel more hopeful. I tried to make her understand that your country is your home and just because things seem bad, you don't walk away. You stay and fight and you try to make it right. I asked her what if MLK ran away, where would the Civil Rights movement be today? what if Rosa Parks decided to just stand up on the bus, instead of sitting in her seat? (She wrote a report on Rosa Parks , last year and got an A and she was Harriet Tubman in a play) I went on to tell her that a lot of good people have given up a lot, to try to make this country a better place for her and other children in America. Sometimes the easy thing to do is to runaway or accept things the way that they are. If we walk away the bullies win. I told her to remember that brave people; are people who will not let fear overtake their morality.