Show your patriotism by flying the flag

Show your patriotism by flying the flag

EDITOR:

Eight years ago, this country was attacked by terrorists using commercial airliners as weapons. In the days following the destruction, we saw images of New York City firemen lofting the American flag above the rubble of the World Trade Center. Many local citizens were inspired to fix the tired flag post or flag pole on their houses or in their driveways and hang their own flags. Townships installed flags on just about any available telephone pole. The next Fourth of July Parade in Boardman was bigger than ever. The Canfield Fair’s theme was “Pride in America.”

This patriotism somewhat continued until the next presidential election, where the Democrats’ strategy was against the expensive war in Iraq and the Republicans’ stance was keeping us safe from terror. The 2004 election polarized us as a nation and now five years later, we are even worse off. There is not a whole lot of good news. Our liberal government is racing to control the private sector at an unprecedented rate. Most of us are letting it happen with the hope that somehow our own situations will get better. An $11 trillion dollar debt has amassed. We all know that this will be paid for from the enormous income taxes hikes that are coming. They will try to fools us into believing that things will be better this way and that there is piece of mind in giving the government our money to choose how to take care of us.

When I was out for a walk in my neighborhood recently, including my own I counted three houses where the American flag was displayed. I don’t fly my American flag for our control-thirsty national government. I fly it in respect for our living veterans and the memory of those killed in action. I fly it for our police and firefighters. I fly the flag not for what this country is today, but for what it once was and for what it can still become. I hope others will think this way and maybe I’ll count more than three flags on Friday, Sept. 11.

MIKE SCOTT

Canfield