maximus Loc: Chattanooga, Tennessee

I was reading the other day about the NFL players starting off their season by kneeling during the anthem, so I did some research on our flag. What did it mean to those that died for it, and what does it mean today, and most importantly, what SHOULD it mean today.

Here are some facts I found about the flag. I knew most of it already but some I never knew.
The thirteen stripes on each flag are always seven red and six white. Prior to 1916, there was no consistency about whether the flag had six or seven red stripes. No one knows for sure if there was a reason that seven red stripes were chosen, although some may wonder if it had anything to do with keeping the edges of the flag clean, since white shows dirt more easily than red. Not a very patriotic reason, but a very logical answer.

As for the stripes themselves, they stand for the first thirteen colonies. They include:

Virginia (1607)
New Jersey (1618)
Massachusetts (1620)
New Hampshire (1622)
Pennsylvania (1623)
New York (1624)
Maryland (1634)
Connecticut (1635)
Delaware (1638)
North Carolina (1653)
South Carolina (1670)
Georgia (1733
Rhode Island (1636)

Pledge Allegiance to the United States

I pledge allegiance
to the flag
of the United States
of America,
and to the republic
for which it stands,
one nation under God,
indivisible,
with liberty
and justice for all.



The colors were deliberately chosen to represent a theme that our founding fathers felt was important to the building of our nation.

Red stands for courage, hardiness, and bloodshed. Courage because our country is based on the courage of separating from what we once knew, courage of starting over, courage of fighting for our freedom. Hardiness because our founding fathers believed our country will outlast the land that we came from. Finally, blood shed to honor all those who lost their life for our freedom and our country.
White stands for purity and vigilance: purity because our country is independent and is not corrupted by any other country. Vigilance because our country needs to be alert and careful in the choices we make.
Blue stands for justice and perseverance: justice because it is the basis of our country, and perseverance because although our nation is young, we will stand strong against all opposition.

Folding of the flag
Whenever the United States of America's flag is folded, there is a symbol behind each fold and tuck. It is not random, but very purposeful. This is one reason why they will fold an American flag at a veteren's funeral.

They always fold the flag so that only the blue and white stars can be seen. One reason they do this is so that none of the red shows, because it stands for the blood shed. We want to remember the person's perseverance and vigilance, not the loss of the person.

Even the shape is considered when folding the flag. It is in the shape of a triangle so that it symbolizes the hat worn by Revolutionary soldiers. It is because of these men that we have our freedom and our rights.
What Does Each Fold in the American Flag Mean?

Fold One - Symbol of life
Fold Two - Symbol of belief in eternal life
Fold Three - Honor and remembrance of veterans
Fold Four - Symbol of our weaker nature
Fold Five - Tribute to the United States of America
Fold Six - Symbol of our hearts and devotion
Fold Seven - Tribute to the Armed Forces
Fold Eight - For those who went into the "Valley of the Shadow of Death"
Fold Nine - Tribute to womanhood and its giving and nurturing nature
Fold Ten - Tribute to our fathers who gave their sons to protect our land
Fold Eleven - Dedication to Jews and represents the bottom of the Seal of King David and King Solomon
Fold Twelve - Represents the Christian and glorifies God.

Let's look at the Civil War. Not necessairly the union or confederate flags, but the regimental flags were VERY important to both sides. The battlefield was a very loud and smoky place. Shouts were lost and even bugles couldn't be heard at times. Most of the men on either side wore the same uniforms, blue or grey. In the heat of battle, the regimental flag was home to the soldier. Only the very bravest were selected to carry the 'colors'. The saying 'rally round the flag!' was even used later in songs. It was a shame for the soldiers if their flag was captured, so flags were sought after AND well defended.
After the Civil War, and when better means of communication were developed, regimental flags lost much of this importance, but the flag of the United States replaced those flags in importance. The flag has flown over every
military encounter since then. It became a rally point not just for soldiers but for all Americans. Granted, during battle, the soldiers fought to live and keep their buddies alive. But ask any, ANY vet if they disrespected our flag. The flag tells the whole world who we are and what we have done. Americans are honored to stand and and pledge themselves to the symbol of all that we are and all we have accomplished. Our history has sore spots for sure, but look at the rest of the world during those times. All in all we have done no worse than other countries, and have bettered most of them. So we are proud of our country and our flag. At least until recently.

My opinion here: What about today and I mean in the last year and a half? Many no longer hold our flag in respect. Many hate it. Many want it replaced with a gay rainbow flag. Many seek socialism which is against every stitch in our flag. Many burn it in protest, which is their right...BUT...is it the right thing to do? The pledge says 'to the flag and to the republic FOR WHICH IT STANDS'. Our flag stands for America. To disrespect it in any way separates the individual from his countrymen.
So when the NFL players take a knee or raise a fist during the honoring of our flag, what are they protesting? How do police actions fit into disrespecting the flag? Why don't they stand for the flag and then hold up signs protesting police or whatever, as other protesters do? What DO they respect? Not just them but all who disrespect our flag. My opinion still, they hate America. For the life of me, I just don't get it.
For those of us who love our country and our flag, military and civilian, God bless you. Many, many, many, many people have died for us to be where we are today. I, for one, will never forget it.

bahmer

I heard Rush Limbaugh quite awhile back declare that the liberals hate the NFL and football in general because of the testosterone that is exhibited by the big rugged football players themselves and they wanted to destroy it. It appears that Nessa colin Kaepernick's girlfriend is a bleeding heart liberal from the word go. I would not be surprised that this may not be a plot for this very thing and that is to destroy the NFL. They needed a cause and they needed participants that were just ignorant enough to buy into the plan and make it their own. Enter the black NFL player that has been brought up in a ghetto some where in the USA and has at one point in time or another felt that the cops had horased him because of his skin color. That is where we are today and oh before I forget we also have the head of the NFL who isn't strong enough to make a decision and to stand by that decision and that is to stand at attention and place your hand over your heart. If would make the decision and then tell all of them if they don't follow that rule they will be removed from the NFL and they will have to look elsewhere for work it would change immediately. There are no other 15 million a year jobs out there other than football players.