Stars and stripes

Today is Flag Day. Back in the late '60s and into the '70s, the American flag became hugely politicized, with the left scorning it and the right wrapping itself in it. As someone who has always loved my country's flag, I found myself hesitating to say so, fearing the label of "hawk" or "super-patriot." But several years ago, during George W. Bush's tragic reign, I decided to reclaim my flag. I bought one, and on patriotic holidays, I fly it at the front of my house. I like its crisp red and white stripes, I like the blue field with those white stars, one for each of the 50 states, and as I put it in its holder I think about what my country has given me, what it offered my immigrant grandparents, and the hope this grand experiment holds for my granddaughters and the world. Flawed? Sure. But all I have to do is consider whom this country chose as its president this past November, and I take heart. Three cheers for the red, white and blue.