Remember what our flag stands for

By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Columnist

One of the issues we've had to confront since the life-changing events of Sept. 11 is that there are no easy answers.

We may wish for them with all our might, force ourselves to find order and stubborn logic in the world, but the scary truth is that there is no black and white, only infinite shades of gray.

We feel a burning desire to do something, to personally fight back, to lend a hand in the relief efforts. At the same time, we are burdened with the frustrating knowledge that there is little we can do. Somebody has to go back to the job of living a normal life and, for most part, we're that somebody.

That frustration, I think, gets played out in less than constructive ways. That frustration, I think, gets played out in trying to draw circles around ourselves and decide who's in, who's out. Being afraid only makes it worse.

So much attention has been given to the idea of "patriotism," of support for America. But in the fervor and instability of the last two weeks, there's been a tendency to bend and twist the idea of patriotism, to fit it into a very small definition.

We're up in arms that a columnist in Oregon called us "unpatriotic" because the number of American flags flying in Waikiki was not up to her expectations. It's easy to label her as uninformed and judgmental. It's hard to admit we may be engaging in the same sort of judgment.

There are many shades to being a patriot. What many seem to be focusing on instead are many definitions of being "un-American."

There is a highly publicized bid-for-bachelors auction going on in town. The bachelors are local firefighters. The money raised goes to a fund for the heroes of the New York Fire Department. Is that patriotic?

There is a downtown church with a poster bearing an image of Osama bin Laden and the words: "Wanted: Dead or Alive." Is that patriotic?

There are people who, for various reasons, speak out against displaying the American flag. Does that make them the enemy? It does, if your definition of patriotism is akin to "school spirit."

It is inspiring to see our town decked out in red, white and blue. It gives a feeling of community, of standing together, standing strong.

The flag is a symbol of the ideals of America, of freedom. Freedom, like it or not, means the guy next to you has a right to say stuff that ticks you off.

Freedom means your neighbors have the right to paint their house purple. Freedom means they can choose to put up 50 flags in the windows of that purple house. Or none at all.

American military forces fought and died for the freedom that flag represents. Let's remember to not only display the symbol, but to respect its true meaning as well.

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com