The American Flag Takes on a Different Meaning

I spent Thanksgiving in North Carolina with my girlfriend and her family this year. We stayed at their house somewhere high up in the mountains of northwest NC. I was thrilled to be able to get away from the busy, fast, North Jersey lifestyle for just a few days. There were around 20 people in the house so something fun was always going in there. As much as I like to have a good time, I do need to get away from the action from time to time just to decompress. The house had a beautiful deck that went all the way around the ground floor of the house. The view of the surrounding mountains and the sunset was asbolutely spectacular that day, so I thought I’d read a book from the rocking chair on the deck while I watched the sun go down.

While I was reading my book, I lifted my eyes from the page to look around at the beautiful scenery. The landscape was so serene, the air so pure, and the sky so colorful, but something else in my view seemed more significant at the time. What struck me at the moment was the American flag waving from the deck. It seemed to me like it was calling for my attention at that very moment.
I see the American flag several times a day, every day, in all kinds of places, just as I’m sure many of you do if you live in the US. Something as ubiquitous as the American flag does not garner attention in every-day life. That particular day the flag meant not only grabbed my attention, but it also took on a different meaning, at least in contrast to how it’s been perceived recently. I love my country, but I’m definitely not one of those overly-bombastic patriots who has a Bald Eagle for a pet and a “Don’t Tread on Me” bumper sticker. But, I felt overwhelming pride in my country at that very moment. I felt internally aligned with what that flag truly stood for.

At that moment, waving with the North Carolina mountains in the background, that flag represented something different than it did back home. Somehow flying the flag has come to mean you align with Trump or that you’re a neo-nazi. I’m not sure exactly how it happened, but the flag has become a divisive symbol instead of a unifying one.

I found it truly amazing that the flag took on the meaning of the context in which I was experiencing it. In a country divided, the flag is experienced as a partisan statement. With the gorgeous North Carolina wilderness as its context, the flag symbolized everything it is supposed to: freedom, democracy, formidable men and women who sacrificed for others, the beautiful American terrain, and the greatest experiment for promoting human happiness.

For a moment there, I forgot about the wildfires blazing through California. I forgot about the disputes regarding masks and the government restrictions on people’s freedoms. I forgot about the daily protests occurring in major cities around the country. I forgot about the reality show that is our presidential election.

For a moment there, and only for a moment, everything seemed like it was going to be okay. I filled my lungs with some fresh, cold mountain air and just felt good. That change in perspective came right when I needed it. I’m not saying I believe everything will be okay because frankly, this is a very concerning time for our country. The only thing I learned from that short experience was not to get too caught up in all the noise.

By detaching myself from the context of every-day life and every-day drama, the flag actually took on a different meaning in my subjective experience of it. That moment reminded me of how important it is to step back to offer myself a different perspective on the path in front of me. Sometimes we get so caught up in what we’re doing that we can’t see the forest from the trees. If something as profoundly meaningful as the American flag can take on a different meaning, so can anything else. In this turbulent time, make it a point to detach yourself from the negativity that is media. Turn off the news. Take a break. See the world for what it is, not what others tell you it is. Misery loves company, and for the news, it’s even profitable. Be it the state of the nation, or the state of your home, it’s important you take the time to look at it differently. What you’re looking for may just be hiding in plain sight, camouflaged by the context surrounding it.