Symbols and substance
"I prefer a man who will burn the flag and
then wrap himself in the Constitution to a
man who will burn the Constitution and
then wrap himself in the flag."
- Craig Washington, quoted in Molly
Ivins' syndicated newspaper column,
June 30, 1997
While not recommending the desecration of either, it is important to remember the difference between the symbol and the substance of this nation's existence. People have gone to war and died for the flag, acts for which we should remain eternally grateful. The flag is so important to Americans, because of the ideas and principles for which it stands.
It is a great symbol, a symbol for laws and ideas of such substance that the symbol itself is and should be revered.
And yet it cannot supersede what it stands for - a nation built on the principles written in the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights.
The principles outlined in these founding documents guide our government, and are the standard by which laws are interpreted and enforced more than 200 years after they were written.
While much attention is given to events where the flag is desecrated, if not seen as the symbol or defender of the ideas put forth in those documents, even the flag will be devalued.
They are the foundations of the nation. We are not simply a nation of people on a chunk of land that stretches between the two major oceans reaching to our non-contiguous states.
We could be a small piece of land and a much smaller population, but it would not lessen the importance of this nation that puts principle before wealth, people before government and the law over tyranny. Yet even if we were a small patch of land at some remote outpost, the flag would still be the beacon leading to the place where we say "this is what we stand for." In fact, more than 200 years ago we were that small piece of land.
People around the world will continue to try to get attention by desecrating the flag - many of them may not even deserve our attention. But the foundation principles upon which we have built this nation should be watched carefully and defended in a manner more vigilant than ever. These principles are as delicate and unique as the aged parchment upon which they were originally written. They must be observed, maintained, fostered and defended.
From the President, to congress, the cabinet on to the lowest ranking members of the military, the oath of office or service is essentially the same - they swear to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." The oaths say nothing about protecting land, property and individuals. Those oaths assume that if the foundation ideas are protected, those elected to serve will heed their call to "...establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty."
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