The American Flag–and the Black Flag

Returning from a trip yesterday, we were on I-70 heading west, driving through Indiana. Atop two overpasses were groups of white men gesturing to cars, standing with flags and waving them at cars passing by.

For context–it was announced that there was an agreement between Democrats and enough Republicans to break a filibuster regarding gun control legislation. This sent the far-right into partisan fury as they declared this to be an assault on the Constitution and their 2nd Amendment rights. (In that regard, read this please.) They said this was the destruction of the Republic, a far-left conspiracy, a conspiracy of One-Worlders…a whole bunch of silliness.

Great. What bothers me at the moment? These people declare themselves patriots–that they respect the flag. They hammer Colin Kaepernick for taking a knee and disrespecting the flag, completely ignorant of the Barnette decision regarding the cheapness of obeisance to a piece of fabric rather than to the ideals the nation was founded upon. The claim of patriotism is the thing that chafes me. Why? Because these bearded white middle-aged males waving their flags in ‘patriotism’ had placed black flags atop their American flags. You’d think people concerned about Colin Kaepernick’s actions years ago would know about the American flag…you see, if you are American, you *NEVER* fly another flag atop the American flag.

_{Exception: At a religious service held at sea, the flag representing the faith of the presiding clergymember may be raised and placed above the American flag for the duration of the service.}

So you already have these so-called patriots disrespecting the American flag–but it is actually far, far worse than that.

The black flag is the traditional flag of anarchy and defiance of the law. The black flag is the flag of defiance–and a signal of the intent to use violence for that individual/group’s agenda. No shock then that for 150 years, this has been the flag of anarchists. It is a rejection of the rule of law. It is a rejection of the concept of a nation-state…which is hilarious if you remember they claim to be defending the Constitution, the primary document of the United States’ governmental system.

We have reached the point where there is no fear within the groups who stand opposed to the rule of law and the functioning of the American system of government. They happily break the same laws and regulations that they demand others follow. This has been done before (Germany 1933-45).

Ultimately, this means this is not really about a constitutional amendment or the Bill of Rights. This is about a refusal to be part of civil society. Whether you are left or right, supporting men such as this and what they do signals that you, too, are a danger to the United States.

So when you see those black flags in the coming days and weeks–remember: those people are signaling they are the enemies of the Republic, no better (and probably much worse) than the traitors of the Confederacy.