Terrified. Enraged. Heartbroken.
This is what it feels like to see and experience what is happening in our city, El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles del Río de Porciúncula—Los Angeles. To be clear, we are not a city on fire and overrun by rioters as some would have you believe. While there are a few bad actors, most of the protests have been peaceful.
A group of friends and I were having lunch together yesterday and discussing our own plans for attending the No Kings protest this weekend. I shared that my husband had ordered us some American flags to wave, alongside our protest signs. This led to a discussion about what flags should or should not be displayed during protests. One friend suggested that perhaps it was better to keep foreign flags at home because it feeds the ill-conceived narrative that the flag bearers aren’t loyal to America or that they don’t want to be here. However, I disagreed.
When there are Irish-American parades or Italian-American parades, when there are pro-Israel demonstrations, the respective flags are waved without problems. No one says, “those people should go back to their own country.” But when a Mexican flag is flown, this is now a problem. What’s the difference? (insert side-eye)
I understand the concern my friend has, but I think we need to face head on the question of what it means to be American. The people who would criticize protesters waving Mexican flags are calling into question whether or not these people are American enough. As someone who has been questioned about what I thought it meant to be American, with the insinuation that the correct version is some sort of assimilation, I think we need to normalize the idea that you can have both cultural pride and be American.
The No Kings protest happens to be on Flag Day. While I wave my American flag, I will also cheer those flying the flags that represent their heritage.
13 responses to “Flag Day”
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Portland, the entire downtown, was painted with the same lawless broad stroke during a time of protests following the brutal murder of George Floyd that was supposed to change everything, or at least move us closer to “justice for all.’”As much as I respect the job reporters are trying to do, the depictions of cities in complete disarray are so often sensational rather than a reflection of what truly is. (Ask anyone—like you—who calls the place home.) You will be joined by people at the No Kings protest who care about OUR country, no matter what flag they carry. That is what matters.
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You’re right—that is what matters!
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thank you from a report from a Los Angeleno, and your thoughtful reflection on flags. You make such good points, about ethnic pride and assimilation. I live in DC and we wait with trepidation for the military parade this Saturday and pray for no escalation. We will have alternate demonstrations away from the parade. Hoping for peace at both locations. And your home as well, of course.
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Wishing you safety!
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Vivian,
I share your grief about LA and the weaponization of our government against LA and all her people. I am worried for our nation. I never thought I’d see a fascist, an authoritarian ruse to power in this country. We’ll have our flag out Saturday and we’ll protest, too. It is the American thing to do.
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Vivian, I am glad to read your first-person account of what I know in my heart to be true and share your despair at the military force parading in your streets. Clearly, there are many other protests, small and large, emerging in big cities like NYC and smaller ones across this country. I despise the lying as well as the threats and military force. To be honest, I have never been a big flag waver, but I just ordered one and will fly it in protest praying for peace in your city and state as well as for an end to this authoritarian regime that has gone way, way too far.
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Thank you for sharing, Anita. Let’s all hope that this ends sooner than later.
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Vivian, you capture this so well. There’s a clear distinction people make when they see different flags waving – and not just in protest. On cars, by houses – pretty much anywhere.
Not to mention the weaponization of our own American flag, and the many messages its presence can send.
Your post has me thinking about so much here – not the least of which is Flag Day. I’ve always flown my flag on June 14. And this year? Well…I don’t know. It’s also the day of the military parade. And I’ll be darned if I’m going to give the impression that it’s something to celebrate.
So…I’m torn. I’ll probably fly it as a way of keeping my claim on its symbolism, but I’m not going to lie. I’m resentful that the two days are now so intertwined.
But I DO know this…you are exactly right about. We need to reckon with this idea of what it means to be an American, and who gets to decide. And we need to remember exactly what you said: we can have cultural pride and still be American.
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Your response is a good reminder that this is a nuanced and complex conversation. We are mostly taking the American flag as a way to keep some claim on the symbol. It doesn’t just belong to one group.
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Social media has been my friend during this “crisis” because I have come across so many content creators who have shown peaceful, joyful, protests with no violence. The police presence? Pictures of them on their phones, eating lunch, talking with each other or marchers. Not the “call in the National Guard” kinds of things we’ve been told are happening.
Coming from a very diverse school, the waving the Mexican flag (or Guatemalan flag as we have many from that country) doesn’t bother me in the least. However, it does bother me when people are offended when other flags are flown. Since when did we become that country? *sigh* But I digress.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and helping us realize that we aren’t alone in our thinking. That is comforting. 🙂
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