13. W.D.Y.T? (Star Spangled Banter)
EDITORS NOTE: “W.D.Y.T?” aka “What do you think?” is another blog series on this here site. The plan is to make this series a home for sparking conversations. Each installment will feature my quick hitting thoughts on polarizing topics of today. Give it a read and let me know what you think. Let’s talk about it.

I have a love hate relationship wit this dear flag of ours. And that’s ok. I’m blessed to be an American, I recognize that. But being an American has also blessed me with the free will to praise its greatness or condemn it’s failures. To see the flag one day and feel pride or to see that same flag the next day waving in the wind and feel shame. That too is ok. In fact it’s healthy. Positivity reinforces a sense of unity that makes our country stronger. Negativity challenges the country to be better. It’s a balance. And also bro this isn’t just your flag. You can’t tell me how I should feel towards her. So stop that. Ya know and it’s not just mine either. So I can’t tell you how to feel. It’s everybody’s flag, man. This star spangled banner belongs to every American of the past. Every American right here today. And every American long there after us in the future. Like all of them. Good ones and evil ones. We’re talking from slave owners to Apple Store nerds. She represents America completely and honestly. The glory. The sins. The sacrifice. The slaughter. The bravery. The ignorance. The spirit. The apathy. All of it. She stands without bias. I’m probably doing a shit job explaining this so let me put it more simply. Kinda like how what makes us who we are as an individual isn’t just our good qualities alone. That wouldn’t be an honest depiction of ourselves. It’s our good qualities AND flaws coming together that makes me, me. That makes you, you. Did that make a lil more sense? Cool beans. Ok now so to me the flag isn’t any different. It’s a compilation of every little thing that has ever happened and to every single person it has ever happened to in this country. I’m talking like the throughout the entire existence. So you can see the flag covers mad shit. Too much shit for any one person or group to possibly embody it all. It can’t be claimed by some because it represents all. You could be the most patriotic ‘MERICA screaming redneck on a day that the site of her makes me sick and that still doesn’t change shit. Because both of our feelings are represented equally. There’s reason for pride and there’s reason for shame. And that’s ok because no matter how I feel or you feel or anybody feels she’ll continue to flap in the wind representing us all. She’s tragic and she’s beautiful. She’s America’s perfect symbol.
“I’m Rick James, bitch” — Dave Chappelle

