  Last night, Don and I were watching the news and a town really close to us is having a big fight with the residents and the owners of a tire business on the outskirts of town. The business had a really pretty mural painted above their store entrance of red, white and blue with starts. It was not the flag, but it was a design that made you recognize it was to be a flag. (I don't know how else to explain it. ) They did it when we went to war with Iraq. The city took them to council making them cover it up with plain paint. They did, but now residents of the town are calling the city and complaining--which is, in my opinion, a good thing. I guess on the outside of their building they have one of their signs that says something about the city getting mad about a flag, and now the city is mad that you (being the residents) are calling. The thing that irks me is... the reporter on the news is standing right outside the building and as she is doing the report, the camera pans the building. Hanging on a light pole in front of the building is a banner from the city promoting a festival or something.
It has an American flag design on it--- and its tattered and torn! This is 4th of July weekend. The most patriotic of all holidays in the USA. I am proud to be an American. I understand freedom isn't free! I understand this country was founded on religious beliefs. It just makes me upset when I hear about stuff like this--especially close by. The town should be grateful they have young men and women willing to go overseas to protect our freedom. Yet, I am sitting here writing this because someone had the audacity to complain about a beautiful mural of the American flag. Everyday it seems we are hearing about someone else complaining about "under God" in our pledge, or "in God we trust" on our coins. I just want to shake them until they get their senses back. I won't say I am the most patriotic person in the world.
Heaven knows, I didn't think we should have gone to war. I think God Bless America should be our national anthem, not the Star Spangled Banner. But, you know, I understand the big picture. People died for me to be able to experience the freedoms that I have right now. We all have the freedom to believe in what we want to believe--- whether we believe in God, freedom or other things.
Whenever I hear the Star Spangled Banner, I stand up proud and think about how free we really are. It's a shame that on 4th of July weekend--or anytime--we have to contend with stuffy minded individuals who can tell a business that they cannot show their patriotism, but can degrade the American flag on a banner. 
