Note from Team Cho: Margaret returns this week. This entry is from Lorene Machado.
While watching some white, uptight, conservative drone on MSNBC today, I found myself making fun of him in my head. (I was the only person around, or else I would have been making fun of him outloud, I’m sure.) Anyhow, I was thinking internally to myself, “Look at that ridiculous, close-minded fool with his American flag pin on his lapel.” And then it struck me. That’s MY flag. THAT is my flag. That is my FLAG!
Admittedly, my liberal friends and I have a habit of mocking people who display the red, white and blue – be it on their car, their house, or on their person. (Confession: “liberal friend” is redundant in my case. I don’t have any conservative friends, but rest assured that they want nothing to do with me, either.) But the American flag is as much my flag as that conservative drone’s, and maybe I should display it proudly. I am the face of America, too. I am entitled to the inalienable rights and freedoms under that banner, and I am supposed to obey the laws of the land.
My father’s family immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines and they don’t take their American citizenship lightly. And my mother’s father was a proud Major in the U.S. Army. My family literally fought and sometimes died defending America, and they chose to live in the United States. My parents wanted my brother, sister and me to be assimilated, so they didn’t teach us their native language, Tagalog. As a result, I grew up speaking pretty flawless, Valley Girl-influenced, English, as a first, and only, language.
I’m choosing to live here, too, though I cringe at the blatant discrimination – the racism, the homophobia, the sexism, the classism. I want to be part of the force that is trying to make it better. I am SO not an idealist. I’m a very practical gal, who borders on full-time cynic. My friend and I even have a running joke – she calls me “Dr. Cynical” and I call her “Nurse Precious.” But I care about this country, and I think that probably makes me a patriot.
I understand when someone says, “This country doesn’t support me, doesn’t give me equal rights, so I’m not going to do anything to support America. I’m not displaying the flag.” There’s some sort of “American flag equals the current president and administration” math going on. Hey, I’m guilty of it. Before today, I would NEVER consider wearing anything emblazoned with old glory. But I have to admit, I’m thinking twice about it now.
You know, George W. Bush likes to point his finger and accuse people of being anti-American. You’re against the war? Well, then you’re anti-American. And all this crap about amending the constitution to ban same-sex marriages? That’s not just anti-American, it’s a hate crime. Hypocrite. But I think I’m digressing.
Anyhow, people don’t look at me and think, “There’s an American.” They don’t equate my face with the U.S.A. So maybe I’ll start wearing that flag. Maybe it will be a symbol to the world that I have a vote that counts, too. And I have a voice, and I don’t have to wait until it’s my turn to talk, because if this is truly America, it’s ALWAYS my turn to talk. We have to take our country back, and with the upcoming election, we have a chance to take a good first step. What would happen if we liberals all started wearing flag bandanas, flag pants, flag shirts, or even a tiny little flag pin? The conservatives would be really confused and pissed off, and in my book, that just equals good fun. Maybe we should claim that symbol as our own. After all, it’s our flag, too.
Oh, and just a note to anyone singing the “Star Spangled Banner” ever. It’s “O’er the land of the free,” so please please please stop fucking singing “For the land of the free.” Thank you. -Lorene