By Jeanette Hernandez
Despite the current “Black Lives Matter” movement that is so prevalent, and I would say, is so significant, I will still put my flag up in front of my home this Fourth of July.
The Stars and Stripes has never stood for bigotry or racism. In the early years of our nation, when the flag was first commissioned, the Bill of Rights hadn’t even been ratified. The early founders were more concerned with 13 separate states finding common ground and pulling together. Still the flag was a rallying cry against British oppression. A century later, the flag stood against slavery and the enactment of pivotal anti-slavery and pro-due process Amendments 13, 14, and 15. The flag still continued to wave in these years while the country searched for its moral ground. During the Lochner court years, the country took a turn against labor. Still the flag was there, and through World War I. After World War II, Black and white men died for the idea of liberty symbolized in our flag. When those who lived through this fight returned, they did not find equality but many fought for it despite the setbacks.
In our household, we don’t think the country is perfect. We don’t stand for injustice, racial or otherwise. However, we do stand for the flag, display the flag, and hope the freedoms embodied in the flag will come to pass for all.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal.
Jeanette Hernandez is a teacher and resident of Ventura County
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