What So Proudly We Hailed

Illustration by Shaina Rubin

The American flag is more than a national symbol. It embodies the hopes and dreams of all peoples who pursue a world unfettered by the yoke of oppressive governments—dreams in which laws are expunged of intolerance, borders freed from the dissonance of violence, and inequality abolished. It is the banner of those who survey the world landscape and, for all the good that prevails, remain deeply unsatisfied while the forces of economic hardship, ethnic upheaval, and crude repression torment humankind.

But the meaning behind symbols—even one as universally powerful as the American flag—remains dynamic and in flux, constantly vulnerable to new interpretations based on the actions of the nations they represent. Over the past five years, the United States has exposed its flag to undignified associations. The Iraq War has claimed the lives of over 4,000 American soldiers and over one million Iraqi civilians. It has given occasion to the defense of abhorrent acts of torture through gnarled legal justifications. It has called into question the national commitment to the ideals codified by the Bill of Rights, as fear has prompted a swift and reflexive relinquishment of civil liberties. All of these policies and more desecrate the flag and allow it to be mutated into an object of cynicism and a symbol brandished by those who wish for the destruction of the United States along with the good principles on which it was established.

Individual freedoms, human rights, democracy—these are the foundations of this nation. The American people must hold steadfast and remain vigilant throughout these assaults on the flag. If policymakers lack the courage or moral fiber to blot out these stains, then citizens must rise to the flag’s defense. We alone cannot bring to a halt the destructive policies that malign the flag, but we can boldly speak out against these transgressions and forcefully acknowledge their repugnance. Only by confronting our national wrongdoing can we repair the flag and bolster it against improper associations. Silence while our government enacts policies that undermine the core values of this nation is not patriotic—it is not virtuous. We must dispose of the incorrect assumption that Americans are willing to set aside any value, any principle, and any liberty for the sake of temporary security.

Therefore, the Columbia University College Democrats commemorate five years—one quarter of our life—devoted to an unjust war by acknowledging and speaking out against not just the war itself, but the accompanying transgressive policies at home and abroad that continue to contribute to the nation’s growing moral atrophy. This afternoon, we will wash American flags at the sundial so that we can begin the process of restoring and preserving the integrity of our national symbol. Clearly, our actions are symbolic. Only our elected officials can concretely correct the course that has tarnished the flag’s image. But on this anniversary of the war, we wish to convey our raw emotions and horror at the toll that five years of damaging policies have wrought on the country’s image. Failure to sufficiently demonstrate our collective disgust for the past five years degrades the principles for which our troops have valiantly put their lives on the line.

We understand the sentiments of those who are offended by our chosen method of conveying our message. It would be untruthful to pretend that this vehicle of activism enjoys the support of every student on this campus or even every member of our organization. We consciously chose a controversial means to address these issues because we want this university and this nation to think more deeply about the blight the war and its satellite policies have fomented. This demonstration adheres strictly to the specifications of the U.S. flag code and New York flag desecration statutes. Washing flags is recommended by dozens of organizations that provide guidance on flag care. In fact, most dry cleaners will wash American flags at no cost in order to promote responsible flag care. Granted, we are washing intangible filth from our flags instead of physical dirt, but we have taken the utmost care to ensure that our actions comply with all guidelines regarding appropriate use of the flag and reflect our deepest respect for our national symbol.

Above all, we hope that today’s event and other symbolic acts around the country send the signal to the Democratic presidential candidates that this is no time for temerity or vague commitments, but rather a time for a bold and concrete revocation of the dangerous policies that the Bush administration has produced. The stakes could not be higher in this election—it is a clear choice between a continuation of the agenda which has stained the flag and two candidates who have each courageously fought in Congress to defund the war. But neither of the Democratic candidates has been vocal enough in outlining their commitment to undo the myriad assaults on the country’s national image. The Democratic Party is blessed with two excellent candidates, but they can be better and they should be better if they wish to offer a true alternative to Senator McCain. We challenge the Democratic candidates to take up the cause we outline today and begin the process of restoring the integrity of the flag.

The author is a Columbia College sophomore majoring in political science and history. He is the media director for the Columbia University College Democrats.