HATING AMERICA and hating our flag, recipe for disaster.
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https://www.christianpost.com/voices/hating-america-and-hating-the-flaga-recipe-for-disaster.htmlHating America and hating the flag—a recipe for disaster
By Jeff Crouere, CP Op-ed Contributor| Tuesday, July 13, 2021
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Jeff Crouere is a native of New Orleans, LA and he is the host of a Louisiana based program, “Ringside Politics." | Courtesy of Jeff Crouere
As the Summer Olympic Games draw near, it is unfortunate that the United States will be represented by so many athletes who hate their country. For example, hammer-thrower Gwen Berry, who finished third at the U.S. Olympic trials, displayed her antipathy toward her country when she turned her back on the American flag during the medal ceremony. As the National Anthem played, she held her head down in shame and displayed an “Activist Athlete” t-shirt.
Any activism should be conducted on personal time, not during a medal ceremony. This was an insult to her country and to the other medal winning athletes who had the misfortune of sharing the podium with her. For such a stunt, Berry should have been immediately removed from the team. Unfortunately, she remains on the team to infect other athletes with her views.
Most of the women of the United States soccer team already seem to share Berry’s anti-American attitude. Recently at an exhibition match, some members of the team turned away from the American flag during the National Anthem, which was performed on harmonica by Pete Dupre, a 98-year-old World War II veteran.
These players, who seem to be competing for the title of “most woke,” also misbehaved during another exhibition match. This time, all team members, except for two, kneeled in unison during the National Anthem while wearing “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) jackets.
The team members showed more allegiance to BLM than to their country. The BLM lettering was much larger than anything representing their country. Obviously, these players do not care that BLM activists have been involved in violent riots across the country and that the founders of the organization openly supported communism while opposing the traditional nuclear family structure.
On Independence Day, the Utah BLM chapter posted an online message of hate about the American flag. In their post, the group claimed that the flag was “a symbol of hatred.” According to these BLM activists, “When we see this flag we know the person flying it is a racist…lives in a different America than we do.”
Of course, these comments were outrageous, inaccurate, and downright disgusting. In response Governor Spencer Cox (R-UT) correctly identified why the American flag is so important. In a statement to the Deseret News, he said, “Our flag represents the greatest country in the history of the world. It stands for freedom and opportunity for all. It has stood the test of time as a beacon to the free and oppressed and too many lives have been lost to preserve that symbol and all its stands for. I refuse to let any white supremacy or Black Lives Matter groups change that.”
While previous generations were taught to revere our flag and our National Anthem, such training is not taking place in our schools today. Too many children are being taught to hate our country, our symbols, and our history. Instead of America being viewed as the greatest country on earth, students are indoctrinated with critical race theory. Our Founding Fathers are demonized, not praised. Instead of being proud to be an American, children are being taught to be ashamed of our history of oppression, hatred, and racism.
It is having a very detrimental impact on the feeling of patriotism in our country. It was clearly displayed in a viral video that was posted on Friday, which has been viewed over 3.4 million times in less than two days. In the video, a young boy on a scooter ripped an American flag from a yard and tossed it to the ground. He was accompanied by an older woman, presumably his mother, on a bicycle. She watched his destructive act, but did not reprimand him, and then left with him. One person commented on social media, “A nation will not survive when society teaches its children to hate it.”
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Even the Marvel Comics character Captain America seems to hate the country. In a new comic book series, this formerly respected superhero claims the American dream is a “lie…never really existed in the first place.” Once iconic American figures start trashing the country, it is apparent that a lack of patriotism is a widespread and serious problem.
Fortunately, there are still many patriotic Americans who love their country, respect their flag, and stand with their hand over their heart for the National Anthem. On Wednesday night, at an NHL playoff game, thousands of fans of the Tampa Bay Lightning, proudly sang the National Anthem in unison. It was a beautiful display of patriotism, but it does not just happen at sporting events.
On July 3, at a Walmart in Haslet, Texas, a group of shoppers spontaneously started singing the National Anthem with their hands over their hearts. It was captured on video and has been viewed 1.4 million times.
Most Americans are not part of this destructive and debilitating woke culture that has declared war on our country. Most Americans are proud of this nation and its history and proud to display their patriotism.
No one should forget one of the greatest plays in Major League Baseball history. It happened on April 25, 1976. During a Cubs-Dodgers game, two trespasses burst onto the outfield planning to light the American flag on fire. Fortunately, before they could succeed, Cubs’ outfielder Rick Monday swooped in, pulled the flag away and saved it from destruction. In the aftermath, the scoreboard at Dodgers’ stadium reflected the views of all patriotic Americans by congratulating Monday for making a “great play.”
Especially at this moment in our history, when so much of traditional America is under attack from these woke and powerful forces within our midst, we need more people like Rick Monday to stand up for our country.
We also need to clearly tell these radicals that you either love this country or leave. Good luck finding a better country anywhere else in the world.
Jeff Crouere is a native New Orleanian and his award winning program, "Ringside Politics," airs locally at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and at 10:00 p.m. Sundays on PBS affiliate WLAE-TV, Channel 32, and from 7-11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990-AM &
www.Wgso.com. He is a political columnist, the author of America's Last Chance and provides regular commentaries on the Jeff Crouere YouTube channel and on
www.JeffCrouere.com. For more information, email him at jeff@jeffcrouere.com
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Rob
1 day ago
Who serves the country more ? Is it the one who gives an honest view of the country including pointing out the shortcomings and failings both past and present? Or is it the one who sees every criticism, every call to fix injustices and each dissenting voice as an insult and affront to the "real patriots" of the country? Jeff Crouere seems to have adopted the, "My country, right or wrong," mindset to the point he sees attacks on the country where none exist. Even Fox News admitted there was no protest by the women's soccer team. No player turned her back on the flag. On the contrary, some faced the flag while other faced Pete Dupre playing his harmonica. They were located on different sides of the stadium. There is little doubt the United States has much to be proud of. There is also no doubt it has its faults. Ignoring those faults - and trying to demonize those who point out those faults - is the antithesis of true patriotism.
Brian
1 day ago
"There I was, the black grandson of a slave, the son of a black sharecropper, part of a historic occasion, a symbolic hero to my people. The air was sparkling. The sunlight was warm. The band struck up the national anthem. The flag billowed in the wind. It should have been a glorious moment for me as the stirring words of the national anthem poured from the stands. Perhaps, it was, but then again, perhaps, the anthem could be called the theme song for a drama called The Noble Experiment.
Today, as I look back on that opening game of my first World Series, I must tell you that it was Mr. Rickey’s drama and that I was only a principal actor. As I write this twenty years later, I cannot stand and sing the anthem. I cannot salute the flag; I know that I am a black man in a white world. In 1972, in 1947, at my birth in 1919, I know that I never had it made."
Jackie Robinson
Perhaps instead of criticizing, we should listen and try to understand? Should we say Jackie Robinson hates America because he didn't salute the flag or stand for the National Anthem? Or was it because he was a black man in a white world (America)?
Aladino
1 day ago
Your ideas and concepts are important and interesting, but very debatable from people who have different views and different experiences. Anyway, thank you very much for not including any word related to divinity, like God, Jesus, etc, to exalt your concept of nationalism because they have nothing to do with each other.
Jonathan
Aladino
1 day ago
We're a country founded by Christians. 52 out of the 56 who signed the dec of independence were professing Christians. Explain why loving God and country is a bad thing.
Anthony Mai
1 day ago
I do not agree with the extreme critics of America, but Christians should not be uncritically patriotic. Even the scriptures point out the sins and failings of heroes of the faith like Abraham, Jacob, Samson, David, and the Apostle Peter. Often Patriotic Americans idealize figures like Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln making them seem like models of wisdom and virtue rather than great but flawed human beings.
1 day ago
I wish to correct my previous statement, I should have said that Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln were historically important rather than great, ultimately only the triune God is great.
1 day ago
In addition to what people have pointed out in the comments, it's worth noting that the women's soccer team did not "turn their backs" on the flag. Some of them simply turned to face one of the many flags that were on display around the stadium.
More disinformation from the Christian Post.
Rich K
Jason
1 day ago
Sorry Jason. That excuse only works if you have haven’t seen the full video. They had no problem facing one Mexican flag during that anthem.
You did effectively parrot the excuse offered by the team in an effort to to save face.
The very America they appear to scorn grants these athletes every right to “protest” as they wish. But I have every right to refuse to watch them as well.
1 day ago
"Any activism should be conducted on personal time..."
That is antithetical to the whole point of protest, isn't it-- to heighten awareness? Also, that would make it 'un-American,' wouldn't it? The nation was born out of rebellion or protest. You don't have to agree with athletes' views, actions or politics, but the notion of telling "these radicals you either love this country or leave" also is 'un-American.' To think: with the exception of the natives, we're all immigrants. What I imagine is protestors, and others like Gwen Berry, don't ascribe to the author's romanticized view of America-- and that it is embarrassing to demonstrate, especially on the world stage!
Question for this forum. Since this site has "Christian" in its name, cite a chapter and verse where Christians, as "sojourners" and "pilgrims," on earth, are implored to "revere" our flag and our National Anthem? How does that square with sojourners like: Abraham, Moses and Paul? How does it jive with Phil. 3:20 which says: "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (bolded mine).
...See more
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24 Bible verses about Being A Pilgrim
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Klaris
1 day ago
My reading of the Old Testament is that fallen kings of Judah and Israel persecuted and killed the prophets precisely with the same attitude that Mr. Crouere is showing towards those who he feels are disrespecting the nation and the flag.
I am not mainly defending people who "hate" our nation--although simply kneeling to protest police brutality would seem to me to be an act of patriotism, of hoping for better of our country--because there is a line that can be crossed where people aim for destruction rather than building up. However, true patriotism (love of country) means that we seek for our nation to reach its highest ideals; not simply to rest on our laurels and fight off any attempt at change.
See 1 Kings 24:13-28, Matthew 23:13-36.
Don Findling
1 day ago
Of course speaking as a Canadian looking from afar I would say that this is nothing new, we watched flag burnings during the Vietnam war, various race riots and during anytime that the younger generation felt they were not being heard.
Much of it is still done by a minority of younger people who knows that it will draw the attention of a bunch of old cranky conservatives (who probably did it themselves 45 years ago).
Paul tells us to be “content” which I would take to understand to mean place your love in God and happiness and contentment will follow.
These authors blow many things out of proportion and generally have agendas which many times are based on fear.
Making love of country a higher priority than God in your life will make you just exactly that a. “cranky old person”.
Michael W.
Don Findling
1 day ago
There is a difference. I was around and even participated in the anti-establishment spirit and protests of those days. That was when idealistic youths and subversives protested against the system.
The difference today is that the message of contention is coming from, and being fueled by, the establishment (i.e. the politicians and the entertainment, media and education elites)
1 day ago
Forced patriotism is pretty much the *definition* of fascism.
Football player peacefully taking a knee vs. Insurrectionist smashing police officer over the head with a flagpole. Which protest is more un-American?
