Wave a white flag on Flag Day?

Flag Day seems ironic. This rather lackluster holiday is supposed to be a tribute to national unity. Many Americans don’t even know it exists.

The history of Flag Day dates back to 1865 when a teacher in Wisconsin planned a patriotic event for his graduating students. The teacher, Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand, selected today (June 14) because today is the anniversary of the day the flag of 13 stripes and a blue field of stars was adopted in 1777.

Cigrand dedicated the rest of his life to create a national Flag Day. His idea reaped a huge boost when President Woodrow Wilson declared a nationwide observance of Flag Day in 1916. More than 150 cities adopted the President’s call by organizing parades, pageants and other activities.

Wilson maintained these commemorations would combat “the influences which have seemed to threaten to divide us in interest and sympathy.” The goal was to invite citizens, especially immigrants, to show that they were dedicated to the nation above all.

I wonder, on Flag Day 2017, has America ever approached Flag Day in a more divided way?

We could point to yesterday’s testimony from Attorney General Jeff Sessions. What Baby Boomer growing up during the Cold War ever thought that, as an adult, the nation’s attention would be focused on whether an American President would be publicly linked to the notion of collusion with Russia?

We could point to the growing rancor toward our own Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens. His protectors helped push him into office on the idea of ethics reform, a local “cleaning the swamp” champion. Today his detractors question his actions on campaign gifts. The first-term governor already agreed to pay a $1,000 fine in late April for failing to disclose a charity he founded (The Mission Continues) in 2007. Experts in law now say the governor either violated a federal prohibition on charities engaging in political activity or that the charity itself may have been the victim of a crime.

We could point to lots of things on the public stage that divides America … climate change, health care, racism, gun control, fake news, gay rights, immigration … even likes and dislikes self-published on social media. And so very much more.

Some might say the most ironic thing about Flag Day is trying to understand why some American citizens choose to burn the flag. But to me, this past week, one news story seemed to underscore our malaise of divisiveness all the more.

In the photo, a Warrensburg Middle School teacher stands in front of the White House, both middle fingers held high in the air, his back turned to the camera.

The 8th grade teacher made the image his profile picture on Facebook. Outrage — and robust controversy about whether the teacher should be disciplined for the gesture because he was on a trip with middle school students — quickly ensued. Is there ever a more clear example of inappropriate and unacceptable behavior?

Well, put yourself in school Superintendent Scott Patrick’s shoes.

First, the teacher was not on a school-sponsored trip when the photo was taken. The trip was sponsored by a private company that provides programs for elementary and middle school students outside of the classroom.

Secondly, the visit to Washington, D.C., was paid for by students and the adults chaperoning them.  So, instead of swift rebuke to this deplorable act by someone influencing our youth, his employers are reviewing whether the teacher violated a district policy or if a teacher can be held accountable for a policy violation outside the school environment.

So, here’s a chapter in Pilgrim’s Progress. A teacher in 1865 went public promoting Flag Day for national unity. A teacher in 2017 went public with a despicable gesture of free speech promoting divisiveness.

As you ponder such things, consider what perhaps has been our biggest change. More and more people seem to embrace the divisive. We no longer honor the spirit of the law or even recognize what has traditionally been defined as proper order. Instead, we choose life “my way.” We look for ways around the accepted norm. We adhere only to the letter of law and notions of order, ignoring the spirit of the law and its intended application.

This virtually assures controversy ad nausea, to such a numbing extreme that the avalanche of controversies has become an addictive source of entertainment to far too many.

Yes, thankfully, there are still more things that bind us together than divide us. We are still blessed with freedoms best defined in the motto “In God We Trust.” But mindlessly flying a flag today without at least reflecting on the spirit of what it means to be American and the sacrifice necessarily involved makes all the flag waving ring a bit hollow.

Materially, this generation of Americans has never had it better. Spiritually … well, what Thomas Paine wrote during his days of revolutionary war rings as true today. We’re in spiritual warfare today, and “These are times that try men’s souls.”

Patriotism is a personal matter. Balancing divisiveness while preserving unity demands a vigilance to which we each must contribute. What you do, what you think and share with family, friends and neighbors — and perhaps most especially how you choose to express yourself — matters. Taking personal responsibility expressing opinion and defining the boundary lines you draw in tolerating others matters.

Otherwise on Flag Day, instead of the Stars and Stripes, maybe we ought to consider just putting out a white flag.