The Flag

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Comments

Sophia said…
The flag with the imprisoned hands strikes me as very curious. I'd like to know what it means to you.

I have an idea myself, but might be crucified as being unpatriotic... anyway, I'll say it. Like you said on my blog earlier, "To thine own self be true."

I think patriotism can be good or bad, depending on whether or not it creates division.

I am thankful - so VERY thankful for the freedoms I have - but sometimes feel imprisoned by the label "American", mostly because it seems to associate me with other Americans who don't exactly represent America in a way I'd like to see it represented - that is, as open-minded individuals without any discrimination against religion, color, gender, etc., not just for our country, but the entire world.
6:28 PM
tao1776 said…
When you call yourself an Indian or a Muslim or a Christian or a European, (or an American) or anything else, you are being violent.
Do you know why it is violent? Because you are separating yourself from the rest of mankind. When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence. So a man who is seeking to understand violence does not belong to any country, to any religion, to any political party or system; he is concerned with the total understanding of mankind. Krishnamurti
9:06 AM
Sophia said…
That is a very fitting quote for my thoughts! Thanks. :)
4:25 PM
Sophia said…
Here's an appropriate quote, I think:

"I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world." ~Socrates
11:05 PM
tao1776 said…
Sophia...It may appear to be a play on words but: although I am an American citizen, I am not "an American". Though I study Buddhism, Taoism, etc...I am not "a Buddhist" or "a Taoist".
Does that makes sense?
I do believe that the creation of this democratic experiment that we call the United States is a marvelous notation upon the ongoing evolution of the progression of mankind.
How treasonous, how blasphemous, how arrogant, to believe that a government could be by the people and for the people. That we could be audacious enough to believe that one could form their own view of God; that we could support the separation of church and state. The quest for external power, whether it be Pope, King or Potentate continues under the guise of "the love of money is the root of all evil" big business.
But we press on.
7:12 AM
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