Most folks are aware of the recent dust up about Betsy Ross--or more specifically, the flag she helped craft during the Revolutionary War period. In brief, an image of the flag was used by Nike as a bit of ornamentation on a new running shoe. Objections were raised about it based on its connection to a time when slavery was an accepted part of our national culture and the fact that it has been sometimes used by hate groups. No doubt part of the controversy was related to the fact that Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL player who took a knee during the playing of the National Anthem, was the primary objector.
All this follows on the heels (pardon the pun) of debates about statues of leaders of the Confederacy like Robert E. Lee and the appropriateness of the same for public display, names of streets and counties given in honor of folks who have been discredited in one way or another, and testy confrontations during presidential debates.
The reality (it seems to me) is that we have yet to find a way to deal with our past. As a trained historian, I value our national story, with all its many flaws. Our nation has held out hope and promise for millions over the centuries. But we have also made grave mistakes as a nation, slavery and its aftermath chief among them. As a therapist I know that what happened in the past continues to shape the present. Sometimes very much for the good, but sometimes, very much to the detriment of many.
In some ways battles over sneakers and statues are a dodge. In some ways they are a distraction. When we argue about such things we are just dealing with the surface, we are not really addressing the underlying issues. For let's be honest, we have yet to fully deal with our past as a nation.
Acknowledging our mistakes, acknowledging the ways official and unofficial attitudes and actions have impacted people in years past, and the ways people continue to be impacted by the same, does not make a person unpatriotic. Saying we must do all that we can to make amends for the past is not unamerican. Rather it says, "I love this nation enough to take the risk of talking about its flaws honestly, openly. I love this nation enough to work for a time when its ideals of liberty and justice for all will be fully realized."
It is hard, hard work. And often times it means making real changes in how we live as a nation and as individuals. I love America--and I don't want to leave it. But I would like to see us love it enough to be willing to educate ourselves about the past, and then make the necessary course corrections to ensure a brighter future for all. Yes, it will be more challenging than changing a pair of sneakers--but isn't America worth it?
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