Losing Our Way
By Harris Sherline
June 1, 2009
Hardly a day goes by that we don't see evidence of changes in America that portend the decline of our nation's preeminence in the world. Not as the world's only superpower, although that certainly appears to be happening, but also as a beacon of freedom and hope for people everywhere. For over 200 years, this country has been the destination of refuge and opportunity that has attracted the downtrodden and oppressed who are seeking a better life for themselves and their families.
However, over the past 30 years or so, the culture of our great society has gradually morphed into a mindset and a way of thinking that will surely become the downfall of history's greatest experiment in freedom if it is not confronted and defeated.
A graphic example of the situation is described in an article about Debbie McLucas, who happens to be a supervisor at Kindred Hospital in Mansfield, Texas, and -- get this: she brought a three by five foot American flag to work and displayed it in the office she shares with other supervisors, one of whom found the flag offensive and complained to their superior - who took it down.
Before you make up your mind about this incident, here are some additional facts to consider:
Mrs. McLucas' husband and sons are former servicemen, and her daughter is currently serving in Iraq.
She brought the flag to the hospital and displayed it just prior to Memorial Day.
The supervisor who complained is from Africa and has been in the U.S. for 14 years.
Mrs. McLucas was told that the families of some patients and visitors to the hospital had also complained about the flag. (The article doesn't explain how they happened to see it inside an office that is shared by a number of supervisors.)
Mrs. McLucas said she was also told the flag would have to be taken down if only one person complained.
In the interest of full disclosure, at one point in my career I ran a hospital. That said, here are some of the questions I have about this incident:
What could there possibly be about our flag that any American would find offensive?
Was the flag offensive because of its size (three by five feet) or would any flag have been equally offensive? What about a very small flag, say the size that sits on a desk top? Would that also be offensive to some people?
What would the hospital do if a patient asked to have a flag by their bed or in their room?
What if that patient were a former military person, who had faithfully served our country?
Do the people who visited the hospital and complained about the flag being displayed also object when the flag is displayed at meetings, such as Rotary and other service clubs, in stores, at schools, courthouses or other public buildings, etc.? If not, what is so offensive about the flag being displayed at a hospital?
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