Here in rural America, where I live, conservatives identify their homes, businesses and churches by displaying the American flag. Conservatives also wear the flag as clothing, and display the flag on their vehicles, ATVs, tractors, motorcycles, and lawnmowers. Slowly, but surely the American flag came to symbolize everything I opposed and fought against, and I stopped flying the flag.

The 4th of July is my favorite holiday, and I have sorely missed the ritual of putting the flag out in the morning and taking it down when the sun went down. But I was defiant and kept my flag in the closet and comforted myself with the thought, that someday this insanity would end, and I could fly my flag again.

And then, out of nowhere, for no reason at all, it hit me. The flag had not been stolen from me – I had given it away. The American flag means what I say it means and the same is true for everyone. And so I put my flag in its holder on my front porch and watched it wave.

As you might expect, the American flag on my front porch caused quite a stir. People thought I’d come to my senses, understood my mistakes, joined the Republican Party and become a real American (real comments from real people). No, I replied and assured them, I was still my liberal self, then added I’m not crazy about your flag, but I love, love, love MY flag.

Apparently, the American flag flying on a liberal’s front porch was too much for the extremists. My flag has been stolen several times. My flag has been torn into shreds and thrown on my lawn. The pole has been broken and the flag left lying on the ground. Each time my flag went down or missing, I ordered a new one and hung a paper flag until it arrived.

My flag has gone a year now without assault. It’s a small thing, symbolic at best, but the flag on my front porch makes a statement every day. Each assault on my flag told me that I had been heard.

Sometimes, I like to imagine liberals all across the country displaying the American flag.