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Are Flag Socks Patriotic?
Today our nation turns 232, if you use my count. I’m counting from date we declared our independence. If you skip the Revolutionary War and Articles of the Confederacy stages, we turned 220 two weeks ago. Either way, July 4 is a day to celebrate.
On this holiday, I plan to enjoy it with my family in typical American style. I will eat too many
hot dogs, watch a giant display of fireworks, and don a very tacky pair of red, white, and blue flag socks.
However, as a mom, I am supposed to be a teacher and role model for my children. I ask you, are my flag socks patriotic?
It turns out that my sock question, like most things in life, is not an easy yes or no. Instead it falls into the gray zone. The answer is no if you adhere to the official Flag Code, which, in Section 8, Part D states, “the flag should never be used as wearing apparel.” The answer is yes, if you abide by the First Amendment to the US Constitution which protects our right to free expression.
Leading up to the holiday, I spent time with my four-year-old, Sarah, to teach her a little about the USA. We even took out our America puzzle and put it back together, noting all 50 states and their capitals. I tried to follow more of the Flag Code approach, taking our country and her history seriously.
Now with the holiday here, I am making it a party. I will be out in the sun too long, eat too much junk food and go to bed too late. I will host no learning lessons. I will try to follow the First Amendment approach by spending the day how I want. Even if that means I wear tacky socks.
My Fourth of July is a celebration of the red, white, and blue, but what I am really honoring is the gray. I think the gray zone is one thing that makes our country so special. As individuals we have our own thoughts; as a country we do not dictate them. As individuals we have a personal heritage; as a country we accept them all. As individuals we make our own path; as a country we provide equal rights. The United States is a special country that, in my opinion, makes room not for yes or for no, but for all of the gray in between.
After over two centuries, our country may have a have a few wrinkles on the surface and skeletons in the closet, but overall I believe she looks pretty darn good. Enjoy a safe and happy Fourth of July!
Gigi appears every Friday on TriangleMom2Mom. Read more about Gigi at her blog Stroller Lane.
Gigi Harrell
Gigi is a TriangleMom2Mom featured blogger, appearing every Friday.
She's a mom of two daughters, ages 4 and 1½. Gigi’s path to a career in writing took the scenic route. She graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Industrial Engineering and a husband-to-be. After a few years of work and lots of play in California, they returned to their roots in the South. They landed in North Carolina where she graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with an MBA. She worked in marketing for a large multinational company, but career priorities changed with the arrival of her girls. She stepped off the corporate track to start her own business. She now works full-time as a mom and part-time running her business and writing freelance. Gigi lives in Cary with her husband and two daughters balancing the havoc and harmony of everyday life.
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In my neck of the woods, we're having a golf tournament, barbecue, golf cart parade (the decorations are amazing!) and a homegrown neighborhood fireworks display that puts some town shows to shame. There are some kids around my 'hood who love the 4th of July more than Christmas!