This letter originally appeared in Mr. Fields’
personal website, Black
Is.
TO: Senate Republican Leadership
FROM: Walter Fields, Citizen
RE: Betraying our Values
Once again, you have proven your unfitness
to lead this nation by trivializing the Constitution with your blatantly
political maneuver to push a flag burning amendment through the
Senate. And while you almost succeeded, I believe the American public,
including many of your own constituents, see your actions for what
it is: a blatant, self-serving abuse of power. And for the record,
don't preach to me about values or lecture me on what it means to
be an American. For some time now you jackals have proven to be
the worst threat to our democracy and the most egregious offenders
of the principles that, though they betrayed them, our Founding
Fathers at least had the foresight to commit to paper; if for nothing
more than to gain political advantage.
Tell me what in the hell does burning a piece of cloth have to do
with allegiance to this country? And, don't insult my intelligence
by suggesting that the symbolism behind the flag conveys it some
sacred status. If you really represent what our democratic principles
stand for, you would not need to hide behind the flag. Rather than
fulfill the lofty ideals set forth in the Constitution, you want
to engage in irrelevant flag waving. At a time when important issues
are facing our country, you waste taxpayer money engaging in a demeaning
debate over an issue that has no bearing whatsoever on the welfare
of our nation. For the sake of scoring a few points in November
you waste valuable time on a matter our Constitution has properly
considered. The fraud you attempted to perpetrate on the nation
with this amendment exposes just how cowardly and trivial Republicans
on the Hill have become.
Spare me with all of your whining and
self-righteous indignation. And don't even think about pointing
an accusatory finger. I should burn one flag for every year my ancestors
were enslaved and subjected to Jim Crow, but still fought for this
country or heeded the call to service; as my great-grandfather did
in the Civil War, my father and uncle in World War II, and my aunt
did as a WAVE, despite being denied their rights. And while I am
at it, I should light a few up for all of those southern Black children
that were cheated out of an education despite the flag being flown
over their state capitols and over white schools that denied their
entrance. And that flag didn't do much to save Blacks from hanging
from trees or being brutally murdered by white hooded terrorists
who proudly proclaimed themselves Americans. So while you gorge
yourself on taxpayer dollars and deem yourselves the guardians
of the Republic, and wrap yourself in Old Glory, perhaps we should
set one ablaze for each child that lives in poverty in this country
while you pontificate on values. Talk to me about the flag when
we have more than one Black senator sitting in the chamber with
you. And if the flag means so much to you then why do you tolerate
a symbol of treason – the Confederate flag – and allow that emphatically
anti-American statement to share a place with the Stars and Stripes
in the hearts and minds of many of your constituents. By the way,
show some real courage and allow Americans to see the flag-draped
coffins of the young men and women you have sent to die in an amoral
folly in a foreign land, return to this country with dignity.
You have become a caucus of blubbering hypocrites,
unworthy of the honor of serving in the United States Senate. And
your behavior is an affront to anyone who truly does love this country.
Walter Fields is the CEO and Executive
Editor of the North Star Network, a Black public affairs online
news portal. He is a contributor to "News and Notes with Ed
Gordon" on National Public Radio and a former contributor to
the MSNBC cable news channel and MSNBC.com. |