Patriotism and Pride... Don’t Let it Slip Away.

America.  God Bless America.  Grand Old Flag.  My Country Tis of Thee.  The Star Spangled Banner.  

What do they mean and what purpose will they serve in the future of our children and grandchildren?  As I reflect on my own childhood, I am standing in 2nd grade facing the blackboard with my hand over my heart looking at the American flag proudly displayed in the corner of the room.   Every voice is in unison and every stance is of respect.  I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.    Even at 7 years old, I knew the words.  I recited them every day before starting class for most of my elementary years.  I grew up with two parents who worked hard every day from 8 - 5 to provide for their 3 children.   I grew up in a family where both of my parents felt it was an honor to cast a vote.   I grew up going to the political rallies to hear the candidates and then to have hearty discussion over who’s views were more in line with my parents beliefs.  I grew up knowing that in local elections, you didn’t necessarily vote for a particular party, but you voted for the best person for the job.   I grew up knowing that for the presidential election... you voted for the party affiliation that you felt most in line with your own values and views but also for the person who you felt would lead our country for the next four years.  

As I entered high school and college, the political process started to make more sense as I learned more about the branches of government, the history of the Constitution and all of the values that our forefathers had written for our country to succeed.  I was enthralled with the history of America and even when I had children of my own, there was nothing I loved more than to help them with their projects in this particular subject.  One of my fondest memories, was taking vacations to Branson, Missouri with my family and my parents... going to the family shows where they would sing and dance.  There would always be a segment where they sang songs of patriotism and they asked all of the military and their family to stand and they would thank them for their service.  I will never forget the look on my Dad’s face and my husband’s at the time, as they both stood... and the tears that I felt... stinging to my face watching them.  They were not tears of hurt or pain, but of joy and pride knowing that my Dad and my husband had served their country and were so proud.  I looked around the theatre at all the men and women who stood with their families, and you could feel what being an American meant.  

Now... 3 careers later and adult children making their own way in the world.... I sit perplexed as to what has happened to our country.  I sit wondering what happened to our classrooms.  I sit wondering what happened to our respect.  Every person, regardless of race, creed, gender or religious affiliation has an opinion.  They have always had an opinion.  We have learned from history and we have made changes along the way but somewhere in the midst of those changes, we have steered away from teaching our children how to respect and value the country that we are blessed to live.  Every day, we wake up to a brand new day..... and we all have an opportunity to make each day better than it was the day before... but somehow.... we have thrown away some of the essential tools that our children and our grandchildren need.  

In a conversation with my 10 year old grandson, I asked him if he knew the words to the pledge of allegiance.  He did.  I asked him if he knew the words to The Star Spangled Banner.  He did.  I asked him if he knew the words to Grand Ole Flag... he did not, although he said he had heard me sing it before.  I asked him if he knew the words to America, My Country Tis of Thee and several other patriotic songs.  Again, the answer was no, I don’t know the words but I have heard of them.  This bothered me more than I can say.   Those songs have meaning and purpose.  Why have we stopped singing them?  Why have we stopped teaching our children that is is absolutely NOT okay to sit during the national anthem?   

Last year, a professional athlete walked into a stadium and made a choice to kneel during the playing of the national anthem.   The professional athlete stated that he was protesting to bring awareness to the social injustice of African Americans and minorities by law enforcement.  He stated that he was not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.  Now, please take a few moments and ask yourself this question.  If you have a job, that you are paid to do, and you are on the clock and you walk in and start a protest, would you be allowed to stay on the job or would you be suspended or fired?  Secondly, knowing that a professional athlete is a role model, would you allow the opportunity to use the job as a platform knowing that millions of kids, as well as adults are watching with many of those individuals have parents, siblings, relatives who are in law enforcement.  Some... at the very game protecting the fans, the players and the coaches where this athlete kneeled.  Third...... set everything I’ve set aside.... and think about why you stand for the playing of the national anthem.  Why do you stand with your heart over your chest, with all caps removed?   Indulge my brief history.... Americans have stood for the United States Flag since June 14, 1777, the day the Continental Congress declared, "That the flag of the (thirteen) United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white, that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field representing a new constellation."  (Flag day is June 14th just in case you wanted to mark your calendars.) 

Thirty-seven years later in August 1814, the White House and the U.S. Capitol lay ashes after the British military burned the public buildings in Washington D.C.  In the immediate aftermath, many Americans understandably feared that the Union Jack, the British flag, would soon fly over all of American again.  Three weeks after the sacking of America, Francis Scott Key, a Maryland attorney who at the time opposed the President in office, was so moved at seeing the U.S. flag flying victoriously at the end of the battle for Baltimore’s Fort McHenry, that he wrote lyrics for the Star Spangled Banner, the song, we call our National Anthem.  

I found an article which I am going to quote that was written by Jane Hampton Cook.  As I read it... the words had meaning.  They had feeling.  

1.). We stand for the flag today, not to please ourselves, but to HONOR those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.  

More than 1.2 million Americans who have died because of war.  We stand for soldiers who initially inspired our national anthem, such as William Williams, a runaway slave who later died after having his leg blown off as part of the 38th U.S. Infantry at the Battle of Fort McHenry.   We stand for all of the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, dying for their country.  These brave men and women fought the battles and they came home in a box draped in the United States Flag.  

2.). We stand for the flag NOT to focus on what divides us... but what unites us, which is being an American.   

The name American, is something that every United States citizen has the honor and privaledge of holding as their own.   Regardless of our differences, when the National Anthem is played,  in that 3 minutes, we are all united by one bond.  We are Americans.  Stand UP and be proud of that bond.  Being an American deserves our highest respect and pride.   No matter what race, religion, political stance, team affiliation.... for those 3 minutes, we are all exactly the same - American.  

3.). We stand for the flag not to pledge allegiance to a president, but to honor the reality that we have an elected president.  

By standing, we honor the fact that our country has had 45 presidents.  Our flag represents our system of government, divided by 50 states, the stars on the flag, but united under one federal government.  Just because you do not like the president as a person, as an American, we should respect the office.  In four years, we will have a 46th president, who you may or may not like.  

4.). We stand not because of past or present pain caused by injustice, but to salute the principle of justice.  

The color white in the flag represents purity and innocence.  Red signifies hardiness and valor and blue, stands for vigilance, perseverance and justice.  Patriotism is not pride in the pain of our nation’s past.   It is pride in the principles that paved the way for change, Wester that change was trading royalty for representation in 1776 or exchanging enslavement for emancipation in 1863.  Many Americans have stood for justice for a more perfect union.   

5.). We stand for the flag not for our generation but to set an example for the next generation.  

If we do not advocate a love of country to our children and the generations to follow, then why would our own children grow up to respect it and the values and ideals that America stands for today.  Passing along patriotism is crucial to the future survival of America.  When we stand for the flag, we are standing for the hopes of our children’s future, that they will embrace the principles of patriotism and live out it’s moral truths of justice, perseverance and courage.   

Today, we live in a country where our children are being asked to wear backpacks that can also be vest to protect them from a gunman.   We live in a society where we cannot share our differences without being offended.  We live in a society where if our president that we wanted didn’t win, then he isn’t our president.   We live in a society where one person’s sins are greater than another’s.  We live in a society where children are being taught that law enforcement are being mocked as pigs by a professional athlete who chose to wear socks bearing the likeness, and this is the same professional athlete who chose to kneel during the National Anthem.  

The irony.... this professional athlete recently did an ad campaign for a major sports apparel company, Nike, one who has a storied history of third world labor, including child labor and women overseas paying them pennies per hour, only to have a multi-million dollar contract with this professional athlete to use the words.... "Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything."    I guess Nike didn’t want to mention, that in the late 1980’s, reports began to pile up about kids, overwhelmingly African-American being mugged and murdered by other black kids for their Nike Air Jordans.  Do you think they believe in selective silence? 

The irony.... is that what has this professional athlete sacrificed?  He wanted to raise awareness of the social injustice of African Americans and minorities by law enforcemnet yet, what has he done in the off season of playing football.   Did he work with agencies or law enforcement to create a foundation to better the education of communities on how we can all work seamlessly together?   He stated he felt oppressed but yet, he’s not so oppressed that he isn’t taking a million dollar paycheck?   America... the land of opportunity.   Did he register to vote?   Registering to vote doesn’t take much time or effort.... yet, has he done it?  We’ve had so many individuals who stood for justice and made changes that helped our country become better but they chose to do it in a way that was impactful, not disrespectful to the military.   I read an article by Nate Boyer, who was in the military and in his article he stated that the athlete was not protesting the anthem but demonstrating during the anthem.   Boyer goes on to say that he does not endorse the method but that he supports the players right to do so.  He also states that to him the American flag is not the symbol of a perfect past, it is but the symbol of a hopeful future.  

After reading his article, I would agree that every American has the right to protest but, as a professional athlete who is a role model, the code of conduct should specifically include when it is appropriate and not appropriate to use the place of work for a protest especially when standing for the flag has more impact for our future because in those 3 seconds, we are united.  

As a military family, I do take offense to the kneeling because I do see it as disrespectful.  I was taught to stand for the flag and to kneel before God and in prayer.  I want my children to understand this and I especially want my grandson to understand it.   I take pride in being an American.  I feel a sense of honor to stand and site the pledge or sing the Anthem, and nothing makes me happier than to hear patriotic songs that symbolize our hopes and dreams of a better tomorrow.   I’ve been through 4 deployments and we are currently on our fifth.  Every day, my family prays that our soldier and those deployed with him, won’t be brought home draped in the flag, yet he will be come home standing to salute it, honor it and defend it.  

I stand for the flag out of respect for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives.  I stand for the flag out of my love for my country and for the pride and feeling of hope that I want to share with my grandson and generations to come.  I stand because in that moment, we have no differences.  If you don’t believe me, just do it and see.   

You’re a grand old flag.

You’re a high flying flag. 

And forever in peace may you wave. 

You’re the emblem of

The land I love.

The home of the free and the brave.  

Ev’ry heart beats true

‘Neath the red, white and blue, 

Where there’s never a boast or brag.  

Should auld acquaintance be forgot.

Keep your eye on the grand old flag.  

A Mascot that Endures

Mascots.  High schools have them.  Colleges have them.  Companies have them. They are a way to market a brand while reaching the audience on a personal level.   I live in a small town.  I was born here and I still live here, 53 years later.   Our small town, Oxford is home of the University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss.   

Ole Miss was chartered in 1844 and admitted its first enrollment in 1848.  Ole Miss has a storied history with mascots.  Prior to 1937, the athletic teams were called by various names:  the Red and the Blue, the Oxfords, the Mighty Mississippians, the Southerners, the Crimson and the Blue and the most popular up to that point, the Flood.   In 1936, the Mississippian proposed a contest to produce a new nickname for Ole Miss athletic teams.  There were many entries:  Rebels, Raiders, Confederates, Stonewalls .... and ultimately Rebels was chosen and officially adopted by the University.   

Ole Miss introduced it’s first mascot unofficially in 1937.  Colonel Reb.  Many believe that Colonel Reb was inspired by James "Blind Jim" Ivy.   He was a blind peanut vendor and during a baseball game between Ole Miss and the University of Texas, a student told him that Ole Miss was losing badly.   Ivy began cheering loudly for Ole Miss with his loud, booming voice.  The team was inspired by Ivy’s enthusiastic cheering and won the game.   From that point, he was a campus fixture for the next 60 years and was regarded as one of it’s most passionate fans and was known to proudly tell others that he had "never seen Ole Miss lose".  There is no concrete evidence to support this theory but the stories told lend itself to believe that Colonel Reb has the spirit of Blind Jim.   Colonel Reb made his first appearance around 1937 in the newspaper and the Ole Miss yearbook.   It was an image of a southern gentleman, who in many ways resembled Colonel Sanders without glasses and a red suit jacket.  Colonel Rebs mustache was much more of a handlebar and he walked with a cane.   The image of Colonel Reb has been modified several times over the course of his tenure.  He became the official on-field mascot in 1979 and remained on the sidelines until 2003.  

Colonel Reb was a mascot.  Colonel Rebel was also a prestigious honor on campus.   In 1940, Ole Miss students began voting for Colonel Rebel.  The highest honorary position for male students on campus.  The title had previously been called "The King of Mardi Gras" but the name was changed by the Associated Student Body executive council in the fall of 1939.  The distinction was also made in addition to the female equivalent as Miss Ole Miss.   

During the years of Colonel Rebel, known in the early days as Johnny Reb, fans enjoyed seeing this southern gentleman on the field and stands cheering on the teams, shaking hands with adults and kids alike, sharing his good will.  The role was filled by a male cheerleader and the Ole Miss cheerleading team gained recognition as one of the top squads in the nation.  Colonel Reb was named Best Mascot in the SEC in his first year and he also helped lead the Rebels to thirst and first place distinctions by the National Cheerleading Association and the Universal Cheerleading Association respectively.   He was named SEC Mascot of the Year again in 1986 and was named runner up for National Mascot of the Year finishing only behind the mascot of the South Carolina Gamecocks).  Colonel Reb was also on hand to welcome former President Gerald Ford when he visited Ole Miss in 1981.   He was loved and adored by Rebel fans.  During this time, Rebel flags were flown and waved to the sound of the band playing Dixie at the start of every game.  It was as southern as you could be during a football game.   Ole Miss was rich in southern history and every fan attending the game, waved their flags, sang Dixie and smiled at the antics of Colonel Reb climbing to the top of pyramids, performing stunts and playing along with the other teams’ mascot.  

But with all good things.... change happens.  In 2003, the administration was concerned that the character of Colonel Reb perceived a connection to the Old South.   (Okay folks... Ole Miss is located in Mississippi.  It was formed in 1848.   Colonel Reb was introduced in 1937.   Yes, the Old South was part of our history.  Without the history, there would be no school).   They made a decision to remove Colonel Reb from the sideline at athletic events as the official on-field mascot.   The majority of alumni and fans were upset.   Another contest was held to design a replacement for the colonel.  There were 2 finalists:  Rebel Bruiser and Rowdy Rebel.  Fans were encouraged to vote for their favorite.  There was limited fan response and there was ridicule from rival schools which prompted the administration to cancel the poll.   Colonel Reb was loved not just by Rebel fans, but other schools.  

From 2003 - 2010, Ole Miss had no on-field mascot.  Colonel Reb would show up during tailgating and other unofficial events and you would see him on t-shirts, or other apparel and his spirit lived on through every fan in the Grove.  

In 2010, the University announced it would establish a student committee to choose a new mascot for the schools teams.  After months of analyzing responses and feedback, the committee ultimately selected the Black Bear as the new on-field mascot and named the bear Rebel.  Again, there was outcry from the fans, other schools and Colonel Reb still remained very much at the heart of Rebel Nation.   The Colonel Reb Foundation was founded in support of reinstating the Colonel as the university’s mascot.  This group also sponsors Colonel Reb’s unofficial appearances in the Grove.  The University of Mississippi reclassified the Colonel Reb trademark as historical and still owns it.   The bear was confusing for many as nobody quite understood why it was chosen with no apparent to the university other than there could have been some black bears in Mississippi at some point.  It was frustrating and during this time, the love for Colonel Reb only endured.  

Fast forward...... 2017.    The university announced yet again that the mascot would be changing.   This time... to the Landshark.   The Landshark is a term that was inspired by Ole Miss football player Tony Fein, who wore the jersey #47.   Tony played defense for the Rebels and after an aggressive play on the field resulting in a tackle, Fein threw up a "FINS UP" on his forehead .... almost as a taunt to let the other team know the sharks were swarming.   The gesture became widely known and loved and was adopted not only by the football team but also through-out other sports.  "Fins Up" has become part of Ole Miss and fans know that it’s as much a part of our university these days as Hotty Toddy.   With that gesture and fans near and far throwing up "fins up", the Landshark seemed to be a natural choice, or was it.   Today, the mascot was unveiled at the Meet the Rebels Day wearing the #47 jersey and appropriately named Tony in honor of Fein.  The mascot itself, was a creation of a lizard, shark, alien and something in between.  If you read the information released from the University, they feel they met the expectations with the launch and seem very proud of the unveiling.  If you read the blogs and the posts after pictures were posted, once again, it appears Ole Miss will be ridiculed for their mascot.  

Personally, for me.... I love Ole Miss.  I bleed red and blue.  I love Colonel Reb and he will always be my mascot.  I grew up knowing right from wrong.  I grew up knowing that history shaped our state, our country and our own family.   I grew up being proud to be from Mississippi.  I don’t know how I feel about the Landshark just yet.   At first glance,  I thought, at least he has a tie to Ole Miss, to the school and the kids seem to really like him.   After further thought, I realized that no other mascot will ever replace Colonel Reb.  He’s a part of all of us.  He exemplified all that was good about the south.  A kind, southern gentleman who greeted everyone with a handshake, pat on the back and had a swagger to him that made his personality magnify.   As I thought about this, I realized that one of the issues we have in today’s society is the fact that we get easily offended over everything.  My thoughts are we cannot change the past nor history.  It is part of every single one of us.   We can remove the Rebel flag, we can remove Dixie, we can remove Colonel Reb but they all still live within all of our hearts whether you admit it to yourself or not.  

Hotty Toddy, Ya’ll.   Good Luck to Tony.  I’ll be watching as he throws his first Fins Up in the Vault!