The subject of patriotism has been a bit unpredictable lately in this country. One only needs to check out the news articles about retail boycotts, cancel culture, or even the latest new concept originating from the nation’s capital to see that life as an American is confusing at the best of times.
I had to give serious thought to what I was doing when considering putting the flag up outside my home. It’s just the standard stars and stripes rendition, though I do have an altered red white and blue version containing supportive messaging which I have not displayed since election day.
The neighborhood I grew up in is not the type to experience negative expressions of opinion–thank goodness–but we already have a block culture which is subtle yet irascible when violated. One example is trash collection, for which the ritual is begun the evening before with the traditional receptacle parade to the curb. The first person to begin the task is met with subconscious annoyance, because others on the block feel compelled to immediately stop whatever they are doing to set their trash out as well. Anybody who holds their waste without putting it to the curb within a designated time frame is considered, well, trashy. Whether the evening plans to be cold, hot or drenching from rainy acts of God, that trash must be on display overnight or else.
Naturally, the reverse occurs once the collections are completed, which is unpredictable since we get a trash truck, a recycling truck and possibly a yard waste collection. Whichever comes first, the cans are either placed respectfully back on the curb or unceremoniously slid within close proximity to the property, possibly landing on their sides in the driveways. These, of course, need to be cleared from the front as soon as humanly possible, because those who leave their cans out are also trashy. It’s an unwritten law, and it’s understood.
It’s also an unwritten law that one should adhere to the current collective feelings of the rest of the block, which is what comes to flag displaying. Those who are away for the holiday are exempt, but the rest of us must judiciously decide what to display while respecting the rest of the residents. We don’t even have an HOA; it’s an unwritten law and understood.
I decided to put my flag out, because I feel that my country is the sum of the good and bad in it, not just a matter of political climate or financial conditions. The block seemed to mirror my sentiments in the past, so I didn’t have reason to doubt it was a good decision.
However, I had one issue blocking my successful displaying of the flag. A while ago I had the siding replaced on the house, and with it came new fascia and decorative finishing touches. The installers apparently did not have a lot of experience with flag pole mounts, because they put mine back upside down. This was the time, I figured, to right that wrong. So with trusty screwdriver in hand, I went out and struggled with four rusty Phillips head screws to remove them and the bracket (which itself shows its age with chipping paint, but that’s for me to handle some other time).
The screws were dreadfully discolored, so I ventured to my late father’s tool haven–untouched for ages since he passed away–and miraculously found four replacement screws with standard screw heads on the first try. It was as if Dad were guiding my hands from beyond. In minutes, with some elbow grease, a different screwdriver and determination, I remounted the bracket in the correct position, and on the Fourth I proudly displayed my flag from the moment I got up until sundown.
That’s actually a written law, so it’s definitely understood.
My next task will be to replace the old one with a more sturdy version less likely to succumb to the elements. That will mean unscrewing the bracket again (possibly) to take with me to the hardware store. I have confidence, though, that I can handle this task. And take out trash on schedule.
Meanwhile, in nearby Philadelphia, the trash pickup is postponed due to a strike, so dumpsters are overflowing with bags of refuse everywhere you turn. On Philly’s most tourism-related holiday. In summer. That is something to cause everybody to react with disdain.
Perhaps they should keep the trash at home for now. Everybody would understand.
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