BY MIKE CETERA
The answer (or one of them anyway): People most likely to display the U.S. flag at home, work or in their cars. Men are more likely than women to fly the flag as are Midwesterners when compared to people who live in the South.
And less than half of us describe ourselves as patriotic. Happy Independence Day.
So what does this holiday mean to most of us, anyway? Is it simply a chance to grill some burgers, drink some beer and watch small explosions in the sky?
For people like myself who have never been compelled to sacrifice anything for this country, the holiday holds little personal significance. Sure, I'm grateful to live in the U.S., and I appreciate what my grandparents did to protect my freedoms. But I don't really feel any swells of patriotism on the 4th. I think it's because thirtysomethings like myself have never had our freedom challenged.
I recall shortly after 9/11 thinking that the impact of that attack would make it my generation's WWII, my generation's Vietnam. That hasn't happened. Maybe this country won't be able to "win" this particular war unless we are compelled to sacrifice something for victory.
That is quite a sad commentary on your critical thinking skills. If you have to wait until you are affected, it is probably too late. If you can't seem to think ahead, think of potential actions, results, and consequences of various situations...you really shouldn't admit to that in writing.
As the saying goes: A Democrat is a Republican who hasn't been mugged yet.
I flew the flag at my house yesterday, and mine was the only house on my court that had a flag. I also put my flag out on Flag Day, and no one else in the neighborhood did.
I'm a white, middle-aged woman and a registered Republican (although I vote for Democrats occasionally if I agree with their stand on the issues). I love my country, and I consider it my duty & privilege to fly the flag & vote in every election.
However, I am against pre-emptive war. The yellow ribbon on the back of my car says, "Support the Troops--Bring Them Home".
God Bless America!