I love the informed use of the double meaning in a phrase. A picture says a thousand words and the same is true for mental pictures. Each of us conjures up images and meanings and the use of double meanings just seems to get the thought juices flowing.
The other day, I noticed an American flag sticker in the back window of a car—a car that has spent a lot of time in the sun. The words “These Colors Don’t Run” were faded as was the flag itself. As I thought about the use of the word “colors” to represent the flag of our country—and “run” to mean we don’t run, but stand and fight for the freedoms those colors stand for, it occurred to me that while they don’t run, as in run together, they do fade. They fade as does our patriotism, our loyalty, our attention to the details that make up our freedoms.
So soon after our declaring our independence from Great Britain in the 1700’s, we were called on again in the war of 1812 to stand for freedom and it was during this time that Frances Scott Key penned what would become our National Anthem. “…And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!” The Star-Spangled Banner, by its very name, lauds the “colors” as standing for freedom and the bravery that it takes to maintain that freedom.
In World Wars I and II we were called on to stand with other countries to defend the World against hate and oppression in Europe. On December 7th, 1941, the sinking of the USS Arizona symbolically called the “colors” to defend freedom from an attack from Eastern Asia.
There have always been and will always be threats against freedom—calls to put the color back in our cheeks and the color back in our flag. We must not let our colors fade. We must remember, we must be on guard, we must be prepared.
These colors don’t run, so let’s not allow the enemies of freedom and human rights lull us into a false sense of security, convince us that all is well, and lure us into giving up our freedoms. Don’t fade in the stretch.
This Veterans Day, and always, remember, support, say thank you to those who have given for your freedoms, my freedoms, and those of all who are yet to come.
--mak
The other day, I noticed an American flag sticker in the back window of a car—a car that has spent a lot of time in the sun. The words “These Colors Don’t Run” were faded as was the flag itself. As I thought about the use of the word “colors” to represent the flag of our country—and “run” to mean we don’t run, but stand and fight for the freedoms those colors stand for, it occurred to me that while they don’t run, as in run together, they do fade. They fade as does our patriotism, our loyalty, our attention to the details that make up our freedoms.
So soon after our declaring our independence from Great Britain in the 1700’s, we were called on again in the war of 1812 to stand for freedom and it was during this time that Frances Scott Key penned what would become our National Anthem. “…And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!” The Star-Spangled Banner, by its very name, lauds the “colors” as standing for freedom and the bravery that it takes to maintain that freedom.
In World Wars I and II we were called on to stand with other countries to defend the World against hate and oppression in Europe. On December 7th, 1941, the sinking of the USS Arizona symbolically called the “colors” to defend freedom from an attack from Eastern Asia.
There have always been and will always be threats against freedom—calls to put the color back in our cheeks and the color back in our flag. We must not let our colors fade. We must remember, we must be on guard, we must be prepared.
These colors don’t run, so let’s not allow the enemies of freedom and human rights lull us into a false sense of security, convince us that all is well, and lure us into giving up our freedoms. Don’t fade in the stretch.
This Veterans Day, and always, remember, support, say thank you to those who have given for your freedoms, my freedoms, and those of all who are yet to come.
--mak
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