Spinless World

By now I am sure everyone has heard the story of how 13-year-old Cody Alicea was banned from flying an American flag on his bike near his school. I purposely held off commenting on this story until the controversy had time to play itself out.  Unlike most stories of this nature, from the moment I first heard Cody speak on camera about his situation in a calm and respectful manner, I knew this story would have a happy ending. But I never expected it to turn out quite so well.

A wise woman once told me to be true to myself and I would attract people like me. The example shown to the world by Cody and his family proves that statement to be true.

Yesterday, approximately 100 bikers from the American Legion Riders showed up at Cody’s home to show their support for his right to display the flag and to escort him to school. Videos of that support and the events that took place after Cody arrived at school can be viewed here.  Well done to all who participated!

Have we become a society so overwhelmed by extreme political correctness that the rights of the many are taken away to protect the sensitivities of the few? Unfortunately, we have. Cody’s story is not the first example, nor will it be the last. But it does my heart good to see people in this country with enough backbone and good old-fashioned common sense finally standing up to restore and protect the freedoms we hold so dear. Especially those basic — and previously no-brainer — freedoms like displaying the American flag whenever and wherever we choose.

Cody’s grandfather, Robert, says the school was concerned about racial tensions or uprisings because of the flag. Ed Parraz, the Superintendent of the Denair School District where Cody attends classes, told a Sacramento television reporter at KTXL’s FOX40 News that he and the school are patriotic, but their main priority is keeping students safe. He also said the school will now focus on the students who are causing uprisings. Perhaps the school should have taken that approach from the start instead of penalizing Cody for showing his patriotism.

I have no objection to people in this country celebrating Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day or Oktoberfest.  While these may not originally be American holidays, each person in this country has the right to celebrate his or her own heritage and culture. But we must never forget that we, as Americans, have our own heritage and culture and have just as much right to celebrate that heritage and culture as anyone else.

What I do object to is today’s politically correct notion of social justice, which seems to have caused this situation in the first place. Social justice is the concept by which certain groups of people, who have been perceive by some as being historically or currently oppressed, are given special treatment or privileges by way of rules, regulations or legislation.

I prefer to adhere to the principles by which our country was founded, known as equal justice.  Equal justice treats all people equally.

Gary Hart once said, “I think there is one higher office than president and I would call that patriot.” I could not agree more. With that in mind, I would like to take this opportunity to send Cody and the Alicea family a message:

Dear Cody,

I am proud of you and your family for the way you have conducted yourselves during this controversy. At a time of such great social division in this country, you have demonstrated with honor and dignity how all Americans should stand up for what they believe in. It is my hope that others will learn from you and follow your great example.

Knowing that there are kids like you out there helps to restore my faith in the future of this great nation. I thank you for that. I would also like to thank you for something else you have done that you may not be aware of.

During the course of our lives, we tend to get so caught up in our own little worlds that we lose sight of the big picture. We manage to take care of our personal responsibilities, but we sometimes forget that we also have a responsibility to our nation. Not just on Tax Day or Election Day, but every day. It is the responsibility of each of us to ensure that the freedoms enjoyed by the many are never diminished or removed by the few. You have reminded all of us of that responsibility. You have also reminded us what it means to be a true American Patriot. God bless you and your family.

Sincerely,

Ron Walker

Fellow American Patriot