Down in flamers

The stars are melting. The stripes are turning black.\nAmerica is on fire. \nOn Wednesday, the Indiana Daily Student ran an article concerning two 17 year olds who stole and burned a gay pride flag. \nApparently, they each had a big bowl of stupid for breakfast that morning, washed down with an even bigger glass of plucky. Only foolhardy hoodlums are naïve enough to think that flamers can be eradicated with fire. The flag that the minors burned was quite large, roughly 3 feet by 5 feet. Their ignorance, however, had even larger dimensions. \nThe teens felt it was not appropriate to have an American flag in alternative colors because it was "unpatriotic," according to the article. \nSo they lit it on fire! Because what could be more patriotic than burning a flag! \nIt's ludicrous. Burning a flag is about as patriotic as sitting on an apple pie or defecating in Abe Lincoln's top hat. \nAlthough I disagree with the actions of these fire-happy hooligans, I do agree with their dislike for the rainbow-striped American flag itself, called the "New Glory" flag. I believe it sends the wrong message.\nWhile I support the traditional "rainbow flag," the "New Glory" almost implies that homosexuals are striving for an all gay nation, like gay-liens intent on invading a straight planet. The truth is, all we want is equal representation. \nBy giving the American flag a queer makeover, it seems like we are trying to put homosexual rights above the entire country's rights. \nThis irks me hard-core.\nI would be equally as irked by seeing an entirely African-American flag with only black and brown stripes because it is not an accurate representation of American diversity. \nIf we wanted a more accurate gay pride depiction, a flag should show America and a rainbow sipping out of the same chocolate shake. Or, perhaps, helping each other accomplish the frustrating task of carrying a couch down the stairs. \nEither way, visuals of gay representation do need to be made. Because we are not cyclopses or unicorns; we are real. We are vital pegs in the Lite-Brite of American culture.\nWe aren't just hairdressers either. We are doctors and lawyers and teachers and churchgoers and citizens of the United States of America. \nThe New Glory tries to symbolize this idea. \nUnfortunately, for many homosexuals, the vibrant colors of nationalism are beginning to fade, bleeding in the spin cycle of bigotry. Because the flag is supposed to symbolize "freedom," and homosexuals are not entirely free in this country, for me, the American flag's colors still have dramatically different interpretations.\nRed is the color of Matthew Shepard's blood. \nWhite is the color of documents prohibiting us from getting married. \nBlue is the color of ink used to sign stacks of adoption release forms. \nSometimes it's hard to feel patriotic in a country that seems to hate us. Nevertheless, we will continue to fight, live and die for the country we love. Our affection for America, unlike these pathetic homophobic fires, will never extinguish. \nA thousand lighters and a million matches can never burn the fag out of the flag.