Let’s reclaim Old Glory from the far right

Last week, I received an email from my property managers stating that the American flag displayed outside my Silicon Valley apartment was an “unsightly item” that violated the terms of my lease.

I had hung the flag on my patio on Jan. 6, the day of the insurrection, because I’m a patriot. But I don’t support those who called themselves patriots on that day.

That afternoon, as I scrolled through the news of the Capitol under siege, my eyes were drawn to images of disrespected American flags. In the nowfamous photo of the man with his foot on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s desk, the American flag is cast to the side like a forgotten rag. I wondered how these people, who let the flag drag on the floor while they took selfies, could call themselves patriots.

Grasping for a sense of control as my rage grew, I remembered I had an American flag in storage. Around 3 p.m. on that Wednesday in January, while the rioters were carrying their flags through the halls of the Capitol, I dug my American flag out of the plastic bin it shared with the Christmas decorations, and I hung it on my Mountain View patio.

Patriotism is not popular where I live. In Silicon Valley, the American flag and the word “patriot” are often associated with conspiracy theories, intolerance and ignorance. Even though I’m a strawavoiding, maskwearing, bottlerecycling California liberal, I had been reluctant to proclaim my patriotism in the Trump era, fearing I would be misjudged as a racist or a nationalist.

Before Jan. 6, I was afraid that if I displayed the American flag, my neighbors would think I was a Trump voter. But after seeing the mob brandishing the Stars and Stripes as a weapon, I realized that I’m not the one who should be ashamed. I’m the real patriot.

The note from my property managers began, “This is a delicate situation in the current political climate, and like you, we respect the American Flag.” Then they cited the following clause of my lease agreement to explain why displaying the flag broke its terms:

“CLEANLINESS AND TRASH ...

“4. Only patio furniture and patio items may be kept on the deck/patio. Unsightly items must be kept out of sight. Potted plants must have drip saucers. Clothing, rugs, etc. may not be hung outside of apartment.”

My American flag, in other words, was deemed an “unsightly item,” similar to laundry hanging outside a window. In my landlord’s eyes, a patio could not be considered clean if adorned by an American flag.

This is how badly the flag has been distorted. We mostly see it displayed next to farright banners like the Gadsden flag (“Don’t Tread on Me”), the Confederate battle flag or Trump flags.

I wonder, why couldn’t a rainbow pride flag hang next to the American flag? In fact, what could be more American than a symbol of progress at the will of the people.

I’m aware that I may be on the losing end of this battle legally. After all, I don’t own the property where I displayed my flag.

But I share my story to illustrate a sickness in America. We are literally under attack from farright domestic terrorists. What will it take for liberals to get over their fear and put up the flag?

So I’m issuing a challenge: Calling all liberals! The next time you hang a flag representing a progressive cause, consider hanging an American flag alongside it. Imagine a wave of American flags going up across the country, but not next to the kind of symbols we’re used to seeing with Old Glory: a pride flag plus the American flag; a Black Lives Matter tweet with an American flag emoji; Bernie and American flag bumper stickers on the same car.

This is the real America, a diverse land of endless possibility. Instead of being afraid of our own flag, let’s take it back before it’s too late.