Pseudolus/Frank: thank you for your thoughtful comments and you have offered a perspective which at least tries to encapsulate the complexity of this issue (not an easy task).

And I am afraid I will offer what may seem a simplistic answer to your words, which is that, although the flag is a symbol of our country and therefore of the things we often say America "stands for" (such as freedom, pride, courage, individuality, etc.), the problem is that soemone displaying a flag in this time of crisis may be saying one thing, and another flag displayer may be saying another, etc. I am certainly proud to be an American. I certainly do take comfort in the fact that in some communities this tragedy has helped draw people together.

However, I don't wish to display a flag at this time, not because it is not an important symbol, etc. but because there seems to be an assumption that something specific is meant by it. Some people say it simply stands for unity, for national pride, for compassion, etc. Some say it is honoring the dead (then why not a black armband or black flag?) But my observation has been that the flag is at this moment in time, and for MANY, a symbol of a desire for retaliation, for nationalism. We are a very diverse nation. We ae also a very racist nation. The attacks upon Americans on our home turf, Americans whose skin color or mode of dress or religion or language make them somehow emblematic of our "enemy" (do we even know exactly who this is?) has served only to drive us apart, not unite us. Sad to say, the types of people engaged in this sort of profiling out of blind rage or ignorance are ALSO usually the militant flag wavers.

The majority of people displayig flags on their homes, cars or desks are not war-mongers and I know that. But without talking directly to someone and finding out where they stand it is all too easy to make assumptions. And one assumption I see being made over and over again in my community, as well as in the national media, is that waving a flag is synonymous with being in favor of indiscriminate military action. I do not know how to rectify this problem. Perhaps there is no way to do so.

Sadly, some cannot allow that this potent symbol can stand for peace as easily as for war. And because so many are waving it while speaking words of hatred and violence, I choose not to wave it as accompaniment to my prayers or words in favor of peace and justice.

I guess I am saying, thereis just too much confusion out there as to what this symbol means right now. And I remember the Gulf War and the proliferation of flags and yellow ribbons...and the jingoistic slogans.

I am glad our government is so far holding off on any dramatic military actions but I do fear that, within a few days, some major attack will occur and the terrorism will begin anew.