The Betsy Ross flag is supposedly a symbol of oppression now. I’m assuming this is because the Constitution was ratified with slavery still going on. The US Constitution motivated the states to eventually abolish slavery — that’s what the 3/5 of a person count for slaves was about. The states received representation based on population and by not letting slave states count their slaves as a full person, it motivated them to set the slaves free. The states wanted those representatives. Their say in government depended on it.
No, this was not ideal. The ideal would have been to end slavery from the get go, but the people of that time were not ready. If the US Constitution had not been ratified at that point, the fledgling nation would not have survived. Un-united, the states would have been subject to future attacks by England and other foreign powers.
It’s easy for us to look back and judge the past when we were not there. Yet I’d say our Founders could look forward on our day with equal disgust. They could easily judge us for other reasons… like a complete and utter disregard for the sacrifices made, a flippant attitude toward our divinely inspired Constitution, the atrocity of murdering millions of unborn children, and ingratitude for the blood spilled that we might enjoy freedom.
We often forget that the nation (set in motion in 1776) with its imperfections is the same country that fought the Civil War to set everyone free. Yes, white men actually fought and died and spilled their blood in gory battles that black men, women and children would no longer be enslaved. Think about that!
My ancestors fought for the Union (and they were Southerners) and hundreds of thousands gave their lives because the American ideal articulated in 1776 set in motion a wave of freedom that demanded the obvious… that ALL eventually be set free. Progress rarely happens in one fell swoop. It takes time to effect change.
The fact that we’ve reframed history to spit on the sacrifices made by our Founders and smear their character is indicative of an ungrateful, prideful populace. Let us be a little more understanding and grateful for what we have. Ingratitude leads to pride and pride goes before a fall.
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