The question is now being posed, what should this nation do about flag burning and burners. First of all, they need to concentrate on issues that are destroying this nation.

One might ask why is this such an important issue with today’s politicians? Besides the fact it is a piece of legislature that does not cost anything, the issue is based around what Old Glory stands for.

Supposedly it stands for freedom, justice and equality by the people for the people. What people are we talking about?

While your forefathers were writing the Declaration of Independence and flying their flag in the name of independence, my forefathers were picking cotton and building your country for you!

Now you expect us to share in your celebration of Flag Day and Independence Day shooting off fire-works in rememberance of your revolution.

You told the king of England “no taxation without representation;” today we are taxed and killed by a police department whose salaries we pay.

Today we give you our tax dollars to support an education system that does not educate us properly. Yet, you will get on television and say happy fourth of July America and show a screen full of white Americans, we are starting to catch the hint.

Four thousand years ago, Moses told Pharoah “Let my people go” declaring their independence, 214 years ago Patrick Henry said “Give me liberty or give me death” declaring your independence, today black people cry for independence and you wave a flag that has kept us enslaved for 435 years and tell us that you gave us freedom.

Well, you cannot give freedom if it is not a privilege; therefore, you can deep six the 13th Amendment and the Emancipation Proclamation.

Last year, at the Art Institute’s Student Show, Dredd Scott Tyler put together a most appropriate piece for these times, “What Is The Proper Way To Display The American Flag?”

He asked America to re-evaluate their pride in this flag of injustice. If burning homes, trampling women and slaying children, as they did abroad in Cuba, Korea, North Vietnam or most recently in Panama and Libya even here in Birmingham, Alabama, Chicago, Watts, California and Philadelphia, Mississippi, thrill you then “be all that you can be.”

But if the murders of Quadafi’s little girl or Eleanor Bumpers disturb you then I urge all races to burn this flag and stop teaching people that marching between two dead men like Lincoln and Washington will get them freedom. Armageddon is in effect go get your late pass.

Michael Bonds

B.R.O.T.H.E.R.S. Inc

Political Science