I’m flying my flag upside down this July 4th, and have been doing so all summer. People are asking: “What’s up?” I simply tell them an upside-down flag is a universally recognized signal that the country is facing an emergency or under extreme distress. If they ask, “What’s the emergency?” they get my rant.
When a republic’s government turns on those it is intended to serve – as America’s has – the country is in crisis. We are in danger of losing everything that has set us apart from every dictatorship and banana republic in history. Those who don’t find that distressing, haven’t been paying attention.
As citizens, we have agreed to a pact of civilized behavior – our Constitution. We agree to abide by the laws of our country, and to settle grievances with our government peacefully, on the condition that our government honors our inalienable rights – as stipulated in our pact.
Unfortunately, that agreement has been breached – creating this crisis. We have upheld our end of the deal, but our “public servants” have not. Our officials – in all levels and branches of government – have decided that the pact no longer applies to them. They are violating the Constitution with impunity, and creating our current emergency.
We have a Constitutionally protected right to freedom of speech. But the FBI is using the power of government to pressure social media companies into censoring our expression. In addition, our President – who swore an oath to defend the Constitution – has requested the formation of a disinformation governance board (i.e., ministry of truth) to officially police public discourse.
Our Department of Justice is arguing to the Supreme Court that the 1st Amendment of the Constitution shouldn’t be considered a constraint on the government’s enforcement of speech. The department sworn to uphold the Constitution, is explicitly stating that the Constitution no longer applies to the federal government.
We currently have a candidate for President – Donald Trump – who has been gagged by a judge, to prevent him from explaining the problems with our criminal justice system to the electorate. This undermining of civil dialogue creates a very dangerous political environment. Without debate, politics becomes a contest of force rather than of ideas.
We have a right to freedom of religion. However, observant Catholics are being surveilled as potential domestic terrorists. There’s been no allegation of a crime, nor probable cause for a warrant. But the government doesn’t recognize such constraints on its activities when its preferred narratives are challenged.
Those with “sanctity of life” religious beliefs are being prosecuted with extreme prejudice. Peaceful citizens – with no history of criminal behavior – are being imprisoned for singing and praying outside of abortion clinics.
We have the right to choose our leadership via free and fair elections. Yet our current President (Joe Biden) is attempting to remove his challenger (Donald Trump) from the election by prosecuting and imprisoning him. Trump has already been found guilty in one trial, in which his Constitutional right to due process was flagrantly violated. He was prevented from mounting a defense by not being informed of his crime, and by being prohibited from calling key witnesses on his behalf. The Judge even authorized the jury to convict Trump without reaching unanimous agreement – a clear violation of the Constitution. But neither the judge nor the District Attorney seemed concerned – because oaths are for chumps and the Constitution is becoming a mere piece of paper. If due process is given to a presidential candidate, it is no longer assured for anyone the government disfavors.
Our property rights are now dependent on government indulgence. Property is seized via civil asset forfeiture with no consideration of due process and sometimes even in violation of court orders – because the guys with the guns and badges decided they could.
We were prevented from doing business, and even from making use of our property, because of a virus. Nothing gave the government the authority to issue such prohibitions, but once the bureaucracy decided the rules didn’t apply to it, that was irrelevant.
Our military is now challenging civilian control. Lt. Col. Vindman demanded that his Commander in Chief be impeached because he disagreed with him on policy – and the radicals granted his wish.
General Milley, while serving as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, assured the Chinese that he would disobey the orders of his Commander in Chief, should the President choose American security over Chinese interests. He was allowed to retire honorably, rather than being court martialed as a traitor.
Has anyone considered what happens to America when the guys with the big guns stop accepting civilian leadership? Maybe Joe Biden should stop threatening gun owners with F-15s and start thinking about what he’ll do if those F-15s are targeted at him.
The “American flags are racist crowd” is accusing me of disrespecting our veterans by flying mine upside down. Nonsense. July 4th commemorates our founders risking their freedom, fortunes, and sacred honor to bequeath a free country to us. Now the corrupt and covetous are actively destroying everything they gave us. My inverted flag is not disrespecting those who fought for America – past or present. It’s my way of calling out those who are attempting to subvert everything that our patriots made great sacrifices to defend.
If I were to accept our current state without protest, I would be cheapening the sacrifices of those who have protected our Constitutional republic. Advertising our current reality is not disrespecting them. It is respecting them by mourning the loss of what they fought for.
This July 4th is a time for commemoration without celebration. I will be acknowledging the significance of our founding fathers’ gift to us, while recognizing that it is dying before our eyes. I hope that my upside-down flag will trigger my fellow Americans to ask what I’m doing, and give my response some thought.
Our government officials no longer honor their oath to us, nor accept any obligation to serve us. The government has slipped its accountability and our country is under extreme distress. My flag represents the Unted States of America, not the U.S. Government. My upside-down flag honors my country, while showing contempt for those trying to destroy it. It will remain upside down to highlight our current emergency until those violating the Constitution face justice.
Author Bio: John Green is a retired engineer and political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Idaho. He spent his career designing complex defense systems, developing high performance organizations, and doing corporate strategic planning. He can be reached at greenjeg@gmail.com.
If you enjoyed this article, then please REPOST or SHARE with others; encourage them to follow AFNN. If you’d like to become a citizen contributor for AFNN, contact us at managingeditor@afnn.us Help keep us ad-free by donating here.
Substack: American Free News Network Substack
Truth Social: @AFNN_USA
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/afnnusa
Telegram: https://t.me/joinchat/2_-GAzcXmIRjODNh
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AfnnUsa
GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/AFNN_USA
CloutHub: @AFNN_USA