Flag Controversy at a Christian University

It may not grow into a full-fledged controversy. Some voices, though, are trying their best to draw attention to changes in a university's opening ceremonies. Abilene Christian University began its 104th school year with an annual tradition that includes a parade of flags, a speech by the school president and music. I did my graduate work at ACU. Grad students were exempt from assemblies like this one, but I do have a vague memory of having attended a couple opening events in the coliseum.

Some people have taken offense at this year's program because of what was left out. For the first time in recent history, the ceremony did not end with the Battle Hymn of the Republic and also did not include the Pledge of Allegiance. Also, the US flag was only one of 50 national flags represented in the parade of flags. There was no super-sized US flag adorning the coliseum.

I have no insider information. I am not a confidant of anyone who helped plan this event. But I know that ACU aims to become a top tier institution that ties into broad streams of our Christian heritage. They also hope to become a world-class university that builds on more than their unique status as the number-one school alphabetically when foreign students apply to US universities.

Some people want to interpret the changes in the opening ceremony as a putsch, a Communist plot by theological liberals who supposedly don't value the US flag, hate our military, voted for Obama and probably listen to Barbra Streisand. Who knows? Maybe they're right.

I think it more likely that these changes can be well explained. (See for example an article just published today in defense of the administration.) The problem, however, is that people aren't talking to one another. And if they are, then the other side isn't listening. Like I said in my post about the health care debate, many Americans would rather grind their axes than engage in meaningful debate about issues that we all care deeply about. We have much more in common than we realize. Problem is, many people enjoy having something to gripe about, having a cause to pursue.

It's all part of a trend toward polarization that will destroy this country. Mark my words. Liberals are not destroying America. The Chinese are not overthrowing America's place through covert operations. Americans are destroying themselves every time they forward inflammatory material. Americans are destroying our country every time they sit down with "friends" to gripe about their enemies rather than sitting down with "enemies" to explain viewpoints and listen to one another.

Didn't Jesus say that it's no credit to you if you love those who love you? Instead, he tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Why? So that you may be children of our heavenly Father. Our salvation DEPENDS on our willingness to love others. We can't expect the world to live by that standard, but we sure better make that OUR motto!