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The Herald Scotland
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
America is ready to celebrate its 250th birthday. But are Americans?
Trump formally kicked off the yearlong celebration on July 3 with a boisterous rally in at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Trump campaigned on an "America first" platform, and he's long invoked symbols of patriotism during his rallies, from having Lee Greenwood sing his hit "God Bless the USA," to literally embracing Old Glory. "This Fourth of July our magnificent destiny is closer than ever before. We are one people, one family and one united American nation," he said to cheers. "We will fight, fight, fight, we will win, win, win, because we are Americans and our hearts bleed red, white, and blue." Trump also reaffirmed his plans to hold a "Great American State Fair" with exhibits from all 50 states that will begin in Iowa, along with other national celebrations. And while there will be parties and parades aplenty for the nation's semiquincentennial, some scholars are also urging Americans to spend time thinking deeply about the country's past and future: The anniversary comes at a time of deep partisan divisions, particularly about the role of immigrants in this nation of them. Trump directly addressed the nation's divide facing the nation in his Iowa appearance, criticizing Democrats who he says "hate" America, and offering the same sentiment in return. Trump made the comments in connection with final passage earlier in the day of his "big, beautiful bill," which implements tax and Medicaid cuts while dramatically expanding immigration enforcement, and was unanimously opposed by Congressional Democrats. "I really do. I hate them. I cannot stand them because I really believe they hate our country, you want to know the truth." Trump said at what was billed as a nonpartisan semiquincentennial kickoff event. Polls show Americans are less patriotic today than ever before recorded: A new Gallup poll found that 58% of U.S. adults say they are either "extremely" or "very" proud to be an American, a record low compared to almost total unity following the 9/11 attacks 24 years ago. Strikingly, the poll found that younger Americans were far less likely to be patriotic than older generations: only 41% of Gen Z is extremely or very proud to be American, compared to nearly 75% of Baby Boomers. The poll also found that Democrats in particular are the source of the drop: Across all ages, just 36% said they are extremely or very proud, down from 62% a year ago. Independents also showed a loss, falling to a record-low 53%, the poll found. In contrast, 92% of Republicans said they were extremely or very proud of the country, Gallup found. "Patriotism is now polarized - to some degree it depends on whoever is the president and that hasn't always been the case," said conservative author and former Republican National Committee staffer John J. Pitney Jr., a government professor at California's Claremont McKenna College. "People in the other party are not just mistaken but are enemies." But Pitney said real American patriotism is alive and well: Everyone who volunteers to serve in the military or a local fire department, who helps out at a food bank or tithes to their local church is helping make good on the promise of America, he said. "Parades are great, all the celebrations are terrific, but that's not really what patriotism is about," Pitney said. "It's certainly possible to take criticism of the country too far. The trouble with Trump's plans is they sound awfully superficial. His patriotism doesn't run any deeper than the cloth of the flag." Celebrating the triumphs of the past While celebrations of the country's 250th anniversary by necessity invoke the past, Trump has signaled he wants a historical focus that boosts his vision of patriotism, loyalty and liberty. In conjunction with the anniversary, Trump has ordered the creation of a $34 million National Garden of American Heroes, featuring life-size statues of notable figures from American history, including the second president, John Adams, Red Cross founder Clara Barton, airplane inventors Orville and Wilbur Wright, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and astronaut Christa McAuliffe, along with former President Ronald Reagan and former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Only American citizens are eligible to create the statues. "America owes its present greatness to its past sacrifices. Because the past is always at risk of being forgotten, monuments will always be needed to honor those who came before," Trump said in announcing the statue garden. "These statues are silent teachers in solid form of stone and metal. They preserve the memory of our American story and stir in us a spirit of responsibility for the chapters yet unwritten." In announcing the garden, Trump also ordered the Justice Department to vigorously prosecute anyone caught damaging or defacing memorials and statues. And he has ordered the National Park Service and national museums to focus on history that unites and inspires Americans, rather than on what he considers issues that would "divide Americans based on race." "The Golden Age of America is upon us," Trump said in Iowa on July 3. "This incredible national resurgence is happening just in time for one of the biggest events in the history of our country. Exactly one year from tomorrow, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of America's founding with this birthday party, the likes of which you have never seen before." Eric Foner, a retired Columbia University history professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, said countries have long struggled to balance an honest assessment of their history with the push for patriotism. He said the reality is every country has both good and bad on its ledger, and talking about all aspects help build a stronger nation. Some historians have noted that while Trump is willing to acknowledge the end of slavery in the United States, he's been reluctant - if not outright hostile - to talking about the structural racism that remains as a legacy of that enslavement. "It's a self-defeating set of events when you try to just create a patriotic history and glorification," Foner said. "What we remember is also related to what we forget." 'Daring experiment in democracy' Trump's 250th celebration plans will operate in conjunction with the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, which has been working on the celebrations since 2016. The nonpartisan commission known as America250 is honorarily co-chaired by former First Couples: President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, and President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, and is the country's official birthday party planner, with the backing of all three co-equal branches of government. America250, which has corporate sponsors including Walmart, Palantir, Amazon and Goldman Sachs, is planning the biggest single-year volunteer effort in the country's history, along with sponsoring field trips and oral history recordings. The commission is also organizing a playlist of musical anthems celebrating America, a tech expo to highlight innovation, and a series of concerts celebrating American composers, performers, musicians and dancers. Its new executive director is a former FOX News producer and deputy director of communications for First Lady Melania Trump. "America250 is working to provide the most inspiring celebration that is 'of the people, by the people, and for the people' of this great nation," the commission promises. "America250's mission is to commemorate the 250th anniversary with inclusive programs that inspire Americans to renew and strengthen our daring experiment in democracy." Envisioning a different kind of world Tamika Middleton traces her American heritage though the family's graveyard on a dirt road in South Carolina. One ancestor fought for the Union during the Civil War, and her mom still lives on the land that's been in their family since the 1800s. As the descendent of formerly enslaved people, Middleton wants to see the United States live up to the promises it has always made. For her, that means talking honestly and openly about the country's racist past, and about how exclusionary policies have hurt people who look like her. "I have a right to this country. No matter what people think about my critiques or the work that I do, my folks' blood is in the soil." Middleton, 41, said. "I have a right to this country and I have a right to its best self." The managing director of the Women's March, Middleton said organizers have been talking regularly about the importance of an "honest look" at the country's history at the time of its 250th, and what it would take to reach that perfect union where all people are truly equal. Organizers of the 2017 Women's March against Trump organized "Free America" counter-protests during this year's Independence Day celebrations. "What good is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness without healthcare?" Middleton asked. "What good is life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness without housing?" Middleton said the Women's March is still deciding how it will approach the country's 250th anniversary, but encouraged Americans to consider the words of Civil Rights-era activist Fannie Lou Hamer: "Nobody's free until everybody's free." Said Middleton: "I would be love for people to be thinking about how to bring that to fruition - what does it require every day, the kind of depth, the kind of accountability, the kind of unity. What does it require of us to ensure we are building a different kind of world and a different kind of country?"
Miami Herald
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Some communities won't fly new state flag: ‘It's not a greater Minnesota flag'
MINNEAPOLIS - Old Glory is the only flag flying outside Detroit Lakes City Hall. You won't see the Minnesota state flag - the retired one or the new one that a number of communities refuse to hoist on flagpoles. Minnesota's new state flag was divisive from the start, especially in deep red, rural areas. The flag redesign process sparked intense Republican-led opposition as the DFL-controlled Legislature formed a commission in 2023 to replace the old flag. Some counties passed resolutions rejecting the new design before it was adopted last year. Now some cities are voting against flying it. "I think part of it is people think the new flag is ugly," said Detroit Lakes Mayor Matt Brenk. "Some people think the old flag was racist. I mean, there's all sorts of reasons that people are picking a side on this deal." Detroit Lakes is the latest city to oppose flying the new state flag in north-central Minnesota, where you're more likely to see the old banner on front porches, farms and lakefront properties. "We were on the lake this weekend and noticed a lot of the old flags and a few new ones," said Pequot Lakes Mayor Tyler Gardner. "They typically wouldn't have had a state flag before. It used to just be the American flag." Pequot Lakes is still flying the retired state flag and doesn't plan on raising the new one, Gardner said. "It drives us nuts that there's a divisive argument over a flag, that, let's be honest, it's a state flag. Does anybody really look at them that much?" Crosslake is also supporting the old state flag. In May, the council unanimously voted not to fly the new one. The cities are in Becker and Crow Wing counties, which also don't fly the new state flag. Only state buildings are required to fly the state flag. It's optional at city- and county-owned buildings: Some fly the old flag, many raised the new one, and some never flew the state flag. Julie Ring, executive director of the Association of Minnesota Counties, said in an email that she was unaware that any counties had taken action against the new state flag. The League of Minnesota Cities said it doesn't track flag activity, nor is it a topic on which it provides guidance or opinions. The Minnesota Secretary of State's Office shares flag etiquette, but it wouldn't weigh in on the cities and counties refusing to fly the new flag. Crow Wing County was the first to pass a resolution against the flag design, followed by Nobles, Houston and McLeod. The cost associated with replacing flags was cited as a concern. Even if a county opts out of supporting the official state flag, it is required in every courtroom. The 87 county courthouses are funded and overseen by the state as part of the judicial district court system. Kyle Christopherson, state court spokesman, said judicial districts worked with each county separately to determine payments for flag and seal replacements in courtrooms. Some counties fronted the bill while most were paid for by the state. The Ninth Judicial District, made up of 17 counties in northwest Minnesota, for example, paid for flag and seal replacements in all counties except Aitkin and Crow Wing. County Administrator Deborah Erickson said Crow Wing spent $10,000 to replace the state seals and nine flags in the courthouse. She sees the new state flag flying outside the Brainerd fire station on her drive to work. The county decided not to hoist the new flag at its veterans memorial, where the retired flag previously flew. Many jurisdictions didn't switch over to the new flag for practical, not political, reasons. In Dodge County, officials decided to use up their remaining stock of old flags. "It's just until the current supplies run out, then we would make the conversion," said County Administrator Jim Elmquist. The average outdoor flag lasts up to 90 days, depending on weather. A few old flags are still flying, but Elmquist said they will be replaced by fall. Faribault passed a resolution in February 2024 against the new state flag design, but the city hasn't opposed flying it since, said city spokesman Brad Phenow. "Now we've been following suit, and if we know when a flag needs to be replaced, we replace it with a new one," he said. The former state flag displayed the old state seal, which showed a white settler plowing a field while looking at a Native American man riding toward him on horseback. The imagery dates back to when Minnesota was still a territory and is viewed as a celebration of the idea that settlers were destined to take over the land. Tribes criticized that image as racist and it has long been the subject of controversy. High school students first brought these concerns to state lawmakers in 2017, but a redesign push didn't take hold until recently. A 13-member commission was given four months in late 2023 and a budget of $35,000 to redesign the flag and seal. They sifted through thousands of flag submissions from the public and narrowed it down to a finalist while making a few tweaks. The winner was a deep blue abstract shape of Minnesota with a white eight-pointed star - a nod to the state's motto, "Star of the North" - next to a block of light blue to represent Minnesota's abundance of water. The old flag was adopted in 1957, while the state seal represented Minnesota for most of the state's 166-year history. Both were replaced in 2024 on May 11 - Statehood Day. Crosslake Mayor Jackson Purfeerst cited the Native American imagery as a reason the city voted to continue flying it. "We are flying the original Minnesota state flag because of how rich Crosslake's history is with Native Americans and the tribes," Purfeerst said in a video on Facebook that garnered more than 500 comments of praise. "We have multiple Indian burial grounds all over town. We had one of the biggest battles of Native Americans on Rush Lake. ... We are honoring our history, we are honoring our culture, and we are honoring who came before us." In Babbitt, on the eastern edge of the Iron Range, the City Council first approved a measure opposing the new flag in 2024. It voted in February against flying the new flag, a decision that Councilor Jim Lassi says has garnered much community support. "Historically, we've probably had one of the most beautiful flags out of all 50 states," Lassi said. "You could tell right away that it represents Minnesota," with lakes and showy lady's slippers woven into the design. Lassi said the new flag is "ugly" and caters to "wokeness." Detroit Lakes went back and forth on the new flag. In March, the council voted in support of flying it, but then came backlash from residents and some council members. They voted again in May to not fly it, then in June decided not to fly either state flag after a tie-breaking vote from the mayor. Brian Ahlsten, who lives in Detroit Lakes and previously lived in the Twin Cities, said at the June council meeting that the new state flag doesn't represent rural Minnesota. "Some have tried to turn this into a left vs. right issue," he said. "This is more of a Twin Cities vs. greater Minnesota issue. … This flag serves to drive a wedge between us. It's a Twin Cities flag. It's not a greater Minnesota flag." Wendy Spry, who serves on the council and is an enrolled member of White Earth Nation, said the flag was changed for a reason. "This council turned its back on unity and welcomeness," she said. --- (Jana Hollingsworth, Trey Mewes and Jp Lawrence of the Minnesota Star Tribune contributed to this story.) --- Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
UPI
03-07-2025
- Science
- UPI
Red, white and blue on the Red Planet
July 3 (UPI) -- On the eve of the 249th anniversary of American independence, NASA on Tuesday showcased a patriotic image of Old Glory as seen from hundreds of millions of miles away. A plaque bearing the United States flag is on an aluminum plate at the base of the mast, or "head," of NASA's Perseverance rover on the Red Planet. An image of the flag was taken on June 28 by the WATSON (Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering) camera on the end of the rover's robotic arm. On Tuesday, NASA published an image of the flag on the rover, as seen during its 1,548th day of its mission. WATSON was built by Malin Space Science Systems in San Diego and is operated jointly by Malin Space Science Systems and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. JPL, managed by Caltech, built and manages operations of Perseverance. The first U.S. flag planted somewhere besides Earth was the one planted on the moon by Buzz Aldrin in 1969. It signaled the United States had won the so-called Space Race with the Soviet Union.
Boston Globe
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
The view from Old Orchard Beach: many French Canadians say ‘non merci!'
Canadians, angered by President Trump's threats to make Canada the 51st state and by tariff increases, have been boycotting the United States in droves. On this longest day of the year, vacancy and Bienvenue signs were posted around town. The Canadian flag flew proudly just below Old Glory on Old Orchard Street. But there were also T-shirts for sale depicting Trump as a tattooed, muscle-bound 'Make America Great' hero in the front window of a nearby souvenir shop. Advertisement The sun peeked at the horizon at 5 a.m. near The Pier at Old Orchard Beach, on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Many hotels, motels, and campgrounds cater to French Canadians. They have bilingual staff and have built up decades-long relationships with their guests. Several restaurants here serve poutine, the popular Quebec dish of French fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. With nearly 40 percent of summer visitors coming from Canada, many merchants worry this could be a long, frustrating summer. A local chamber of commerce spokesperson said reservations are down 10 percent to 20 percent this season. In addition to the political turmoil , officials blame the rainy weather and unfavorable exchange rates. The number of Canadian travelers to Maine has declined 25 percent this year compared to last year, according to Customs Border Protection. Some establishments are dropping their three-day minimum stay policy and are offering discounts. Advertisement Tourists strolled down Old Orchard Street heading for the beach. Is this throwback honky-tonk town set on a magnificent 7-mile beach in dire straits? Hopefully not. On Friday, there were several cars with Quebec plates driving around town and a few no vacancy signs. Most locals are sick of Trump talk. It's a short season and politics here are as welcome as seeing a fin slicing through the shallow water. But Rico Pettinicco, a longtime parking lot attendant, predicts the French Canadians will return. They love the beach too much. The draw of the ocean is more powerful than any one man. Tourists peered at a Trump T-shirt in the front window of a shop on Old Orchard Street in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. 'I had one Canadian guy come, and say, 'I'm not mad at you, we're mad at Trump. Besides, we like it here,' Pettinicco said. 'He said, 'How would you like Maine to become a province of Canada?' Then I thought about the free benefits and everything. Maybe it wouldn't be bad.' Adam Donovan of Friendship Oceanfront Suites says things are not as dire as advertised. 'The people that have been returning for a decade plus have been coming back, but not the newer families,' Donovan said. Consequently, there are bargains for others. Rachael O'Shaughnessy, an award-winning local artist, cleaned the beach under the pier at sunrise. Jolene Twombly-Wiser, a teacher from Denmark, Maine, got upgraded to an oceanfront balcony suite because of the lack of Canadian visitors. She says she misses hearing French amid the rolling waves. 'I love Canadians. They're some of the nicest people in the world,' Twombly-Wiser said. She is not a Trump fan. 'It's his way, right? To try to say shocking things as if they're normal and get everyone riled up,' she said. 'But there's a lot of people here that depend on that income. It's obviously already having an impact here. I'd love to see all the Canadians on the beach.' Advertisement The sun rose on the longest day of the year, Friday, June 20th, at 5AM. Rachael O'Shaughnessy is an award-winning local artist who helps to clean the beach starting before sunrise as inspiration for her art. She has noticed a difference this year — and not just fewer people. 'So far I see less garbage,' she said. She doesn't want to discuss politics. 'It's really a brutally difficult time,' she says. She just wants to enjoy the solstice sunrise. 'I think every single sunrise has a unique beauty. And every single one is worthy of my getting up.' The Pier at Old Orchard Beach has seagulls on patrol for French fries but plenty of empty tables. Fred Kennedy, the bilingual owner of the Alouette Beach Resort, did a CNN interview months ago after Trump insulted Canada. 'I thought I was pretty even tempered,' he said. But he received hate email from both Americans who thought he wasn't being loyal and Canadians who were upset at his tone. 'Canadians thought I was being nonchalant with their pride of being Canadian,' Kennedy said. 'Some of them were angry that I was saying everything is just fine.' Sunset illuminates a bar patron at The Pier at Old Orchard Beach. He learned that social media can be mean-spirited. 'People that never stayed with us tried to hurt my business by going on and writing negative reviews.' Since then, US-Canada relations seem to be improving, Kennedy said, with Trump being respectful to Canada's new prime minister, Mark Carney. Kennedy says his business is down only 3 percent this year. On the beach, a woman in a USA sweatshirt celebrates the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. 'This weekend is sold out,' he said, noting that it's a long holiday weekend to celebrate the French Canadian patron, Saint Jean Baptiste, and some sports teams are in town. A Montreal tourist who declined to give his name says this isn't about politics. It's about being with his family at a place that makes him feel welcome. Advertisement 'No, I'm not going on about Trump,' he said. 'I've come here 20 years now. And I'm coming for the beach.' The sky is not falling, Kennedy insists. It's a perfect beach day and everybody is happy. 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UPI
18-06-2025
- Politics
- UPI
Trump's gift of 'most magnificent' flagpoles and flags celebrated at the White House
1 of 8 | U.S. President Donald Trump and guests watch as the U.S. flag is raised for the first time on the new flag pole on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. Photo by Ken Cedeno/UPI | License Photo June 18 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump paid the cost to place two flagpoles at the White House and raised two flags late Wednesday morning. "It is my great honor to announce that I will be putting up two beautiful flagpoles on both sides of the White House, North and South lawns," Trump said on Tuesday in a Truth Social post. "It is a gift from me of something which was always missing from this magnificent place," Trump added. He said digging for the two flagpoles began at 7:30 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, and flags were raised at about 11 a.m. "These are the most magnificent poles made," Trump said. "They are tapered, rust-proof, rope inside the pole and of the highest quality. Hopefully, they will proudly stand at both sides of the White House for many years to come!" The 100-foot flagpoles each cost Trump $50,000 for a total outlay of $100,000, the New York Post reported. The president said the White House has been open since 1800, but it never had a flagpole to fly Old Glory, so he decided to add two. Meanwhile, renovations are underway on the White House Rose Garden, which Trump has said needs a hard surface. Many press events and other occasions occur in the Rose Garden, but it often can't accommodate visitors. "Some people would like to leave it, but the problem is you can't," Trump told The Spectator in February. "We had the press here yesterday," he continued. "Do you see the women there? They're going crazy. The grass was wet. Their heels are going right through the grass, like 4 inches deep." Trump also has said he would like the Rose Garden to rival gardens he has visited in Europe. Work on the Rose Garden renovation began last week and is scheduled to end in August.
