THE POWER OF SYMBOLS

When someone in the US is learning to drive, they must memorize traffic signs and learn the mechanics of driving.  The symbols on those signs are very important.  If one doesn’t follow them, they may cause an accident and end up in a serious predicament (like the man who didn’t obey the “Road Closed” sign and drove into a foot of fresh cement on an off-ramp). and even receive a heavy fine from a law enforcement officer.

What would happen if road symbols were suddenly changed and drivers didn’t know what they meant?  You might end up in chaos.

Sometimes people or groups steal symbols.  One example is the rainbow:

Many recognize it as the symbol of the LGBTQ+ movement.  Guess where they got it from?  For Christians, the origin is taken from the Bible as: 

A Sign of Peace showing that God would never again flood the earth.

A Reminder for God and Humanity: The text states, "I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth." [Genesis 9:13]. It acts as a visible, physical reminder of God's faithfulness to His creation. For me, when I see a rainbow, I’m thankful.  I am thankful for God’s goodness, grace, and mercy that He has shown me.

Below is another symbol that hasn’t been stolen, but misinterpreted:

The Thin Blue Line flag is a symbol of pride and honor. It originated in the United Kingdom.  It is to commemorate fallen law enforcement officers and symbolize the relationship between law enforcement and the community.  The black stripes are a constant reminder of the fallen brother and sister officers. The blue line in the center represents the officer and their courage.  The black stripe immediately above the blue line represents the public. The line just under the blue line represents crime.  The blue line stands between the two black lines, a metaphor for standing between the public, protecting them from crime and danger.

Different thin line flags represent others who serve us, including fire, EMS, forestry, dispatch, etc.

The thin blue line flag is a noble cause and symbol.  The current narrative claims this as a racist symbol to SOME.  The SOME are saying to this flag, “We know better than you what you stand for.”  Really?

In the U.S., we believe in the freedom of expression only if it fits the current narrative.  I live in the Portland, Oregon area.  It is considered a very liberal city (ex. “Keep Portland Weird”).  We had a small decal on a car window, showing support for fallen officers.  My wife parked in a public lot.  When she got home, I noticed the decal had been hit with something, and the window had shattered.  We can’t support officers who have died in the line of duty!  A Sheriff’s Deputy told me, “You probably shouldn’t fly your Thin Blue Line flag at home.  It may not be safe.”  This is America, right?

In many ways, symbols have become confusing because people look at them subjectively and decide what they want them to mean.  Check this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0QvUwxndzs&t=253s. 

In the movie “What About Bob?”, starring Richard Dreyfus (Dr. Leo Marvin) and Bill Murray (Bob), Dreyfus is a psychiatrist, and Murray is a mental health client.  Dr. Marvin drops Bob off at a mental health facility, but his college calls him back to say there is nothing clinically wrong with him.  Bob is found in the library telling the staff this story: 

“There was this Doc who was showing a patient various Rorschach ink blots.  He asked, ‘What do you see? Patient says, “Sex.”  How about this one? “Sex.”  Okay, what about this one?  “Sex.” The Doctor says, “Sex, sex, sex.  Your problem is sex!  Client replies, “You are the one with the problem.  You have the dirty pictures.”

Why are symbols important?  They identify a group or movement.  It’s a way for people to express themselves.  Freedom of expression is vital to the rights of all Americans.  Let’s let others have their interpretation of their own symbols of expression, as long as they let others do the same and don’t resort to violence. We may not agree with them, but we should respect their right to other ideas and beliefs.  That is the American way.

THE FOUNDERS' FEET OF CLAY

Many of our words and phrases today come from our history, including the Bible.  “Feet of clay” is one such example. In the Book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar (AD 600) dreams of a magnificent statue with a head of gold, a chest of silver, and legs of iron, but its feet are made of a fragile mix of iron and clay. Because the base is weak, the entire statue is easily smashed. The only one who could tell the king the meaning of the dream was Daniel, God’s prophet.  He was telling the king that his kingdom would someday topple.  Over time, the phrase evolved to describe an idolized figure (like a leader, celebrity, or hero) whose hidden flaws are eventually exposed, causing their respected image to topple. (See Below)

In the same sense, the founders of the United States had clay feet.  They were imperfect, petty, and difficult.  Kind of like us today.  Want an example?  Tomas Jefferson, the main architect of the Declaration of Independence, wrote, “All men are created equal.”  I guess some men are more equal than others.  Jefferson owned slaves until his death on July 4^th, 1826.  How can a man who opposed slavery on principle make such a statement while continuing his participation in it?

“Virtually all the Founding Fathers went to their graves realizing that slavery, no matter how intractable, would become the largest and most permanent stain on their legacy. And when Abraham Lincoln eventually made the decision that, at terrible cost, ended slavery forever, he did so in the name of the Founders.” (History News Network, December 17, 2007) 

Yet another example of our clay feet: I was riding with a friend in his car as he turned into a store's parking lot.  “You have to be careful when driving in here.  Some people dash across lanes,” he remarked.  Within seconds, he was dashing across lanes.  I learned where the phrase “white-knuckling” came from! One thing consistent about us is our inconsistency.

Though our Founding Fathers disagreed, they were able to come together to form America.  What can we do to honor them?  We should guard our foundation.  The Nebuchadnezzar statue looked mighty, but it only took smashing the weak feet, or foundation, to make it fall. What comprises America’s foundation?  Some claim that the United States was formed like Israel. Israel was ruled directly by God, what we call a theocracy.  America is a democratic republic, governed by the people through elected representatives.  Others claim that America was and is a Christian nation.  Christianity is not the official religion of America.  The Bill of Rights made sure religion was protected by the First Amendment, stating, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

Though America is not a theocracy, its foundation was, in part, built on Christian principles.  Others believe our Founders were greatly influenced by Enlightenment thinking.  Not totally the case!

Some historians claim the overriding view of God by the Founders was Deism, that God created man and then stepped away without any help from Him.  If that is the definition of Deism, then none of the Founding Fathers were deists. For example, Ben Franklin called upon Congress to pray.  Here is part of his speech:

In this situation of this assembly, groping as it were in the dark to find political truth and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the father of lights to illuminate our understandings?  In the beginning of the contest with Great Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in the room for the divine protection. Our prayers, sir, were heard and they were graciously answered…or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance?... I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth that God governs in the affairs of men.” (See https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/evangelical-history/why-ben-franklin-called-for-prayer-at-the-constitutional-convention/).  

I can get quote after quote on this from the other leaders, but space and time do not permit.

WHAT, THEN, SHALL WE DO?…to see our foundation as a nation remains strong?  Abide by the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, despite our differences and our clay feet.  Remember our principles, greatly influenced by the Bible.

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