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FLAG DAY: ‘THE NOW-OLD TALE OF BETTER DAYS’

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By DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI News and Commentary

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2015) — On this Flag Day, THE PLANET‘s thoughts go back to the four years in the early 2000s that we were honored to deliver the keynote address at ceremonies at the National Archives.

Each year, we would gather our thoughts in long walks, tossing about ideas, until a theme emerged. One year, for example, we had just finished reading Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley, in which the author told the story of the second flag-raising atop Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, a hoist turned legendary by Joe Rosenthal‘s photo for the AP. It is the most famous photo of all time.

We never went in with notes, as is THE PLANET‘s preferred method of speechifying. Reading from a script, however good it’s done, locks one within the tight confines of pre-packaged paragraphs. We prefer serendipity surprise to emerge, as it invariably does when one “shirt-tails” a speech as opposed to “reading” a speech. The ensuing wonder is as much for the speaker as the audience.

The Baton Remains At Rest

THE PLANET still thinks of the flag on this day. We do so not with any form of syrupy faux-patriotism or bitter vitriol. We leave those two extremes to the zealots on both ends of the political baton. It spins sometimes expertly, sometimes poorly, depending on the hand that’s holding it. In our hands, the baton remains not still but at rest. There’s a difference.

What is a Flag?

What is a flag? Or does the question need the definite article: What is the flag?

It is:

* A piece of cloth, imprinted with a design and emboldened with color. In America’s case, the famous red, white, and blue.

* It is a symbol, but of what? It is directional, but to what does it point? It is emblematic, but riding upon what shirt?

Once upon a time, there existed a phenomenon called “The American Dream.” It promised the highest ideals of communal life for and upon which our elder brothers broke. They broke before their sprits felt the weight of an intolerable yoke (William Cullen Bryant, “The Greek Boy”). On second look and updated by 239 years, the promises seem cut not from living stone but petrified rock. A document cannot grant “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Only human acts of will can do that.

Life? Liberty? Pursuit of Happiness?

In 2015, we have Life. On that we can agree. Liberty? Like “success” and “failure,” liberty must be an individual vision for which you will have to answer yourself.  Pursuit of Happiness? That hot day’s “shady grove” might have been this country’s first “temple,” but the realistic eye sees that “happiness” cannot be sustained. Life presents oases of this wonderful state, but they come sparingly in the vast, trackless wastes. Ah, but what’s a journey for?

THE PLANET aligns with the Greeks here. They preferred “fulfillment” to “happiness.” It means to use one’s talents and abilities to their fullest measure along the lines of excellence. Thus, THE PLANET is “happy” at blessed times but “fulfilled” always.

As a symbol, the American Flag is an ink-blot test. It attains meaning with the emotional, intellectual, psychological, and spiritual investment citizens make in it not to it (we prefer individualism over idolatry). As a piece of cloth,the flag can be burned in the same casual manner as any other combustible object. As a icon, it deserves care and attention. As a token, the flag cannot be taken seriously because of nationalism. As an allegory, however, it rates the reverent attention we give to all great literature. The interpretations may differ, but the text retains an inherent, noble triumph.

‘They, too, Are Gone’

Each of us must find our own way to meaning. If the flag means nothing to you, that too is an investment. And so we are destined to watch as America’s beacon dims and those constitutional ideals fade to gray then black.

Now they are gone, gone as the sun’s setting blaze

Sinks in the west while night presses relentlessly on,

And with them the now-old tale of better days,

And trophies of remembered power — they, too are gone.

The Field that once gave us harvest, where the plow

Strikes the bleached-white bone, is all that tells our story now.

(THE PLANET‘s adaptation of Bryant’s “A Walk at Sunset,” verse 8).

————————————————————————————————–

“There is much more to being a patriot and a citizen than reciting the “Pledge” or raising the flag.”Jesse Ventura

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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Pat
Pat
8 years ago

I agree with much of what you have written. I do think though that being fulfilled also means being happy because if we are fulfilled why wouldn’t you be happy or at least content which I also think should be considered happiness.

As for this country, I hope for better days, but just as Pittsfield is a microcosm of what is going on in the rest of the country, I too am deeply worried. There is too much greed, corruption and people trying to force their vision of this country on others. Leaders no longer care what the majority of the people think. They just look our for the needs and wants of special interest groups. We don’t have a united nation because we are quite obviously not a united people. United we stand, but divided we fall has never had more meaning than today.

nostrodumbass
nostrodumbass
8 years ago

Life:
A woman’s right to choose supercedes a baby’s right to live is the law of the land.
Over 1 million babies cut from their mother’s womb each year, deprived of life, thrown in the garbage.

Liberty:
A high tech total surveillance police state is overtaking the U.S. Constitution where privacy is a thing of the past and the government monitors everything you do.
A totally corrupt government where kickbacks and payoffs by special interests supercede the collective will of the citizens.
An educational system of indoctrination of the youth, indoctrinated in political correctness, obediant citizens trained to work at low paying jobs and taught to pay their taxes.

Pursuit of happiness:
The prescribing and dispensing of psychotropic drugs for depression at a rate unequalled in human history. Children as young as 4 years old put on brain chemical altering medications to control behavior. Teens, young adults, and adults addicted to heroin and opium at unpresidented levels. State sponsored opiate medical dispensories added to communites all accross the USA.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness in the 21st century.

Southeast
Southeast
8 years ago

the flags in Park Square look wonderful. Thank you Ernie Weider and WalMart.

The Stars and Stripes have meant so much to the world these past 239 years. From hope for the hopeless to pride in doing the right thing, to a symbol of a place where one can rise up and better one’s self.

We may not be perfect – but I have a $10 bill payable through DV (from me) for the first person who can honestly show me a place that is better or that has done more good in this world.

Even in protest – the flag symbolizes our hopes that we can change our society and government relatively peacefully. 43 different people elected as president, 44 having served in the office – and each time, though some large percentage was unhappy with the choice – we managed to move forward.

political arguments about how we should run this city or state aside, this is still an awesome place and the fact that we can read what DV prints and comment on it proves it daily.

Waterman
Waterman
Reply to  Southeast
8 years ago

SOUTHEAST– This is an awesome place to live. CITY GOVT IS LIKE ANY BUSINESS. BUSINESSES THAT ARE FAILING ALMOST 100% OF THE TIME CAN BE TURNED AROUND BUT WHAT MADE THEM FAIL IN THE FIRST PLACE IS THE FIRST STEP TO RECOVERY. ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY THE MAIN PROBLEM IS IN MANAGEMENT. IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, EVERYONE HAS TO COLLABORATE WITH MANAGEMENT TO SET A CLEAR CUT GOAL .IN GOVT. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT THE WRONG PEOPLE ARE ELECTED AND WE END UP WITH THE MESS WE HAVE HERE IN PITTSFIELD. I HOPE IN MY LIFETIME THAT WE SEE OUR GOVT. HERE CHANGE TO A CITY MANAGER TYPE OF GOVT. THIS IS NOT THE MOST PERFECT WAY TO RUN A CITY BUT WHAT IT TAKES OUT OF THE PICTURE IS THE GOB NETWORK AND THE MONEY PEOPLE WHO ALWAYS BUY THIER WAY INTO THE CITY GOVT, FINALLY IT IS PARAMOUNT THAT EVERYONE GET INVOLVED AND LOOK AT HE CITY AS AN EXTENSION OF THIER OWN FAMILY AND PARTICIPATE TO CORRECT PROBLEMS WITHIN THE CITY AS THEY WOULD DO WITHIN THIER OWN FAMILY. SHORT OF THIS NOTHING CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED AND THE CITY WILL CONTINUE TO ERRODE UNTILL IT GOES BANKRUPT AND EVERYONE LOOSES BIG TIME. SINCERELY CRAIG.

Henry
Henry
8 years ago

Thank You Dan for the history and the reminder of our responsibilities as human beings.

Very well written !!!!

Pat
Pat
8 years ago

The editorial in the BB today is complaining about two city councilors who didn’t want to approve behavioral counselors for the Pittsfield schools at a cost of $280,000.00. This is how this local newspaper puts pressure on the public and the politicians to keep funding this monster we have created which is the Pittsfield Public School system. City Councilors Simonelli and Morandi objected to the money for the behavioral counselors and this is the response they receive. Almost everyone here on Planet Valenti wants city councilors and politicians who will stand up the to the demands of the school system. Dan Valenti says not one penny more to the school system here in Pittsfield. The BB is putting public pressure on these two councilors to basically shut up and sit down and give the schools the money. So even when we have councilors that will speak out against this insanity, they still have an uphill battle.

If the schools want the money they need to learn how to budget. They have more than enough money if they would stop giving themselves big raises. Yes, Pittsfield is a poverty ridden city and maybe these counselors are needed, but impoverishing the citizens even more by taking more and more money from taxpayers only makes the poverty situation in the city worse. Why can’t people understand this basic truth? I think the BB and GOB’s do understand it, but want to keep fooling the public into believing their tall tales of needing more and more money to deal with the crisis of poverty in the city. Yes, there is a crisis, but throwing more money at the schools isn’t the solution!!!!!

Pat
Pat
8 years ago

By the way I think it bears repeating that the Pittsfield schools want over a quarter of a million dollars to hire behavioral counselors to fight the effects of poverty in the city. Parents are poverty ridden and their kids are acting out in the schools. Here is a novel solution. How about using the quarter of a million dollars to fight poverty in the city? Hiring counselors, who probably won’t even be local people if the track record of the schools is any indication, only helps the counselors to have jobs. It doesn’t help the situation of the poor to better themselves and their situation. Our local politicians need to develop REAL economic engines to help the city so people can find jobs. A new Taconic is NOT an economic engine for the long term. To solve the job problem in this city would take politicians who can actually think of solutions rather than just signing money off to the school system and thinking this solves everything. Our Pittsfield politicians have been giving more and more money each year to the Pittsfield school system and as even the BB is forced to finally admit in today’s editorial, poverty in Pittsfield is getting worse not better. So we need different solutions not the same old same old from our politicians. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

Jimmy Gee
Jimmy Gee
Reply to  Pat
8 years ago

Pat. If it sucks so bad here in Pittsfield why don’t you move? Fair question

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Jimmy Gee
8 years ago

Typical Pittsfield answer when anybody suggests changes need to happen. Did you ever think that maybe it’s because I do love the city and would like it to survive that I am complaining? People who say nothing and watch the city go downhill are the real problem in my opinion.

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
Reply to  Jimmy Gee
8 years ago

@JimmyGee – I love Pittsfield because:
* Pittsfield politics is totally corrupt
* 70% of Pittsfield residents are on welfare
* Pittsfield city government has very high taxes, fees, spending, and debts
* Thousands of people have moved out of Pittsfield
* Pittsfield’s tax base is shrinking or diminishing
* North Street is a multimillion dollar cultural district most people avoid, especially after hours
* Pittsfield is known for its violence, crime, poverty, drugs, and even gangs
* Teen pregnancies in Pittsfield double the statewide average
* Pittsfield’s public schools are among the worst performing in the state and nation
* Over 600 students per year choice out of Pittsfield’s public schools
* Jack Welch left Pittsfield for Wall Street, but left Pittsfield tons of GE’s toxic waste cancer causing chemicals called PCBs
* Jack Welch takes morning swims in Silver Lake, the eats Teo’s hotdogs for lunch
* Jimmy Ruberto still lives in his late-parents Pittsfield home
* Carmen Massimiano and Angelo Stracuzzi are going to get married
* Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. wants to grow taller and win a seat in U.S. Congress without plagiarizing his policy positions
* Linda Tyer is best friends with Jimmy Ruberto and his Good Old Boys club
* Dan Bianchi is going to win the lottery jackpot and pay for the new Taconic High School
* Pittsfield is ran by the Good Old Boys network for the vested interests while the working poor gets poorer
* I have a better shot at winning the lottery jackpot than finding a living wage full time job in Pittsfield
* Pittsfield has uncontested state and federal government elections
* Pittsfield has corrupt career politicians who intimidate anyone from opposing them
* Pittsfield declined a bypass, a downtown mall, a new minor league ballpark, and other investments in the community
* Only about 20 percent of the voters turnout to votes in Pittsfield
* Citizen apathy is the norm in Pittsfield
* Hunger, hopelessness, and homelessness are part of Pittsfield social fabric
* Pittsfield’s high finances are going to go insolvent and bankrupt

Jim Gleason
Jim Gleason
8 years ago

Dan brought to my attention today that there have been some rude comments made about people on here using my name. Please rest assured they haven’t been from me. I haven’t been on this blog in months, oribably since December or January. Whoever had been using my name to make rude comments please grow a set of balls and use your own name and not mine. Thanks.