PLATFORM : This Is My Country

Last week, I stood waiting for my sisters in front of their high school. At the school entrance, an American flag was swaying proudly and gracefully in the air. As the students began to come out, one young girl yelled, “What’s this stupid flag doing here? There should be a Mexican flag here, not this.” A boy nearby pulled the pole out and let our precious flag fall to the ground.

For the longest minute of my life, I watched as several students trampled my flag. After they finished, I bent over, picked up my battered flag and put it back in its place, because here is where it belongs.

I felt anger and frustration. Everyone has forgotten that this flag represents freedom to the oppressed, a second chance to hard-working people and, most of all, our home. The blood that runs through my veins may be Cuban, but the pride I have in my heart is very much American.

When I took my citizenship vows, I took an oath to uphold the laws of this country. If you want to fly your native flag, do so in your heart; if you live here, you owe this country respect. If you cannot give such respect, you are free to leave.