I wrote this in debate with someone on a list years ago.

          this statement was made:

          "I'll swear, if  people aren't  worshipping a 2000  year old dead
          man, they're  worshipping a  multicolored rag.  And, I thought we
          were evolving."

          Here were my comments:


               First, He might not be dead.

               Second, the symbolic meaning of  that flag is what gives you
          the freedom to say what you did.   You can now even stand out  in
          front of your house and  burn that flag without being prosecuted.
          You can spit on it, drag  it around in the mud, or sew  it on the
          back of your pants or  use it for toilet paper if you  like.  Not
          many flags like that around any more.  Do we need the  flag?  No.
          Does it have meaning?   simple answer.  Do people  really worship
          the  flag  or  is the  meaning  of  the flag  the  thing  that is
          important to  them?  You can stand in the parade as the flag goes
          buy  in this  country and  while you  are  giving it  the finger,
          others will  stand  at attention,  place  there hand  over  their
          heart, remove  their  hat,  and others,  who  have  served  their
          country to give meaning to that flag and its colors, will salute.
          In this  country, you  don't have to  like the  flag or  even the
          country  it represents.  Try  that in some  other countries.  Too
          many  people  have  died,   justly  or  unjustly,  it  makes   no
          difference,  to  give  that  flag meaning.    Worship?    homage?
          reverence?  If not,  how about just some common old  respect?  If
          you don't  think things have  symbolic meaning then you  can skip
          that, too.  Respect I mean.  It's a free country after all.

           Phil.