From Stars and Stripes to Sacred Hearts, what our flags say about us

An artist designs a response to Martha-Ann Alito’s anti-Pride flag, and other readers reflect on their banners.

Although I have not been a Catholic or a theist of any kind for two decades, I still find the imagery of the church compelling in its richness and even its grotesqueness. And when I read about Martha-Ann Alito’s desire to fly a Sacred Heart of Jesus flag emblazoned with the word “vergogna” as a rebuke to Pride flags, it struck a personal note for me.

I preserved the symbols that originally appeared on that prayer card, given how apt they are in this shifted context: the spear of persecution, which also carries a sexual connotation of penetration; the crown of thorns, with its ironic indication of kingship ; the flames, with their dual senses of consuming sacrifice and passion. Instead of divine love pouring forth even to sinners who defy the divine, my design offers the resilience and defiance of pride in the face of persecution.

One day, while I struggled with the flag in high winds, an older gentleman, a Vietnam veteran, stopped to help. He was deeply concerned that the flag might touch the ground. His emotion and pride in our banner were palpable. He saluted as the flag was raised, thanked me and left. This moment highlights the reverence many hold for our flag.

Another explanation was that Martha-Ann Alito was upset about a yard sign in the neighborhood that contained a vulgarity. I live in a very conservative state. If I decided to fly a signal of distress every time I saw a sign using that particular vulgarity in reference to President Biden, my yard would be full of upside-down flags!,” about being mistaken for a Donald Trump fan because he flew the American flag. I have made the same error in reverse.

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