|
 | |||
| Lopez Island | Orcas Island | Visitor's Guide | ||
| Email this page to a friend | ||
| ||||||||||||||||
COLUMN BY MATT PRANGER |
Previous columnsList of columns written by Matt Pranger | |
|
Between the rock and hard place
posted 10/08/01
Islanders also painted personal messages from birthday wishes to cryptic signs. And each Friday Harbor High School graduating class continued to leave its mark.
In the last dozen years only a few obscenities were drawn on the rock. Most of the artists respected the previous painters' creations, letting them stand for at least a few weeks up to a few months.
Driving Beaverton Road from and to home the past four years I looked forward to seeing the rock's changing face. After a long day a new painting and even some long-standing ones lifted my spirits. As with most islanders depressed by the terrorists' attacks on Sept. 11, seeing an American flag curling around the rock comforted me. Others expressed similar feelings. High-schooler John Thomas and his family painted the Stars and Stripes in memory of the people who lost their lives on Sept. 11. "I thought it was a good idea because of the World Trade Center (attack)," Thomas said. He became discouraged when a black peace symbol was drawn over the flag the next day. "I thought defacing the American flag was the worst part," Thomas said. "It's pretty bad when the octopus lasts longer than the American flag."
Thomas also was concerned his intentions were misinterpreted by whoever "tagged" the rock with the peace symbol. "We're not saying we're for war," he said. Upset by the peace symbol "desecration," John and Lainey Volk restored the flag on last Thursday. John Volk said the people painting the peace sign have a right to say what they want but "on top of the flag is probably not an appropriate place." Another peace symbol and the words "To err is human, to forgive is divine," were painted over the retouched flag the night of Oct. 5, 2001. Volk again restored the flag on Sept. 6. "There was sentiment in the community to put it back the way it was," said Volk, who noted several passing motorists honked their approval. Both Thomas and Volk don't expect the flag to be there permanently, but they hope it will stand for more than a few days. They also don't want their efforts to be misconstrued. "The flag represents this nation….It's this country. It's them and me and everybody," Volk said. There is even room on the rock for the peace symbol or other messages, Volk said. "They have a right to express what they want to do. I just hope they would respect the flag. Everybody can have the feelings they have and still be patriotic."
I concur with the flag taggers. Flying the Stars and Stripes, whether on a rock, your lapel, car antenna or elsewhere, doesn't make one a warmonger. Showing the flag honors our dead -- the bodies pulled from the World Trade Center are appropriately draped in the flag. The Stars and Stripes fly over one of the most liberal nations in the world. One that not only allows, but also protects people espousing divergent views. The peace-sign painters should be free to paint their message, but they also need to respect others' art and opinions. They could paint their symbol and messages adjacent to the flag. Or they could follow island tradition and let the flag stand, wait a few weeks or more, put on a new background and then paint their symbol. As the war against terrorism escalates, islanders' ability to accommodate others' opinions will be tried. Hopefully that, and the rock, will reflect what most of our community believes: Respect for and tolerance of others' views. |
|
|
SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008 |
|
