I usually go once a week to a local thrift store here, and sometimes I find some cool little things that you don't see anymore, usually for less than a buck.

I walked in there today, and found two finds that would make any true "picker" proud.

For 80 cents, I found an old Catholic German wooden/Brass Crucifix--a really rare one.  Really detailed.  Then, I found an old ceramic tile, with artwork on it.  The tile was about 6 inches square, glossy, no chips--painted black.  On the front was a beautiful art deco image of a 48-star American flag, with some phrase like "long may it wave," I can't remember.  It's hard sometimes to know the fakes from the old authentic stuff.  There's a whole industry committed to fooling collectors and so-called "pickers" like myself, hoping to find something authentic amid a flood of reproductions that are worthless.

The flag had a yellowish translucent glitter over it, making it sparkle when you walk past it.  On the back was the original cardboard backing with the item number, name and origin of the product.  This item, as the cross--also was 80 cents.

I got it home and looked it up.  It dated from circa 1939-1942, if genuine, which I am certain it is.

That's Pearl Harbor merchandise--"Long may it wave"--December 7, 1941.

The ones that were from the same company, same period--yet not so historic or topical, sold on eBay and other auctionhouses ranging from $35 to $200 dollars.

Wow.

Anyway, what's the point?  Maybe it's that I thought about how ironic, that it was only 9 years ago that anything that had that image on it was a scarce item, one that brought huge amounts of money, and was seen everywhere.  When WALMART had the flag's for 25-50 dollars, no pole, no mast.  Just flag.  And they were sold out. People just kept buying them.

(In case you forgot, the weeks after 9/11.  Remember?)

What in the Hell happened?

There was a spike in patriotism then like I had never seen.  When Obama was elected, there was a slight patriotism, which lasted from that tear-filled night of joy and pride until just after the Inauguration.  But he's just a man.  It wasn't the same as 9 years ago, because only half the country was thrilled.  And it was celebrating a politician, not our people, our country. 

9/11 was about so much more.

(heroism, kindness, sorrow, pride, solemnity, honor, sacrifice, unity, love, loss, etc.) 

I miss that.  I really do.  It wasn't about Flags really, or Bush, or even New York City, or Firemen.  It was how we felt about ourselves, and one another.

It was like if a person came this close to dying, or to losing someone--or actually losing someone they love--and then getting that natural sense of awareness, of the balance between all things in our lives, and getting that clear, keen vision and power to say, "I see.  I see now."

But now, in 2010--that is all gone, and forgotten.  America is more divided than ever, and it seems we hate each other more than we do love each other.

Instead of crossing lines and realizing all that which we love, and don't want to ever lose--America has become a battleground, and at times, a graveyard. 

So I am ashamed today.  I am ashamed that we forgot.  I am ashamed that we failed to keep in our hearts and minds and plans and memories what that "Greatest Generation" seemed to never forget.  I am ashamed I bought that Pearl Harbor plaque with our nation's flag for only 80 cents, as though that is all somebody thought it is worth.

Does it take death, and mourning, and anguish, and attacks, and fire--to mobilize us, to motivate us, to make us love and protect and respect each other?  What the Hell is wrong with us?

I don't care if there is differences.  Or differing opinions.  I don't care if we all look different, have different styles, different tastes, and different politics.  I don't care if we argue all day and still see things slightly different or totally opposite as to how we see things.  WE are one country, and we should all be friends, and act like it.  We should all want to help each other.  Save each other.  We have, and will have--enough drama, enough fighting, enough trouble, and enough enemies.

We have totally forgotten that we are unique, and blessed, and supposed to be neighborly, courteous, generous, helpful, and united.  That was once our power. 

But perhaps if we make enough jokes about each other, and about death, about people we oppose or events like 9/11, or if we make lies, make accusations, ruin each other, and continue to tear away, to tear down each other enough--maybe that will make us feel worthy, and happy and powerful, and right.  But does it help us?  Does it make us "beautiful"?  Does it make us the people we always wished we could be?

I thought we were the United States of America.  And proud to be so.

(Like my little tile said, "Long may it wave...")

I have heard this before, and it may be apt here, so maybe it's worth repeating.  And it's this; the last verse of Key's "Star Spangled Banner" is actually a question:

"O' say does that Star Spangled

Banner yet wave,

O'er the land of the free,

and the home of the brave?"