It seems that The New York Times Editorial Board Member Mara Gay expressed concern over the abundance of American flags during a visit to a friend on Long Island. During an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” on June 8, she remarked that she was unsettled by the numerous pick-up trucks adorned with explicit anti-Biden messages, Pro-Trump flags, and even American flags. Yes, American flags. In her perception, these flags conveyed a distinct message: “This is my country, this is not your country. I own this.”
Proofread: Following her appearance on “Morning Joe,” Mara faced significant and well-deserved criticism for her remarks. In response to the backlash, she took to Twitter to address the controversy.
Not surprisingly, The New York Times swiftly came to her defense, employing the familiar liberal refrain: “It was irresponsibly taken out of context.” In a bid to mitigate the impact of her remarks, the official New York Times Communications Twitter handle tweeted:
The New York Times continues to exhibit a glaring double standard in their treatment of their own staff. Take, for instance, the case of Bari Weiss, who endured persistent harassment, bullying, and baseless accusations of being a Nazi and a racist by her colleagues at the NYT, ultimately leading to her resignation in July 2020. Yet, the paper swiftly rushes to the defense of Mara Gay. Whenever such blatant hypocrisy occurs, they rely on another liberal standby: “There is no moral equivalency between the two.”
Now, ‘The View’s’ co-host, Sunny Hostin, has weighed in, attributing blame to former President Trump: “You have the former disgraced, twice-impeached, one-term president to thank for politicizing the American flag.” In the interview, Hostin asserts feeling threatened by the presence of the American flag alongside Trump and Betsy Ross flags, going so far as to equate it with symbols of white supremacy and racism. Her sentiment aligns closely with Mara Gay’s assertion that this represents a message of ownership: ‘Our country, not your country.'”
Mara Gay and Sunny Hostin appear to take issue with the American flag, and that’s their prerogative. They have the right to their opinions; after all, this is America, and yes, it belongs to them too. It’s important to recognize that countless men and women sacrificed their lives over the years to safeguard everyone’s right to hold differing views about the flag and America as a whole.
However, it’s equally important to acknowledge that others also have the right to embrace the American flag as a symbol of freedom and to openly disagree with their perspective, just as they have the right to disagree with others. It’s nonsensical to view the American flag as a symbol of white supremacy and racism simply because it’s flown alongside Trump flags, the Betsy Ross flag, or even the Confederate flag. While this may not be Mara’s intended message, it can certainly be perceived that way by many Americans who cherish the flag and their country.
Moreover, Mara’s suggestion of the need for a commission to explain that the events of January 6th constituted an insurrection is completely absurd. Once again, in America, individuals are free to believe what they choose.
