Letters to the Editor

Editor’s note: Due to space constraints this letter was not published last week.

To the editor,

The Betsy Ross flag is a reconstructed early design for the flag of the United States and has red stripes outermost and stars arranged in a circle. These details elaborate on the 1777 act, passed early in the American Revolutionary War, which specified 13 alternating red and white horizontal stripes and 13 white stars in a blue background. It is widely believed that, shortly after the 1777 act, upholsterer and flag maker Betsy Ross produced a flag of this design The downtown decorating committee of the Dayton Task Force recently placed a ‘Betsy Ross’ wooden flag on the wagon in front of the museum believing it would be a bright spot for a couple of months and that it would be a historic and patriotic gesture from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July. However, in only three days it was taken down. Why??? Because of what appeared to be an organized group that believe our nation’s founding is one that is rooted in racism and exploitation. They claimed that the flag represents white supremacy and that those who ‘fly’ this flag are insurrectionists and not patriots. They demanded that the flag be removed immediately. It was taken down for fear it would be vandalized.

What is the political history of the ‘Betsy Ross’ design? It is traditionally displayed at US presidential inaugurations including recently the first inauguration of Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Betsy Ross herself was promoted as a patriotic model for young girls and a symbol of women’s contribution to American history. The circle of 13 stars, which defines the Betsy Ross design, is found on two state flags namely Rhode Island and Indiana. The US Foreign Service flag also features the circle of 13-stars. Since 1963, the Philadelphia 76ers have used the ring of 13-stars in their team logo as a reference to Philadelphia and the US capital where the Declaration of Independence was signed and where Betsy Ross worked. (Flag information from Wikipedia.)

Colin Kaepernick, the football player who will not stand for the National Anthem, is also a spokesperson for Nike. The shoemaker nixed their plan to make sneakers with the Betsy Ross flag symbol after Kaepernick intervened. In protest to that move, citizens across the US donned hats and shirts depicting the Betsy Ross flag.

The Task Force has never been a political group. The main goal of this group, that has been working for 39 years, is to promote economic vitality of Dayton through community enhancing projects. These projects include revitalizing Main Street, initiating the restoration of the Liberty Theater, the Patit Creek Campsite, the Caboose Park, downtown flower baskets and many others. As a member of the Task Force almost since its inception, I recommend that the flag be re-installed. Let us have an informed discussion where objectors can present their case.

Marcene Hendrickson

Dayton, Wash.

To the editor,

I’m writing in response to the library celebrating June as Pride month with books and movies with LGBTQ+ characters. If the library is for these people, is there that many in this community or is the library pushing an agenda? Bill Maher has a show “New Rule: Along for the Pride.” He states there are more trans kids in CA than OH. “Either Ohio is shaming them or California is creating them.”

Finland and Sweden stopped giving puberty blockers to kids. Among other things, they affect bone density and sexual pleasure. Kids have phases and they enjoy shocking adults. Do we need to cut off body parts and confuse them on who they were created to be?

It would be nice to keep sexuality as an adult activity. Let kids be innocent, have pets, play sports, and swim in a pool. There are better ways to spend public money.

Kathryn Tapio

Dayton, Wash.

To the editor,

I read with interest Marcene Hendrickson’s letter to the editor. The idea of a special flag is wonderful. However, I looked up several opinions about the Betsy Ross Flag-with the numbers in the middle. Keegan Hankes, research analyst for the Southern Poverty Law Center stated, “Historically, these symbols (1776) have been used by white supremacists, both to harken back to a time when black people were enslaved, while also painting themselves as the inheritors of the “true” American tradition.”

In recent years, the 1776 flag has been associated with the Patriot Movement, made up primarily of right-wing protestors.

The flag continues to be a source of disagreement among many in society, with some believing it represents American traditions and others seeing it as a symbol of a right-wing agenda.

I do not know which group (?) decided to remove the flag, but I believe that it was the correct “thing” to do. No matter what you choose to believe-we are already living with too much division in our town. The flag could be re-installed, but with some minor changes. Painting or drawing over the numbers would be an easy solution. I appreciate the task force for all the work you do-but I hope that doesn’t include promoting hate for others.

Sharon Eaton

Dayton, Wash.

To the editor,

I received several calls, texts and e-mails regarding my “Letter to the Editor” regarding a wooden flag on Main Street. Sometimes clarity can be achieved even if agreement cannot be reached.

I learned that the main objection to this particular flag was that the Number ‘1776’ was on the Betsy Ross flag. It was pointed out that the historic Betsy Ross flag had no writing and that adding the numbers is a desecration of the flag.

Although the flag in question was meant to be an Americana flag, this point should be considered. One commenter suggested removing the ‘1776’ would be an easy fix. The second objection had to do with ‘1776’ itself stating that it was the symbol of a controversial political movement. One person quoted an analyst for the Southern Poverty Law Center who stated that the 1776 flag has been associated with the Patriot Movement, made up primarily of anti-establishment, right-wing protestors.

The flag continues to be a source of disagreement among many in society, with some believing it represents American tradition and others seeing it as a symbol of right-wing agenda.”

Another writer strongly disagreed stating that negative parts of our history need not be defining labels. If that were the case, we could not celebrate anything at all. An analogy for why this perspective is dysfunctional might be that if somebody’s great-great-grandfather was physically abusive to his spouse, should a descendant’s spouse treat her husband as an abuser who could be categorized as such forever. How does this make a functional relationship? It doesn’t. Must we choose to be hung up on past events that have nothing to do with our current community.

Someone suggested that if we keep picking at scabs, we will never heal.

Still another opinion. . . there are many of us who harken back to the original constitution that was written in 1776 and do not want a ‘living constitution’. We appreciate the number ‘1776’.

One comment I heard was that in this ‘age of rage’ I am discouraged and now a bright spot-on Main Street is gone. Another commenter said “In the era of ‘faceless anger’ I thank you for stepping up regarding this current controversy.

Some groups have an ‘identity’. Unfortunately, we as a community do not have agreement on the ‘1776’ matter. We did have such agreement during the 200th anniversary of our nation in 1976. During that year there were many celebrations and all the fire hydrants in Dayton were painted red, white, and blue.

The one thing I hoped was that there would be no personal attacks; only discussion of subject matter. Unfortunately, personal attacks were made and I suggest that we will be less divided if we stick to true facts and not hearsay and certainly refrain from blame.

There was no intention that the ‘1776’ on the flag on Main Street be part of any political movement. It was meant to be a bright patriotic spot. So, when each of us thinks of ‘1776’, our conclusions will probably have much to do with ‘who we trust and what are they telling us’. There is controversy and either side can find support on the Internet for their position. If we truly believe that we want to be part of the solution, however, we could be a group of people who don’t always agree but who stick to the subject at hand and refrain from personal disparagement.

Marcene Hendrickson

Dayton