WASHINGTON, DC, June 3 — There’s no law barring a U.S. Embassy or Consulate from flying a “specialty flag” along with the Stars and Stripes. But, if there are enough patriotic lawmakers in Congress, there soon may be, thanks to the progressive activist who runs the Department of State, Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Blinken has given our embassies and consulates blanket permission to go ahead and fly “politically motivated’ ensigns alongside the American flag. The announcement came just in time for the June celebration of gay pride month so that Ambassadors and Consuls can go ahead and fly the so-called Pride Flag. Other banners, such as the emblem of the Black Lives Matter, can also be flown at will at official U.S. buildings under the Blinken directive.
The new policy triggered outrage among lawmakers who see it as a dishonorable offense and quickly put together legislation, the Stars and Stripes Act of 2021, to restrict the use of flags that can be flown, deferentially, along with the American flag at government buildings.
The bill was introduced just before the Memorial Day weekend by Republican Representatives Nicole Malliotakis (NY), Ken Buck (CO), Michael Guest (MS), Darrell Issa (CA), Brian Mast (FL), and Pete Sessions (TX), the new House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (NY).
Nicole Malliotakis, in a press release, said: “It is inappropriate for President Biden and Secretary Blinken to authorize and encourage the display of inherently political flags that are in no way affiliated with the U.S. Government over American embassies overseas. The American flag is a beacon of freedom and hope for oppressed peoples worldwide; it should be the primary flag flown above our embassies, and that is what my legislation seeks to accomplish. The Administration’s directive is an insult to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our flag and our nation – especially as we head into Memorial Day weekend – and it is absolutely ridiculous that legislation is needed to correct this issue.”
Elise Stefanik put it this way: “Our beautiful American flag should fly over our U.S. embassies around the world – not the flag of a political organization founded by Marxists.”
The new policy triggered outrage among the more loyal members of Congress and urged them to quickly pen the proposed law. It might have a chance of getting passed in the Senate, where the Democrats hold a slight majority if it gets that far. But it is unlikely it will make it through the House where Democrats and progressive socialists hold sway.
But it shows that are still some patriots left in Congress, particularly when we will soon be observing Flag Day on June 14– when on that day in 1777, Old Glory was adopted by the Second Continental Congress to be the official flag of the United States.