Are you okay with the American flag being replaced by the Palestinian flag?

For those of us who remember the first moon landing on July 20, 1969, the feat, itself was, indeed, “one giant leap for mankind,” per the words of the mission’s commander, Neil Armstrong, who made that unforgettable statement. Attaching the American flag to an 8-foot pole, right there on the moon, was the symbol of the ultimate achievement, only actualized, at that point, by the U.S. who would always have that distinction.

Planting a flag has great significance. It represents staking one’s territorial claim, similar to the iconic photo of the American marines, raising the flag on Iwo Jima at the close of the Pacific War in 1945. The small island, seen as strategically important, due to its airfields, was used to make bombing runs on Japan. Once captured by American soldiers, the flag became both a symbol for all of the marines who gave their lives in the service of their country, but it was also to mark the capture of that peak. Noting the tremendous victory it represented, the image actually raised a whopping $26 billion in war bonds, due to the emotions it evoked.

It is this same kind of symbolism, but this time, in an attempt to inspire enemies of America, which evoked passions, as anti-Israel student protesters and professional activists dared to replace the American flag with the Palestinian one, on at least three separate campuses – the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Harvard University and City College of NY. The act infuriated New York’s Mayor Eric Adams who made the following comment, at a Wednesday press conference, “It’s despicable that schools will allow another country’s flag to fly in our country. So, blame me for being proud to be an American.”

But, why did he react as he did – using the word “despicable” to describe what happened? Perhaps the headlines of the New York Post newspaper captured it best, printing the words, “Harvard has Fallen,” showing a waving Palestinian flag on the Cambridge, Massachusetts Ivy League campus. To equate the unfurled flag, blowing in the wind, with the word “fallen” served as an accurate depiction, because it denoted a type of conquering by hostile forces which intended to send the message that the campus now belonged to them.

Video of Harvard students raising the Palestinian flag.

They did this an hour after the dean reiterated that participants in the encampment would be disciplined.

They’re making a mockery of Harvard — if that’s even possible anymore. https://t.co/plEaLIzYq3 pic.twitter.com/YvIiIwYNbS

— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) April 27, 2024

Of course, none of this should come as a great surprise, considering that the action is totally consistent with the goals of radical Islam which has at its core, the aspiration to conquer all people and lands in order to create a worldwide caliphate.  Whether they knew it or not, these anti-Israel students, along with the other agitators, successfully created a shocking visual, which rocked the consciousness of the nation. Now, the reality has hit home, in a way it never had, even after the insidious Twin Tower attack. 

American academia has become the conquered prey of terrorist supporters who believe that their cause is virtuous and one that should be the dominant voice. Just as in any hostage situation, demands are being made as to what must take place in order to appease the anarchists who have seized the territory. And make no mistake, replacing the flag was a clear signal that they had staked their claim, replacing the red, white and blue with the black, white, green and red. 

It’s hard to imagine a starker picture of intimidation, cause for alarm and a general sense of demoralization than having one’s patriotic landmarks, statues and cornerstones replaced with others that are viewed as the antithesis to freedom, rights and liberties. These icons, which represent the identifying values and ideals upon which America was built, have been hijacked and held hostage by haters of democracy. 

So, to suddenly consider that the land of the free and the home of the brave is in jeopardy of being taken over by kaffiyeh masked faces, who despise all Jews, as well as hold Western traditions with contempt, is a troubling and enraging provocation which is tantamount to a call for immediate action.

And that is exactly what happened at UNC, Chapel Hill, when an hours-long showdown took place. The story unfolded as “Patriotic frat boys valiantly protected an American flag on the campus of the university, even while being pelted by water bottles from pro-Palestine protestors. Footage emerged on social media showing the group of male students from the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, holding onto the stars and stripes during the Tuesday protest. While being screamed at by masked protestors, the Palestine flag was hoisted. The flag was finally replaced by UNC Interim Chancellor Lee Roberts who responded by personally walking out into the midst of the protest and removing the Palestine flag. Students began chanting USA, USA, USA.”

In the end, the national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, was sung, and those frat boys gained the admiration of many Americans who saw them as the heroes who were willing to defend their country’s symbol, even while under personal, physical attack, almost no differently from fighting enemies abroad. 

But has it really come to the need for Americans to step up in defense of their country, against foreigners and home-grown defectors who have been easily influenced and duped into thinking that the U.S., is an evil country which is must be conquered by those they naively believe will build a better society?

And how is that even possible when their belief system is rooted in the hatred of Jews, Christians and anyone who does not hold their views as sacred, to the point of the martyrdom which they consider to be the highest calling to which one can aspire? 

This is the frightening message behind replacing one flag with another. It is literally the red alert that treasured values and one’s way of life are now in jeopardy of being conquered and taken over by terrorists along with those who have been mesmerized by their distortions, lies and deceptive representations of merely being freedom fighters who are battling for a better existence. What they fail to state upfront, though, is that it is always at the price of annihilating someone else.

Although some interviewed insisted that this had nothing to do with antisemitism or Jew hatred, a decisive win for Gazans is dependent upon the defeat of the Jewish homeland. So even if they disavow antisemitism, they are still on the side of the hatred that is fueling Hamas and their goal of eradicating all Jews.  

Likewise, those who were happy to see the Palestinian flag replace the American one, are advocating for the end of all you cherish. So, if you’re one of those people who values the blessing of freedom, as represented by your flag, speak up now, because if you don’t, the voices of others will drown out everyone else’s.