A few weeks ago, I slowly drove through Hudson’s quaint downtown rotary, passing protesters waving various anti-Trump signs. Even though I was sympathetic to their general cause, I scowled at the protesters and refused to wave back or honk my car horn in support. Why? Because I didn’t see one American flag. Not one. It upset me. … Fast-forward to yesterday’s ‘No Kings’ protest at the same quaint rotary: scores of anti-Trump protesters with American flags. Adults waving flags. Children waving flags. Flags painted on anti-Trump signs. Flags planted in the rotary gardens. It felt like a 4^th of July parade in small-town America. I enthusiastically waved back at the protesters and honked my car horn in support. These protesters had won my backing. …

Get the picture, future anti-Trump protest organizers? American flags in, keffiyehs out, as the Globe’s Carine Hajjar might put it. Stop alienating potential anti-Trump supporters by dragging in other left-wing causes that many people might find objectionable, if not offensive, as the New York Times recently reported (‘Protests Go Beyond Immigration to Include Array of Left-Wing Causes’). … A little patriotism goes a long way, folks. …. Photo by iStrfry , Marcus on Unsplash.

Update – A Hub Blog reader has reminded me about my Retake the Flag post a short while ago, featuring a Bill Maher rant on the subject. Check it out.

Update II — Universal Hub has photos of other local protests. And I see flags. ….