LETTER: What Makes A Good American

The letter written below was submitted by a Patch reader. No letter to the editor ever reflects the views or opinions of Patch or its employees. Letters to the editor are a platform for dialogue about issues important to readers. To submit a letter to the editor, please email justin.heinze@patch.com.

Despite hurricanes and ongoing threats from North Korea last week, Trump decided to focus his energy and criticism on the NFL players because they knelt during the National Anthem. His tweets and comments generated discussion across the country about the characteristics of a true American patriot. Should they have little American flags all over their front lawn? Swimming trunks with the flag on it? Sing along with the National Anthem? While it is respectful to honor the flag and stand for the National Anthem, there are other ways to be a good American that requires far more courage and conviction than slapping a sticker of the flag on your bumper.

The "Arkansas 9" demonstrated qualities that highlight the best and worst of the American spirit. With so much attention this week on NFL players and what they do during the National Anthem, most people failed to remember that 60 years ago to the date, under escort from the 101st Airborne Division, nine black students ("The Arkansas 9") entered the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Three weeks earlier, Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus had surrounded the school with National Guard troops to prevent its federal court-ordered racial integration. After a tense standoff, President Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas National Guard and sent 1,000 army paratroopers to Little Rock to enforce the court order and the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka that made racial segregation in educational facilities unconstitutional.

This is a painful reminder that 60 years ago there were thousands of racist protesters standing in front of Central High School threatening these nine black high school students from entering school. There was no Anthem playing as the mobs of bigots screamed racist vulgarities at them as they tried to enter school. The American flag couldn't hide them from the threats they received from the racist mob in a scene similar to Kristallnacht in Germany in 1938.

However, their actions and bravery under difficult and intimidating circumstances epitomizes some of the best characteristics we value as Americans. Their courage was an impetus to the Civil Rights movement, one of the most important events in American history that lead to equal rights for all citizens 10 years later. It would be difficult to deny that the "Arkansas 9" were undoubtably true patriots and good Americans, regardless if they had American flags on their porch. In honor of the "Arkansas 9" and in the context of the current debate over respect for the flag, I encourage each of you to work towards correcting an injustice, championing a cause that helps your community, or simply helping someone in need. That's what makes us Americans.

Matt Helfrich

Patch file photo