I am not a preachy kind of person. I don’t quote the bible.. I don’t try to change people’s religions. And what’s that you say?  A blog post from a photographer without photos on it.. Well yes my dears. So either run and hide or read on.

I was recently shamed on social media for having a photo of a young lady holding a scarf that was pink and grey.. plus red white and blue. It was a scarf.. not a flag.   Shamed..Tormented and put in my place. I was  told that I needed to read the flag code. Told that I was unprofessional ( that may be true).. told that I was Un-American… really? I’m a tarheel .. that’s as American as you get. I was told that I was desecrating the most valuable thing that we as Americans have.. our flag. This made me question.. is the flag our most valuable possession as a country?  Our flag is wrapped around olympic athletes after they win a competition. Our flag is seen on jewelry, and clothing.. Our flag is displayed in miniature form in gardens..  So is our flag so precious that a Senior who just spent five years in college and wants to work in the legal system in our country can’t hold up a scarf with stripes on it?  I have friends and family members that have fought for the freedoms that the flag represents. So NO.. i wouldn’t use an official american flag as a photography prop.

I say we have larger problems to worry about. Such as how to feed starving children who go to school each morning without breakfast. How to take care of our terminally ill elderly patients in the country. How to make sure that our college kids are safe on campus from predators. How to raise respectful youth.. and re-establish bonds between our law enforcement officers and the the general public.

If you as an American citizen have a problem with a senior holding a scarf that has 12 stripes.. 22 stars and pink and grey tones in it.. then you obviously need to find some other things to think about.  This would be a great time for you to volunteer at a homeless shelter, or get your own head straight.

I was told a lot of things, and the funny thing is .. the people who were telling me this.. were Self Proclaimed Christians. Followers of Jesus.  God is good.. etc. etc.

SO my message to you… Shame on you. Shame on your for ridiculing me publicly and privately. Shame on you for not following what Jesus taught .. which i believe to be tolerance and love.  Shame on you for not being the church. Shame on you for worshipping a flag over friendship.

If you believe in a Holy supreme God.. which I do.. then every day you should BE the Church. In the walk you walk.. and the talk you talk.  How can you hate, name call, ostracize.. and bully anyone .. if you are truly being the church?

ANYONE who knows me, knows that I am the wife of a firefighter.. the daughter in law of a police officer  and a patriotic spirit.. So if you feel the need to comment on my ” scarf” photos, please be kind and keep your fingers still.  I really don’t like my college seniors upset when someone writes something without thinking under one of their beautiful photos.

Just a few rambling thoughts from the office….

Connie.