Any long drive along the rural bi-ways of America always yields for me something of interest. Today on a trip from Ithaca to the Hudson Valley, I come upon a 70-year-old tow truck with two American flags staked behind it. I have come to associate the hyper-visible flying of the American flags with the MAGA movement and to the followers of a crazed impostor to the presidency. I stop a quarter of a mile after driving past this roadside attraction and turn back to capture the twin flags waving on either side of what appears to be an abandoned vehicle.
I’m reminded that the United States just passed its 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence with a somewhat lackluster celebration, especially in our nation’s capital. It seems that we as a nation, like this decrepit tow truck, are greatly in need of a tow and recovery. This roadside attraction for A&M Towing & Recovery LLC captures for me this sentiment. The question now stands before us: can our country be towed out of its midterm morass?
This year is the 25th anniversary of 9/11. A third of my life passed following this tragic event in Manhattan, where we lived. Where did the time go? I remember immediately after the attacks and collapse of the towers, first responders arrived at the World Trade Center for a mission of rescue. A week later, amongst the smoldering rubble, with hope lost of any survivors, the mission became one of recovery. Within 6 months, thoughts of rebuilding from ground zero sparked conversations about what to do on the southern tip of Manhattan. During this time, the USA received an outpouring of sympathy and condolences from around the world in the form of letters and memorabilia. A sense of solidarity transcended partisan feelings. The American flag became a symbol of resilience and strength.
We are well past a year into Trump’s presidency. To me, he clearly has hijacked our political and economic system, with blatant disregard for the well-being of a collective nation and the health of our environment. And now he’s hell-bent on destroying our alliances abroad and creating chaos in the Middle East. And how frivolous is obsession with gold-leafing.
On this brief stop along the highway, I cannot fully comprehend what the American flags on the backside of a 70-year-old tow truck are intended to mean, but I suspect it’s not the interpretation that I’m giving it. I looked beyond this carnage of a vehicle to a distant view of a beautiful landscape of rolling hills and agricultural fields. I am reassured of our future by this distant expanse of the country-side. I feel at this moment a strong urge for all members of our nation to reclaim our flag and to think seriously how we can tow ourselves out of this mess.
The defunct vehicle advertising rescue and recovery stands in stark contrast to what we need to move forward. Yet, I can not focus long on the decrepit vehicle incapable of fulfiling a promise of tow and recovery; I’m focused on the graceful motion of the two twin flags, one wrapped around its pole and the other obstructed by the wench, waving in asychronized movements. Two flags that seemed to promise that we will survive this wreckage and someday return to a more respectful way of governance for all people.