Liberal Forum

Lynwood, WA, is a small city of about 43,000 people located just 16 miles from Seattle. It is often characterized as a suburb or bedroom community, despite its high crime rate of 67.2 compared to the national average 33.37. The population is diverse: 10.91% white, 8.78% black, and 47.91% “other races.” One of its councilmembers, Isabel Mata, identifies as a "queer, neurodivergent writer, advocate, and mindfulness meditation teacher" in her government biography. And she recently took issue with one of the parks in the city – or, rather, the fact that it displays the American flag.

"To me, a pride flag is way more relatable than an American flag. I would not raise an American flag at my house because I wouldn’t. I wasn’t even born here. But I would raise a pride flag. As the most diverse city in all of Snohomish County, I don’t think that I’m the only one who…who would maybe choose to have 27 other flags in Flag Park." 

https://www.libertynation.com/washingto ... -old-glory

After Mata’s comments produced a ton of backlash, the councilperson apologized and tried to back herself out of the deep hole she dug. "I apologize for the way I expressed myself, and I mean that sincerely. The American flag represents the sacrifices of veterans and military families, and the promise that drew immigrants like me to this country. I should have honored that more carefully in my remarks, and I did not. I have deep respect for everyone who has served under that flag."



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