Our patriotic spirit needs a lift.

With the coward Osama bin Laden on the run and citizens’attention diverted with holiday season pursuits, it seems that thepatriotic fervor following the Sept. 11 attacks has subsidedsomewhat.

U.S. flag and “United We Stand” stickers are still up in storewindows and on roadside displays. But, are we really noticing asmuch now as we did a few weeks ago?

It seems not, but I could be wrong.

One flag that certainly got noticed was the one atop the craneat the Mississippi School of the Arts site. When it was taken downafter it was damaged in some bad weather, we at the newspaper wererepeatedly questioned about its absence.

A new flag was given to the construction company and it was putup recently. As has been said before, it’s good to see it upthere.

Walking or riding around town, however, I’ve noticed that somesmaller flags — specifically ones attached to car antennas — arenot getting the same amount of attention.

Paul Ott Carruth’s monologue about the “Ragged Old Flag”certainly applies to these wind-whipped symbols of freedom. A fewappear to be little more than red, white and blue string wrappedaround a wooden stick on a metal rod.

It’s far from desecrating the flag, because the people who putthem up had only patriotic thoughts in mind when doing so. But, thesubsequent negligence in letting the flags flap away intonothingness diminishes the message they are trying to convey.

And as the rainy season has come, yellow ribbons and flags onsome homes around town have become faded, sorry, soggy messes. Insome cases, sun fading has turned the old red, white and blue intothe pink, white and sky (blue).

These, too, could fresh coat of color.

Thee battered banners either need to be taken down or,preferably, replaced.

In a commercialized red, white and blue pursuit of greenfollowing the attacks, it’s easy to find a new flag to put on thecar or a yellow ribbon to tie around the tree. The bright color ofthese symbols should match the spirit behind them.

As we prepare for Christmas and go through the rest of theholidays, let’s not let the new and colorful trappings of theholiday overshadow the events that have so affected thisseason.

The flags, ribbons and other items pay tribute to the victimswho died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and to the soldierswaging the war in Afghanistan. Those who have paid or are willingto pay the ultimate price deserve no less than the best we canoffer.

Write to Matthew Coleman at P.O. Box 551, Brookhaven, MS39602.