Um, my maternal ancestors are Irish. You want to talk about slavery, look up and read how the Irish slaves brought to this country were treated. Back then it wasn't the color of your skin that got you in a world of trouble, it was your accent and your last name and the clothing you wore. But like someone else pointed out, you live in the past and let it define you then we as a people will never learn from it and move on to being united. I choose not to dwell on things I have no control over. 

Also, many of us who have respect for the flag don't idolize it at all. Nor do we idolize the anthem. And to be glib about why the Europeans (those who actually chose to be here) came here to escape British rule is insulting. Not on a personal level but on a human level. Not a single person on this board chose our skin color, our ethnic background, our socioeconomic status we were born into, etc. 

To point a finger and condemn a whole group of people for the actions of those who were dead long before any of us were born is petty and unnecessary. History has already told us how horrifically the native Americans and black slaves were treated, there is no need to beat a dead horse. Instead of being accusatory be informative. It goes a long way toward understanding.

---