在美国南方的一个小镇,一座普通的房子前,多年来一直挂着一面破旧不堪的美国国旗,这座房里住着一个黑人老人,很少与人沟通,很多邻居不理解,为什么那么破的国旗还挂在那里?于是有些好心的邻居就会主动上门告诉老人,国旗破了,换一面吧! 但是老人始终未换,更有邻居特地买面新的国旗,送到老人家,期望他能把不堪入目的破国旗换下来.结果老人还是无动于衷..最后,有人开始攻击老人,说他侮辱了美国的国旗,侮辱了美国人民的人格...有好事者更把老人举报到电视台,强烈谴责老人不尊重国家的尊严..于是就有了下面这段CNN采访这位老人的全过程…

 

CNN:   Sir, we have heard that you refuse to take that flag down, is that true?

       (先生, 我们听说你拒绝把国旗换下来是吗?)

 

Man :  Yes sir. (是的,先生)

 

CNN: How long has the flag been there? Do you know that it is torn badly?  (这国旗在那挂了多久了?您知道它已经不堪入目了吗?)

 

Man: That flag has been there for 5 years and yes, I am well aware that it is torn badly.(5年,我非常清楚.)

 

CNN: Why do you still want to keep it ? Don't you know that you should replace a badly torn flag? (那你为什么还挂在那里?!难道你不知道你应该换下它吗?)

 

Man: Because I want to keep my promise. (因为我要遵守我的承诺)

 

CNN: What promise?(什么承诺？)

 

Man: The one between me and my son,  I am a retired soldier. I served my country for over 15 years during the Vietnam war. Now my son is serving our country in Iraq. Just before he went to Iraq, he personally raised that flag and promised me that he would take it down himself when he came back. Now, 5 years have passed, he has not came back yet. I will never take it down until he comes back and takes it down himself.

(这是我儿子对我的承诺，我是越战退役老兵,服役过15年,现在我儿子当兵了,在他去伊拉克的前夜他亲手升起了这面国旗，并向我承诺他会回来亲手降下这面国旗,现在五年过去了,他还没有回来，我要他守着这个承诺，要等他亲自回来换下这面国旗．）

 

CNN…….(Silent……) Sir, thank you and your son for serving our country. Our country thanks you and your son and respects that flag with our whole hearts.

（主持人沉默了很久,然后声音颤抖的说)先生,谢谢你和你的家人为这个国家做出的贡献.美国人民会用心的尊重这面国旗...

 

这就是那面国旗，关于爱，你该如何解释？