Caught with their flags down

Some institutions pledge allegiance to a banner all their own | Marvin Olasky

When Stanley Hauerwas, the Duke University professor dubbed by Time as "America's best theologian" ("A playful mind," March 17, 2007), gave a commencement speech at a Mennonite college a while back, he said he was glad that no American flag was in evidence, for "the power of the flag is, by necessity, violent."

Hauerwas added, "Because there is no flag here, Goshen College is potentially a more truthful, and thus academically interesting, educational institution than those that serve such flags."

Two questions for asking on June 14, Flag Day: Is a flagless institution likely to be more academically interesting than one that displays a flag? And does showing a flag that represents government's power of the sword detract from the primary allegiance of Christians to Christ?