ANALYSIS/OPINION:

Somebody in Utah just ripped down an American flag flying at Hurricane High School, shredded it and tossed it into the streets, then raised what appeared to be a banner used by ISIS on the pole in its place.

This is how the culture views our country? This is how society rates America?

Perhaps this is the next generation’s adaptation of the NFL’s taking of knee. Or, a reflection on the anti-America propaganda that passes for history lessons in today’s public schools. Or, a show of anger by disgruntled illegals, upset Muslims, or anti-President Donald Trump and anti-Make America Great Again factions.

Whatever the matter, fact is the U.S. flag, the U.S. anthem, the idea of America first, global interests second — the practical and once commonly accepted principles of the patriot — have gone through some dark periods of late.

“[B]ased on information we received from the FBI,” Hurricane police said in a statement, Fox News reported, “we do not believe this act was perpetrated by someone linked to the Islamic State.”

That means it was done by someone — student or another from the community — with a skewed sense of what constitutes humor, or with an outright hostility toward America. Someone who thinks ISIS offers a freer and better life than America.

Someone who understands little of America’s noble roots and honorable history, and who’s only too willing to toss it to the gutter for a despotic, destructive form of governance.

On one hand, a stupid prank, easily dismissed. But on the other?

It’s time for America’s schools to start teaching of America’s greatness once again, and to stop feeding the nation’s most vulnerable minds with the idea that this country is nothing more than a bully, an aggressor, a morally reprehensible figure on a world stage of more virtuous players.

It’s not the truth. And if symbols mean something — which they do — the act of shredding America’s flag and replacing it with a representation of evil ISIS says this country is failing on educating its generations about truths.

• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter, @ckchumley.

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