Well, this column will sure date me. When I was in elementary school in 1959, we learned two new songs. The opening words of the first were “Your statehood we celebrate, Alaska our 49th state.” The second song substituted “Hawaii" and "50th.” The legislation approving their statehood gave more than a million Americans their full rights of citizenship. It was also a boon for the flag manufacturers, as new flags with 50 stars were suddenly in demand.
Sixty-two years later, it’s way past time to give the flag makers another boost and put two more stars on the flag. Now is the opportunity, with Democratic control of Congress and the presidency, to make Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico our 51st and 52nd states, and give full representation to 4 million of our fellow Americans who have been denied their voting rights.