Mark,  I think by any historical analysis we continue to progress towards or "nation's ideals".  Pick a time period in our nation's past and compare then to today for total equality.  I'm curious to see what you come up with?  Does that mean we are perfect?  No and far from it.  The preamble to OUR Constitution states this:  "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union ...".  We are and always will be striving to "form a more perfect union".  And for that, our flag and anthem should be honored.  Fly it proudly, sing it loudly, live by the ideals they represent and go forth and change the world to meet those ideals.