Unfortunately, we live in a society in which the American flag is not treated with the correct respect and is shamefully and dishonorably treated. According to Megan Hickey and Laura Santhanam, 4,435 soldiers died in the Revolutionary War. In the War of 1812, 2,260 soldiers died. Over 13,000 soldiers died in the Mexican War. Almost 500,000 died in the Civil War. In World War I, 116,516 soldiers died. In World War II, 405,339 soldiers died. Over 54,000 died in the Korean War and over 90,000 soldiers died in the Vietnam War. Almost 7,000 soldiers have died while fighting against terrorism. Whenever someone steps on or disrespects an American flag, these deaths which total over a million are belittled. This does not even include the veterans who were injured while fighting. …show more content…
Every father. Every mother. Every brother. Every grandfather. Every single person who dedicated their lives to fight for the rights of Americans is disrespected and their sacrifice is belittled when someone treats the flag with a lack of reverence and honor. Through social media, I have seen different forms of disrespect that Americans have given to the American flag. People have stepped on and walked across the American flag. People have burned the American flag. People have used the American flag as toilet paper. People have placed other flags above the American flag on a flagpole. Individuals may be mad. They might be angry about the current government or the society. However,they do not have the right to disrespect any person who has served protecting that right to be angry, that right to say what they want. The people who are disrespecting the flag are Americans who were born and raised in the United States. So be mad. But do not disrespect the American flag that my grandfather, my uncle, and thousands and thousands of men and women fought to
One of the most famous photographs in history was taken by Joe Rosenthal at the Battle of Iwo Jima, during the Second World War. The American people on a whole embraced this photo and saw it as a firm success for the army, so the government knowing that the war needed lots of added funds decided to cease this opportunity and sent the survivors of the flag razing on a propaganda based bond drive for the army. Clint Eastwood in the way he directed the film showed just how different an image of war is compared to a real war. Clint Eastwood allowed the viewer to get an insight to all three survivors of the photo and this gave an insight to how the war on Iwo Jima and the image that gave them a entirely different course in the war. The
Many people believe that the American flag represents the pride they have in their country. Anyone who was to damage the flag is often seen as “un-patriotic” or even as a “terrorist”. That, however, is simply untrue. Burning the American flag is one of the greatest patriotic acts a person can do.
Through the years of America, there have been multiple accounts of flag desecration. Flag desecration is a term that is used to describe a various set of acts that intentionally destroy, damage, or mutilate a flag in public, and in this case, the American flag. Citizen’s typically doing this treasonous act when they want to make a political point against their country or policies in the country or another country. Some of these actions include: burning it, urinating or defecating on it, defacing it with slogans, stepping upon it, damaging it with stones or guns, cutting or ripping it, verbally insulting it, or dragging it on the ground. A few countries have laws that forbid the methods or just uses of this
“Symbol of a brave past or banner of treason?” Kevin Baker asks this in his article titled That Flag. This is the question that many people have tried to answer. The Confederate Battle Flag has been used to send many different messages to the public, and depending on who you talk to it holds different meanings. As explained in the article titled Political culture, religion, and the Confederate Battle Flag debate in Alabama written by Jonathan I. Leib and Gerald R. Webster. The article explains that, “Many traditional white southerners view the Confederate Battle Flag as emblematic of the sense of duty and sacrifice of their ancestors during the Civil War and Reconstruction. They argue that the Civil War was not about the institution of slavery
When you see the American flag, what is the first thing that pops into your head? Is it a war? A relative? A political leader? What? For me, I usually think of the Star Spangled Banner. I grew up on a military base in Germany. If the flag were being raised or lowered, you would see soldiers, and even civilians, standing at attention, saluting the flag. In a parade, as the flag was being carried in front by one of the brigades, everyone held his or her hand over his or her heart as the flag passed that person. Even in the theaters, before the movie would start, the Star Spangled Banner would be played while scenes of American flags in battles and peacetime were on the screen and everyone would stand, either at attention or with
“ The American flag remains a living piece of history and a source of pride and unity for all Americans. The Stars and Stripes embodies the very qualities that make our nation great: liberty, justice, freedom, love of country and national purpose.” and once again just stated here this shows how important the flag means to every single American citizen in every form of our first
“The US flag is a symbol of great pride” (Hills 2016). Ethan D. Hill from the University of Georgia states this, just as all Americans should know this. The American flag is a representation for the strength and power of this country and all that it has gone through. With that being said, not everyone sees the American flag in this way. Some take it upon themselves to show firsthand disrespect to the flag in desecrating it. Desecration is the act of burning something, in this case it is burning the flag that symbolizes the freedom of this great nation. It is obvious to most that this act should be illegal, seeing as there is no reason good enough to hurt the country in this way; however, some Americans believe otherwise.
It someone wants American pride, there is nothing more “American” than the American flag. The United states of America is what everyone in this country should be proud
To many southerners, The Confederate Flag is a symbol of southern heritage and the strength of their ancestors. However, the placement of this flag on Texas government issued license plates has created much backlash. Some southerners take offense to the flag. They view the flag as a representation of hatred and white supremacy. According to Rev. George V. Clark, the flag “Represents hate, something that has made people feel less than human.” Although groups such as, The Sons of Confederate Veterans, see the flag in a positive light, the governor of Texas, Rick Perry, supports the rejection of the plates. Since it is such a delicate topic, he believes it is best not to “be scraping old wounds.” The nine other states that continue to provide
Each color on the American flag symbolizes a different thing. The American flag consists of three colors, red, white, and blue. The colors of the American flag are also included in the Great Seal of the United States of America. No one knows the exact date that the colors of the American flag were adopted but they were first seen around 1782. According to Duane Streufert in What do the colors of the Flag mean?, the color red on the American flag symbolizes hardiness and valour. The color red symbolizes hardiness to stay strong and healthy in the Constitution. Also, the color red symbolizes valour for courage or bravery in battle. Also, according to Duane Streufert in What do the colors of the Flag mean?, the color white symbolizes purity and innocence.
Confederate heritage organizations used the flag widely in their rituals memorializing and celebrating the Confederacy and its heroes. According to historynet.com “In the decades after the flag fad, the Confederate flag became, as one Southern editor wrote, “confetti in careless hands.” Instead of being used almost exclusively for memorializing the Confederacy and its soldiers, the flag became fodder for beach towels, t-shirts, bikinis, diapers and baubles of every description.” People are misusing the Confederate Flag and forgetting the true meaning of what it stands for when it was back in war times. As the dam burst on the Confederate flag material culture and heritage groups lost control of the flag, it acquired a new identity of being a symbol of rebellion and lost the historical context of the
The History of the (New York State Flag) and How New York Came to be.
People burn the American Flag or kneel for the National Anthem never have gotten the military experience veterans have. Many people have been disrespecting our American flag to protest. It is an unfair way to protest because many men and women have fought hard, left their loved ones, and risked their lives to protect our country. Many students at Brown University on Veterans
The Star - Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key as he watched his fellow Americans stand strong in their darkest hour. For over twenty four hours Fort McHenry was bombarded by British Navy, but the American troops fought, and so did their families. The Americans rallied around the singular flag that stood high in the fort, and a flag that was a target for the British armada. They planned to destroy the flag to disrupt moral, but the Americans refused to let it fall. They used that singular flag as motivation, and motivation that eventually won them the battle. The flag still holds the same purpose today. To remember those who have fought, or are currently fighting in our armies. It also serves as a source of pride, motivation, and patriotism towards our country. Knowing what our flag means to our history and our country, we can’t possibly keep letting our countries source of pride be disrespected by those attempting to promote their own cause. Are nations athletes that choose to display their displeasure with our nation’s current state, and disrespect what our flag means for our country.
acceptable to have a "narrow, special amendment to protect a special flag from desecration." ("Consequences" 2). Even Thomas Jefferson and James Madison denounced flag burning as a crime (Brady H 2). Others feel that flag desecration disrespects those who lost their lives for our country, stating the flag symbolizes the blood that runs through our country. George Whalen, a soldier, said "the stars and stripes of our nations flag is the symbol of our nation's values... It represents loyalty patriotism and love of our country." ("citizens" 3). Those against flag desecration must remember that the men and women who fought and died for our country were fighting for justice, freedom, and independence, all of which give one the right to desecrate the flag. Yes, the flag represents these freedoms, but the