The American Flag: More Than Just a Piece of Cloth
The American Flag is the most widespread symbol Americans have. It took a disaster to make me realize how important it is. I would always wave the flag in a parade or on the Fourth of July, but I never really stopped to think about what I was doing. The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 are what changed my view. They caused me to reflect about our country and the value of saying, “I am an American.” After September 11th, there was an explosion of patriotism. Flags were bought and hung everywhere out of pride. The flag represents our country and all of the rights and privileges that we have in the United States, hanging it gave us the strength to move on. People see the flag everyday, yet how many of them actually stop and think about what the flag really represents? People do not realize that just last year Congress voted against a constitutional amendment that would protect the American flag from desecration. Many people may not consider this a very important issue, but it has become very controversial. It would be unconstitutional for the United States to have a federal law protecting the American flag, even though it is a respected symbol of America.
The burst of patriotism caused by the September 11th attacks was sudden. No one knew what to do afterwards, so they turned to the symbol of our country and waved it saying, “We are still strong and standing.” This reaction cannot be taught or put into legal terms. The great thing about America is that we have the right to display the flag or not to display it; neither one is forced upon us. The American Flag does not need protection. The protection of the flag would violate part of our First Amendment rights. As shown on September 11th, Americans are strong and proud of the United States. They did not burn the flag on this day; they were proud of our country and proud to be an American. It is times when we disagree with the legislature that some citizens feel burning the flag will make people take a second
The burst of patriotism caused by the September 11th attacks was sudden. No one knew what to do afterwards, so they turned to the symbol of our country and waved it saying, “We are still strong and standing.” This reaction cannot be taught or put into legal terms. The great thing about America is that we have the right to display the flag or not to display it; neither one is forced upon us. The American Flag does not need protection. The protection of the flag would violate part of our First Amendment rights. As shown on September 11th, Americans are strong and proud of the United States. They did not burn the flag on this day; they were proud of our country and proud to be an American. It is times when we disagree with the legislature that some citizens feel burning the flag will make people take a second
Cited: Armbruster, Ann. The American Flag. New York: Ann Armbruster, 1991. Krythe, Maymie R. What So Proudly We Hail: All About Our American Flag, Monuments and Symbols. New York: Maymie R. Krythe, 1968. Sedeen, Margaret. Star-Spangled Banner: Our Nation and Its Flag. Washington, D.C: National Geographic Society, 1993. “Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989).” 21 March 1989, 21 June 1989. Supreme Court of the United States. 26 January 2002 <http://www2.law.cornell.edu>.