Heirs of Liberty Press

The American Flag

Richard M., Citizen Journalist

 The American flag, the symbol of our country\'s history and patriotism, sometimes becomes an exhibition of controversy.

We "pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the republic for which it stands".

America's most sacred symbol has undergone several iterations of design, but at no time was it more revered then in the time of war. During the battle of Fort McHenry in 1813 after being bombarded by the British for 25 hours, the light of exploding shells over the fort, gave proof that the flag was still flying over the fort. The flag was held aloft by American Patriots, who immediately replaced a fallen comrade, so that the flag may still fly high. This act of bravery so demoralized the British, that they pulled their ships out of the harbor and left, thereby discontinuing the siege. The defense of the fort inspired the American lawyer Francis Scott Key to write a poem that would eventually supply the lyrics to "The Star-Spangled Banner."

The significance of our symbol of freedom was raised again at Iwo Jima in the Pacific and in Nazi Europe during World War II.

Its symbolism was displayed at countless other times in seemingly forgotten conflicts throughout the world. During the Vietnam War, the "forgotten war"€ in the late 1960"s, the controversy over the right to burn the flag without punishment tested the First Amendment. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan offered the response that "if there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the Government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable."

Burning the flag is considered a form of symbolic speech and therefore is protected under the First Amendment. Most Americans probably feel that we are protecting the wrong people in this case. The minority is given precedence at the sacrifice of the majority. But, it is our right to dissent. The strong central theme of freedom of expression is the cornerstone of American government, culture and life.

The American voice on freedom has been shaped throughout the course of our history by the creation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, which with the Declaration of Independence, would form a democratic republic that would for all time protect the desire and conception the colonist's had for life, liberty, and to own property. Today and for the past 233 years, we still enjoy those same freedoms.

The freedom of speech has constantly been challenged and will continue to be challenged in the future. It is important that we learn from the prior tests of the past of those trying to denigrate our constitutionally protected rights, so that in the future government authority will not violate our freedoms or oppress our liberty.

Stand up and lead, stand up and in non-violent protest, fight for our heritage, our Heirs, our property, our land of the free.