Hypertext Essay: Our Flag.

Today I want to speak with you about the meaning and impact of the American Flag. May sound a bit dry, I know, but my goal here is to give you a sense of perspective on this matter. Sometimes we Americans take the meaning of that colorful piece of handiwork for granted. The American flag can mean so many different things to different people. No matter who you ask in our country (and out of it), there only seem to be a few points that are agreed upon. It’s the flag of our revered nation, available at most convenience and box stores in cotton, nylon, or silk. It does fairly well for house decoration; red white and blue can fit with a multitude of color schemes. Finally, it is a symbol.

We all know what a symbol is, but what does this particular one mean? That’s where the disagreements start. Let’s get the obvious stuff out of the way first. If you ask your state governor or the local Board of Education that requires their students to say the pledge every morning what the American flag means, you’ll get the same boring answer about how it stands for truth, justice, freedom, sacrifice etc. Now don’t get me wrong, to the majority of Americans this is indeed true. We, who might not have lost loved ones in wars or been affected by acts of terror probably are sick of hearing that. However, even in a generation as clever as ours, if we were interviewed and asked what the American flag stands for we would probably give the exact same boring answer.

But why is that? Is it because that’s what we’ve been brought up believing? Is that what we really believe? Sorry, I know I’m the one supposed to be answering the questions not asking them, but I’m trying to make you think. For starters, I would say that if you gave an answer to that question without mentioning truth and justice, you’d probably be framed as anti-American. That tends to be a good incentive for most people.

What about to someone who isn’t an American? A flag is a symbol of a nation and everything that nation stands for, and if the people of that nation think it stands for the well-being and natural rights of men that’s just wonderful. Sometimes, we have to think outside that confined box. Some people may look at the American flag and think of oppression. Now, don’t gasp too loudly at the idea. America is an empire after all. We annexed territories, fought wars against completely innocent civilizations because we believed it was our “destiny” to take their lands. We even planted the seeds of revolt into nations we were too timid to attack directly. America is a nation born and raised in the blood of her own and others (as are all great nations), and her flag stands as a tribute to that.

To some people, the American flag could stand for treachery and deceit. How could that possibly be? Think back to a little earlier in American history. Take World War 1 for example. America had officially proclaimed its neutrality, saying we wouldn’t enter the war on either side. However, we were secretly providing the French and the British with supplies by sea with camouflaged ships. So, Germany began sinking our boats and provoked war with us. Why? Not because they were an evil empire, not because they wanted to control the world and we stood in their way. It was because we lied to them saying we were “neutral” in the war. To them, truth and justice were the last thing the American flag embodied. It’s always a matter of perspective.

So, just what is that thing, that symbol? It’s a piece of finely woven fabric, possibly mass produced in a factory. But it’s also truth, justice, oppression, lies, freedom, glory, sadness, pain, hatred, or even ketchup. A symbol is whatever you see it to be, and no matter how often you are told what a symbol such as the American flag is supposed to mean, it will only take on the meaning you yourself assign to it. No one can dictate what a symbol must stand for.