Persuasive Essay On Flag Desecration

1248 Words3 Pages

For over 200 years, the American flag has been a symbol of our country’s strength and freedom. It has been the beacon of hope for so many both, citizens and noncitizens. It’s stars, stripes, and colors all have meaning. The stars represent the 50 states, the stripes represent the original 13 colonies, the red symbolizes hardiness and valor, the blue stands for perseverance and justice, and the white represents innocence and purity. This flag has been flown, in its variations, since 1776 and since then has provided the hopeless with hope, the freedom to those who were enslaved, and equality to those who wanted their voices heard. From 1776 to 1969, it was illegal to desecrate the flag in any way. Halter v. Nebraska was the case that brought the first U.S. court ruling against flag desecration in 1907. 61 years later, Congress responds to a Central Park protest against the war in Vietnam where a flag was being burned by passing a Federal Flag Desecration Law. The law states “ Whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces, …show more content…

Congress has repeatedly tried to make it illegal for such actions to happen. It is disgraceful, in my opinion, for a citizen of the United States to think that they can treat the flag of their own country with such tasteless acts of betrayal. They have taken the First Amendment for granted. That flag doesn’t just represent our country, it represents us a people. It represents the lives that have been lost protecting us and protecting our rights. When one desecrates the flag, they need to realize they’re not just destroying a piece a fabric, they’re mocking the people who were selfless enough to give their lives for them. To stand up for the citizens of this country and the rights that we believe in. The American flag will continue to be used as a sign of hope, freedom, equality, and

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