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The American Flag: Symbol of the Vanishing American Dream

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When the flag was first made, it symbolized freedom and opportunity for both citizens of American and the immigrants. There was the dream that America was a place of freedom, where you could do what you want, say what you want, and get a job or own your own land. For some, that dream became a reality, but for many of those immigrants, it has proven to be just that, a dream. Is this piece of cloth we hold in such high regard simply an ironic symbol or the American dream? Does it truly symbolize freedom and opportunity, or is it simply a token for those who want to flaunt their opinions and financial status.? Every person should have a certain amount of respect for this country and the opportunities and freedom it provides, but I don't agree …show more content…

I have also come to realize that the reason I was taught to handle the American flag with such care was because schools across America, they try to teach children at an early age to have this kind of patriotism. School systems try to instill American calues in people at a young age because they know children will be the ones to shape the American future.

In looking at the American flag as one of America's artifacts, I have come to reconsider something I observed a couple of years ago. While traveling I have found that there are some similarities everywhere I go. I remember traveling through a few small rural towns in Massachusetts, where I live, for example. As i drove through one side of the town, I saw large beautiful flags, hung from beautiful houses. As I drove further those beautiful houses got scarcer and scarcer until that beautiful neighborhood was just a quick glimpse. I then began to see small houses and some tenements. Is is here that I did not see the American flag. Was it because the people there were not patriotic? Did they choose not to have a flag because they don't believe in America? On the other hand, did the wealthier society want to show off their patriotism, or was it merely hung outside their houses to shw that they achieved the American dream? What exactly was the flag a symbol of in these

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