This archive report was first published on 4 July 2021.
On the Fourth of July, the American flag is often seen as a symbol of unity and patriotism. However, a recent survey found that 66% of Republicans associate the flag with their party, while only 34% of Democrats do the same.
According to John R. Vile, a professor of political science at Middle Tennessee State University, the flag's original design signified unity among the 13 colonies. He believes that politicizing the flag is a perversion of its original intent, saying, 'We can't allow that to happen.'
Professor Vile points out that the flag's motto, 'E Pluribus Unum' or 'from many, one,' is a reminder that the country's diversity should be celebrated, not exploited for political gain. He asks, 'If the pluribus overwhelms the unum, then what do we have left?'
The controversy surrounding the flag gained momentum in 2016 when Colin Kaepernick, a former NFL quarterback, began kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality. While Mr. Kaepernick claimed that his protest was a show of respect for the flag, others saw it as an attempt to hijack the symbol for political purposes.
For some, the flag has lost its meaning of unity. Maryneily Rodriguez, a Black Democrat, said she stopped flying the flag at her home in Freeport, Long Island, because it no longer felt like it belonged to her. John Hocker, a Republican who sometimes votes Democratic, also feels that the flag has been modified to become an emblem of individual identities or belief systems.
