The Gadsen Flag

Marshall McLuhan: "We drive into the future using only our rearview mirror."

The Gadsen Flag. Retrieved from http://www.usflag.org/history/gadsden.html

With this symbol of liberty being used by the Tea Party, the Gadsen Flag has become controversial. Thinking about its first use, and its long history throughout American history what do you think about the recent bans in towns, especially in New England not to fly this flag.

In Connecticut, lawmakers refused to fly the Gadsden flag at the capitol building in April because of the Tea Party’s “political nature,” but they also refused to display it on the Fourth of July at the request of a group of retired Marines. A man living near Phoenix, Ariz. was recently ordered by his homeowners’ association to remove the Gadsden flag flying outside his home, despite his protests that he wasn’t displaying it to support the Tea Party. The American Civil Liberties Union came to his defense, citing a violation of First Amendment rights. In Colorado, a similar dispute over the same flag is ongoing as well.

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Some argue that the flag is offensive because of the conservative views of the party. However, others maintain that the controversial and unpopular ideas are the ones the First Amendment was designed to protect; you can’t censor ideas simply because you don’t agree with them. Should the flag be allowed to fly as a historical symbol but not a Tea Party one? A military symbol? Or should it not be flown at all due to its current association with a highly politicized movement?

First Amendment Rights: Has a Historical Symbol Become Too Controversial?

Nancy in Human/Civil Rights, Legal News : First Amendment, Gadsden flag. First Amendment Rights: Has a Historical Symbol Become Too Controversial?. Retrieved from http://www.legalfish.com/TheDailyTackle/2010/09/22/first-amendment-rights-has-a-historical-symbol-become-too-controversial/