An examination of the United States’ historical relationship with the crime of genocide
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Month: July 2020
The Deceptive Nature of the Stars and Stripes
7/4/2020
Matthew McKenna
Today is July 4th, and despite being the capital of the COVID-19 afflicted world, you will still see signs of celebration in the United States. On this day commemorating American independence, the red, white, and blue stars and stripes designs will be on display; gracing houses and town centers, as well as adorned on t-shirts, tank tops, and the occasional bathing suit. Ask the average American what the colors represent. They will likely respond with “freedom.” Perhaps some might respond with “liberty” or “human rights.” However, in this unprecedented moment of the newly invigorated Black Lives Matter protests, against the backdrop of the pandemic, along with the adjacent failures of our political system, it is worth examining how the common perception of the flag’s symbolism compares to what it represents to large swaths of humanity.