They Not Like Us
I've been having a reaction I don't like for the past ten years or so. I see an American flag bumper sticker on a pickup truck, and it makes me feel a certain way, a way I don’t like. When did our most unifying symbol become so divisive? When did seeing our flag displayed make me uncomfortable instead of proud?
The bald eagle belongs to all of us.
So does the flag, the Constitution, and the idea that loving your country means working toward our shared ideals. Somewhere along the way, we've allowed political movements—on all sides—to claim ownership of American symbols that were meant to unite us.
I think about my grandfathers, both of whom fought in World War II. They were people who made real sacrifices and were permanently changed by the experiences they had in the war. They and other soldiers carried our flag when fighting for democracy in Europe. It meant something. It meant "We are the good guys. We are here to help. We are here to fight for freedom and against hatred."
That flag represented all Americans then. It should represent all Americans now.
America has been great before. We can be again—together.
As a designer, I know how powerful visual language can be. These symbols weren't chosen arbitrarily—they represent ideals we all aspire to: liberty, justice, democracy, the belief that we're stronger together than apart. When any political movement claims exclusive ownership of these symbols, we all lose something essential.
The eagle in our national seal holds arrows and an olive branch, representing the balance between strength and peace. That's the America we can be when we remember what unites us rather than what divides us.
The flag doesn't belong to any single movement. The eagle doesn't belong to any political party. These symbols belong to teachers and farmers, soldiers and artists, immigrants and families who've been here for generations.
It's time to remember what these symbols really mean: that we're all Americans, working toward the same fundamental goals of freedom, opportunity, and justice for everyone.
What do you think?
