I am a British citizen and therefore, I have an objective eye when looking at Stars and Stripes. It seems to me however, that the America flag has much more importance to its people than the UK flag is to the British. The differing importance of the flag lies in history. Most of the British take the flag for granted. I have been to many places on the world, and I think that it is safe to conclude that no country in the world flies its flag like the Americans. We British people only hang our flag if there is a major sporting event to support our favorite cricket, rugby or soccer team. But the Americans fly their flags not only in public buildings but in their homes as well.

The consciousness of a nation can be seen from the symbols on its flag. The stars on the America flag are representative of a goal that they must reach, while the stripes symbolize sunrays from above. Pledge of Allegiance is also intertwined with the flag, as well as the Constitution, and also the importance of upholding liberty. Over the years, the America flag has undergone twenty-six changes to become the flag that it is today. The final design for the America flag was completed in 1960, when Hawaii became a part of the US.

Some Southern flags are still being used. People from the South like to display former America flags as a sign of their love for the South. For some people, this is a sign of defiance, perhaps as a symbol that in the future, the South will again rise. Because of the racial conflict and slave trade, many see the flying of Southern flags as offensive.

There are guidelines and rules of the display and using the America flag that should not be ignored. For example, the flag cannot be used as an advertisement, should not be draped on cars or on garbage trucks. It cannot be used on disposable things such as cushion covers. Since respect should be accorded to the flag, burning it is a grave offense. Protestors against America all over the world burn the America flag, like the protestors against the Vietnam War have done. Indeed, the flag is a very powerful symbol, especially in America where its people fought a war for independence.