Symbols and Ceremonies

I wrote about the role of symbols and ceremonies in our society.

By Allie B. from Gerstell Academy in Maryland

Symbols and ceremonies create unity.

A rite to become one with the nation.

The flag for equal opportunity,

Where all are free despite their station.

A black fist rising from the oppression;

We march and protest under this symbol,

And call the state’s systems into question.

We desire a change even when nimble.

Yet ceremonies and symbols show hate.

Flags and groups that represent racism,

Ugly symbols that are still used of late.

But emblems anew of activism

Overthrow symbols of hate to create

A community sans systemic hate.

Gerstell Academy

Leadership and Change Section 3

Senior level Leadership class responses, section 3/3

American Creed Prompt Number 1

This Prompt is about my American Creed and how we as a nation can better ourselves to become united and ultimately one of the most powerful nations in the world

Pieces

Pieces is a poem about America and its many pieces as diverse and unique. And how although they are all different and widespread they all come together to form something bigger than themselves.

American Creed through the community

Joe Maddon's idea was my inspiration and from it i develop a community festival. The festival would allow all cultures and asks that each culture be prepared to express itself in different ways.

My American Creed

Naturalization Process from the eyes of someone who had to do it

American Creed-What Is Your American Creed?

Explaining what American Creed means to me

American Creed!

What is my American Creed?

My American Creed

Unity and acceptance are two things that really stand out to me when I think of American Creed.

Unity In Community

When anyone looks at America, all they might see is the polarization between each person and the problems that arise. This poem artfully phrases the most important questions in order to truly dissect what it means to be American.

My American Creed

My American Creed

Aspiration for Education

Despite having many responsibilities as the first of his family in the United States, my grandfather was able overcome many obstacles to obtain higher education and have a successful career in the U.S. military.

American Creed

My American Creed essay, responding to the second prompt.

The American Creed and Our Failures

The American Dream is a representation of the people, and we fail to live up to that standard every day. I hope we find what made America special.

More responses from Gerstell Academy

Surprise Me

What Being American Means to Me

Rap about what it means to be American.

Small Town Anthem

While trying to go about their ordinary lives amidst a backdrop of polarization, divisiveness, and conversations around injustice, everyday Americans in small towns must look inwards to find what brings them closer together.

Unified throughout history

I did a photo essay (The website wouldn't let me include my pictures) tp look through major events in US history and talk about what made the country either unified or divided during that time in history.

Change: The Symbols of American Creed

Since its beginning, the United States of America have always been brave, progressive, and rebellious. The Land of the Free, throughout hundreds of years, has had people that seek change, who come together to form the iconic symbols we know today.

My American Creed

My American Creed

American Creed Essay option #2

I chose "How does your family & community history connect to your American creed?" and talked about how my parents immigrated to the US in order to give me a better life and connected it to the American Creed.

American Creed

A poem about what the American Creed is.

To Achieve Unity

Personal definitions of American Creed can be achieved by taking action, by proposing different ways to insure change. Here is my way of taking part in this change.

Creating an American

A villanelle poem about my family's experience in America.

My American Creed

I wrote a poem about the flag and what it means to me. I talked about how bad it hurts when I find that my flag is being burned and disrespected by the very people who live here

How can you express your American creed through action?

This essay is about ways you can help and bring your community together.

The American Creed, A dream

A dream from America.

More responses about "blacklivesmatter", "change", "poetry", "social justice", and "symbols"

Surprise Me

Freedom

Some people come from places where their voices will not be heard. This is about a girl who seeks freedom similar to how it is in the United States.

My American Creed

My American Creed is that America will always have the opportunity to evolve and better itself to create a more unified nation.

The American "Creed"

As it is impossible to truly define any one symbol or concept that unites all Americans under a single "creed" the best we can do is to hope to find inspiration in comical/uplifting humanitarian ideas about our nation and our neighbors.

Be a Friend

How my mother shaped my view of how Americans treat each other.

American Creed

The more we ignore the issues we are facing, the more people are going to turn away and lose faith in their communities.

America Is One

Being an American is understanding and learning from each other.

Something to Believe In

I wrote a "this i believe" essay about Black Lives Matter to show that we should be free and equal in America.

Holding the Door

I feel what guides us is what we believe to be right. I came to the conclusion that my creed is following the beliefs of leaders that have fought discrimination; to me that is what I think is right. Here is my art piece that reflects this creed:

Red White and Blue

The United States of America is a country that’s full of opportunity, greatness, and the chance to really become the best person you can be.

People Change People

This essay is about how people influence each other every day and the impact of who you allow in your lives.

Opportunity; The Name of the Game

My piece is about the current mindset around opportunity in America. My goal is to point out that we should strive to create equality, but right now there is also too much to do with identifying problems without finding solutions. Change comes through action, not complaining.

American Creed

My piece is about how we as a country can come together and accomplish things in the future, instead of being in a constant static state.

RESPECT

This is my op-ed on why it's important to respect each other.

What rights should people living in the US have?

I believe that people in America should have the rights of freedom, freedom of Speech and, to be protected by all the laws granted by the government period. Also to be treated equally no matter the race or sexuality and for everyone to granted justice.

Stevens American creed

We Americans express our American Creed by using words, symbols, or rituals to express our thanks to soldiers.

This Is America

The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. But is it truly?

True Vision

This is some of my thoughts about my American reality and how I feel about the the concept of the freedom in American.

Importance of Change

The importance of change and diversity in our society

AMERICAN CREED BOI

What i did was put some words that describe america and i drew 2 pictures

What does it mean to be an American?

Black men are constantly harmed by authorities who are supposed to be there for help and security because the authorities are set in a position for African Americans to continuously fail.

Symbols Representing Who We Are

Everyone has different symbols they may believe in and or warship. we develop these through our friend and our families and express why they are important to us. In this, I write on the idea of our freedom to expression and the idea of different symbols one may believe.

Sydnee's American Creed

This video that I have made is an articulation of my American creed. Throughout this video I have interviewed three family members on my dad's side. American Creed Citation: Ball, Sam, director. American Creed. WTTW and Citizen Film, 2018.

Religion of America

My piece is about the rituals and symbols that make us American compared to the past to the modern day. The image is to compare the things we think of when someone says the word America, and how we treat them as symbols of our own identity, and the way we worship them.

I am from

This video is about a person who comes from a small town. She is so ready to leave but realizes nobody else is.

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