Saving Old Glory: The History Of The American Flag Desecration Controversy

by Robert Justin Goldstein

In this, the first comprehensive historical analysis of the debate over the desecration of the American flag, Robert Justin Goldstein takes us from the 1989 flagburning incident that ignited an emotionally charged controversy across the nation back to the very origins of the flag as a symbol of America. It may surprise some present-day flag-protectionists to learn that the flag did not become an object of veneration until the end of the Civil War, when groups of ultra-patriotic citizens and veterans lobbied hard to give it unique status as a symbol of the nation.

280 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1994

About the author

Robert Justin Goldstein is professor emeritus of political science at Oakland University and currently a research associate at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

He is the author of numerous books and articles focusing on the history of civil liberties in Western democracies, including controversies related to censorship and desecration of the flag.