Guns Symbolism

Take guns, flags, and fish for examples. How do you interpret each of these? Some people view firearms as dangerous weapons used to assault and kill innocent people in school, churches, and movie theaters. Most of these people do not have the opportunities to utilize firearms for the positive purposes and base their opinion on guns off of how the major media outlets portray them. Many people have a completely different perception of guns. They see them as an expression of freedom, a means of protection, a means of hunting for their own food, and an exemplification of their Second Amendment rights. Flags are also a great example of split perceptions in light of our recent events at the University, Mississippi’s state flag in particular. Some may view the state flag as racist, but others view the flag as a symbol of state pride, southern culture, family heritage, and long-lasting tradition. Lastly, fish can have several different meanings. Depending on the person, fish are simply food from the grocery store, game to catch and eat, sport game to be caught and released, astrological prophecy, or a symbol of Jesus Christ. If someone were to survey a large group of students on what they thought of each of these things, the answers would be very similar and possibly have even more

Therefore, if the group that makes the symbol or tradition changes their actions surrounding that tradition or symbol, then the meaning of the symbol or tradition will also change. One example of a symbol’s meaning changing that is well known by religious believers is the wooden cross. In the ancient Roman civilization large wooden crosses were used to hang criminals for crucifixion. They were something that you did not want to have anything to do with and definitely did not want to end up on. Today, the cross is a symbol of Jesus and religion, since Jesus, himself, was crucified on a cross. Another example of a tradition that has changed over time is celebrating Thanksgiving. In the 1700s, Thanksgiving was a celebration of the end of harvest and a time to give thanks for the yield of the crops. Now that grocery stores are in every town and city, people do not have to grow their own produce. Even though most people are not growing and harvesting their own produce, they still participate in Thanksgiving, either to give thanks for the blessings they have received over the year, or just to gather with family and eat. Although some traditions and symbols change over time, not all do, and those that do change take time to change, just like it takes time for the tradition to form in the first