Williamson County in Tennessee adopted its official county seal on July 15, 1968. It depicts a shield that is divided into four quadrants, the upper left of which contains a flag and cannon symbolizing the county's rich historical heritage. The only problem? The flag depicted is a #Confederate flag, also called the Stars and Bars. Many believe that it symbolizes the pro-slavery sentiments of southern states during the American Civil War. In September 2020, Williamson County commissioners voted 16 to 7 in favor of a proposal to remove the #confederateflag from their seal. A lengthy legal battle ensued between the two sides: one group said that the Confederate flag was a symbol of oppression and hatred, and the other said that its removal would disrespect the state's history, including those who fought in the American Civil War. The Tennessee Historical Commission ruled in April of 2022 that the seal was not protected under the Tennessee Heritage Protection Act, largely because it does not depict a memorial to any specific person. Plans have yet to be released regarding how and when a new seal will be designed, and it is unclear which organization(s) will have a say in the process. Proponents of the movement to change the county seal say that the Confederate flag is a symbolic representation of a pervasive attitude of systemic racism and that any value it may have in terms of heritage is overshadowed by its implicit meaning. Opponents say that we have a duty to honor those who came before us, and the Stars and Bars symbolize a time of great suffering and strife over which we eventually triumphed, resulting in the country we now inhabit. The question up for debate: Should the #ConfederateFlag be removed from the Williamson County seal?
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