
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 15, 1990                   TAG: 9003152551
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WHY DOES STATE TAX SYMBOL OF COUNTRY?

DURING THE past few months, we have experienced a great freedom revolution throughout the entire world. Western Europe is coming closer to becoming a single entity. The people in the Eastern bloc nations of Europe and communist China are crying for freedom, and many thousands have died for it, just as the early settlers of America did.

I have been explaining this to my 7-year-old son. And that maybe, just maybe, his generation and his children's generation will finally be able to live in peace.

Recently we visited the Yorktown battlefield so my son could see and feel the history of our great country. It was explained that the early settlers came here for freedom; that they had been constantly harassed by the tyrannical leaders of England, France and Germany, and were burdened by heavy taxes, but had no representation in government.

The trip was a success, and both my son and his 8-year-old cousin were very impressed.

After a tour of Colonial Williamsburg, we visited a shop where the boys found American flags for sale. Each of them had $2 they had saved to spend on something they really wanted, and I was so proud that they wanted to spend it on the flags ($1.99 each).

A few moments later, my son looked at me with tears in his eyes, and sadly stated, "Daddy, I don't have enough money. They said I need 8 cents more to pay the tax." We paid the sales tax, and my son and his cousin got their flags.

On the trip back home, they asked: "If we now have taxation with representation, why do our representatives tax the American flag?"

I don't have an answer for the boys. Can anyone in Richmond tell them why our representatives feel it is necessary to tax the very symbol of our country?\ CLIFFORD SMITH\ MONETA

by CNB