Karen Saeger, of Allentown, Pa., for her question:
COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME ABOUT UNCLE SAM?
People all over the world recognize Uncle Sam as thesymbol of the United States. Actually the use of symbols is about as old as civilization. Usually a symbol is an object or sign that you can see, and it represents something you can't see.
The words you are reading are symbols whose meanings are known to you by association of ideas. Pictures symbolize ideas also, and Uncle Sam is about the best example around.
A man by the name of Samuel Wilson started the idea which grew up to be Uncle Sam, our most popular national symbol.
Wilson lived in Troy, N.Y., and was the official inspector of food and other supplies purchased for the U.S. Army troops in the War of 1812. Following inspection, all the shipments were branded "U.S." by Wilson, whose nickname was "Uncle Sam."
People in New York and Vermont who opposed the war began using "Uncle Sam" as a nickname for the government. In 1813 the nickname appeared in a Troy, N.Y., newspaper, and three years later a book came out entitled "The Adventures of Uncle Sam."
In 1834 Uncle Sam's human form was pictured in the familiar costume of stars and stripes. Originally he was a young man, without a beard or gray hair. The stern but kindly looking older man with formal top hat made his debut during the middle 1800s. And except for slight changes in his outfit, this favorite poster subject has remained pretty much the same.
His image has appeared on armed forces and defense plant recruitment posters and, of course, in countless cartoons all over the world. Sometimes cartoonists opposed to government policies will characterize Uncle Sam unflatteringly, as a greedy, power hungry or foolish old man, for example. Most often, however, people associate Uncle Sam with patriotism and good citizenship.
A few people regard Uncle Sam an inappropriate symbol for a country so modern and complex. They complain that America's broad cultural background is hardly symbolized by this crude stereotype. Yet he has endured, probably because of the combined genius of cartoonists who continually refer to the thriving young country with his tall forceful figure. Famed cartoonist Thomas Nast featured Uncle Sam in countless cartoons during the 25 years following the Civil War
Before the figure of Uncle Sam became the popularly accepted U.S. symbol, cartoonists also pictured America as an eagle, a rattlesnake and a bucking horse. The bald eagle, our national bird, frequently symbolizes American freedom, strength and bravery.