The Melting Pot Artist: Craig A. Stevens.

Note from the artist – This painting is full of symbolism. First, it is a melting pot and not a salad bowl for a reason. The melting pot better represents the cultural alloy that make the U.S. strong. Out of many different cultures, we create our own. The American culture is so desirable that people have braved many hardships to blend into this culture and make it their own. The many states were designed to be customized to fit the beliefs of people within that state. The many counties and communities also were designed to represent the people of that community.

The many flags on the painting represent the nations of the world and the fire that forged our country. The U.S. was blessed by God because it was founded on Judea Christian beliefs for equality, fairness, and laws should be applied equally. Read of the stories of Washington to see examples of God’s hand in forming our country. Furthermore, here the world comes together in one place. From a Christian point of view this represents the makeup of Heaven where every race is represented. The result, Christians can better practice their God Ordained Purpose, to reach the world for Christ – To spread the Good News, that God so loved the world that he gave His only Son so that no one would perish but could have everlasting life. But with the acceptance of this gift comes great responsibility to love people, turn from sinful ways, and stand for what is right, not in our own eyes but based on God’s Word.

There is gold in that melting pot. The gold is the people who blend together in a way that makes everything and everyone more valuable. Your differences when blending with mine makes me more interesting and both of us stronger. The blending takes place when we follow God’s founding principles recorded in the Declaration… “All Men Are Created Equal.” It is when we follow these principles of the constitution that we create the culture of freedom that so many people have died to keep. Our country’s mission for us is to be good stewards of this freedom and not waste it or give it away to those who would take it by force or deception.

I kept the wrinkles in the Declaration of Independence to speak of ancient desires of people to live free and to be able to work to make a better life. Not to be given a better life, but to be given an equal opportunity to build a better life and possibly have great success in the process.

The founding of our country starts with discovery and conflict.  You can see the flags and symbols of countries and tribes, starting from the bottom left and going along the bottom. These are the flags of our revolution. These are all unorganized on the painting and represents the friction that heats the melting pot. We see the symbols of the Vikings, Spain, Denmark, the British, the French, and others including the Modern Day Flags of our Native American Tribes and Nations throughout the painting.

As you go along the bottom we see the flags of the Mexican American War and more Native American Symbols found in their modern day flags. The bottom right corner is full of Civil War flags leading up to more Native American Flags and then the Spanish American War.

The many conflicts lead to more people who come to the U.S. and become the raw material in the cultural alloy. Every conflict brings us more people who are escaping tyrants. World War I, World War II, Korean, The Cold War, Vietnam Conflict, and more modern wars are represented. Then of course, included are the Middle Eastern Conflicts and The War on Terror going on today. Notice I left room for others not listed. All the conflict in the world reminds us that we have an obligation to stay strong. To stand up for what is right with peace as the goal. Unfortunately, strength has always been a necessity to having and maintaining peace and justice.

Read more about the flags from this website: http://www.loeser.us/flags/revolution.html