Jim Adams

Thirteen Stars

Written by ASI Coordinator Jim Adams

Centered in the ABATE logo there is a thirteen star shield.  Recently I was asked, “Why does the ABATE logo have 13 stars?”  The short and simple answer is.  It represents the 13 original colonies.  However there is a deeper meaning that I’ll try to explore.

The meaning behind the 13 stars beckons us back to the founding of the United States.  A brief history lesson is in order.  During colonial expansion the colonists enjoyed some rights and freedoms that came with banding together to establish the new colonies.  The colonies were governed by those living in the same situation as them thus a working relationship towards a common good was easily attained.  Each colony established its own set of rules that provided for them to survive and thrive in this new frontier.  As these colonies prospered and grew more outside governmental controls were placed upon them.  In order to pay for these increased government controls more taxes were leaved upon the colonies.  This encouraged more to band together and protest against further controls and increased taxation.  Thus a cycle of more controls and more taxation followed by more resistance to both followed.  This eventually led to a unification of the original 13 colonies under one banner to fight for self governing rights and freedom from oppression.  Our first flag had 13 stars representing this unification.

The ABATE logo also has 13 stars.  Like those who founded our country, ABATE also stands for a banding together fighting for freedoms and the rights to self govern. 

I feel that it all goes back to my favorite expression. 

"LET THOSE WHO RIDE DECIDE".