Editor's Blog July 26th 2012 - Flagging About
The humble flag, a piece of coloured cloth stuck to a pole, has more power to unite, divide and ignite people than any incendiary comments uttered by anyone anywhere. Flags represent identity, culture and dominions. They are a source of pride. Take the USA as a prime example.
School children are required to pledge allegiance to the flag every morning before lessons commence. The American national anthem (The Star Spangled Banner) is all about their flag and what it represents. Every government building in America is bedecked with tens of flags and usually flies a giant bed sheet of a flag from its rooftop flagpole. Many houses in suburbia, and beyond, fly flags from flagpoles in their gardens or from the roof of the porch. This is not an indulgence in cliché; this is anecdotal, seen first-hand on many an occasion. America is covered in flags; just in case the people in the streets suddenly forget which country they’re in!
