What is it about flags that stirs the pot?
A short history of protest, and flags, and culture (always). I keep seeing criticism of waving the Mexican flag in the LA protests and just don’t get it
Flags. They represent people who has something in common, or a country, an identity, a culture, a team, a fashion statement, but also a divisive symbol.
A short tale of recent protests and the flags waved during each. (in pictures)
What happens when you see these flags, what are your thoughts? (clue… it’s not all about the flag or the good photography, but they do contribute to its effect on us)
Do you know why your response was what it was? Think a moment on your conditioning, environment, parents, heroes, and life experiences. What do they invoke in you when a flag is used during a protest?
I know my answer, and it’s more than nationality or a country, it’s what separates us or unites us. For me, it’s divisive. Since the Vietnam war days, the US flag has been a subject of fierce debate and actions. It’s been burned and exalted, sometimes by the same groups. It’s that power it has as a symbol that triggers our response to other flags, that also have meaning in the context of a protest.
Fuck the rebel flag, let’s move on to the Mexican flag. It’s had a pretty interesting history in relationship to the “new world’s” conquest. It has been around as a country longer than the United States. (Spain, France, Mexico…) It is also the subject of derision by US citizens…. why? And why is it a symbol of a “foreign country?” It’s a neighboring country, yes, but it’s not very foreign is it? Consider the amount of Spanish names used as city names. (Los Angeles — The Angels)
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¿Que Paso? As a landmass, North American is a pretty “mixed peoples” place already if you look at heritage. I personally love that we have three dominant languages spoken in North America, I’m only good in two, but I’d consider French again if needed (looking at you, Montreal).
Why can’t we be more connected? Why do we have such deep divisions? To me, the current xenophobia is worse than our past versions (anti Irish, Chinese, Indigenous, Vietnamese, etc.) What’s driving us in this direction? Why can’t we be connected as countries the way the European Union has achieved? The North American Union sounds pretty damn good and strong to me. Think what a tiny border we’d have to protect (southern Mexico). Think about all the warm and sunny Mexican property we could develop (beyond tourism/snow birding). Think about all the cheap labor we could exploit (sorry, Karl Marx made me say that). Think how cool we could be in summer up in the Canadian Rockies. Think how nice things would be if we had movies that showed us as a united populace, and raced cars up and down the highways… (move over Baja 500) And what about sports? Just imagine a team from each country. Just look at the NHL… which nation do they represent? You know the answer.
Why is this so hard?
I’ll finish with a couple of requests. Stop making flags of politicians, and stop with the fashion statements.
