Flags

 We seem to be defined by our display of flags...

Each person more than likely owns one. Most are National flags representative of the country one resides in, or was born into. Some are school banners, where one was educated, while others represent their favourite sports teams. Even unions have flags,  and yet others pop out of toy guns to elicit a comical response with the word "BANG" written on them.

The worst in my opinion are flags that honour cults. The KKK carried flags in parades since the early 1900's with phrases like "America First" and "Make America Great Again" both slogans have adorned flags and hats celebrating the resurgence of oppression by both Trump administrations. They carry what one might initially consider a positive message, but they honestly only convey the incendiary message of segregation and racist hate.  Many who embrace that flag also adhere to the Nazi swastika flag, a symbol recognized as the banner for those who would commit genocide, for one primary goal, to maintain white supremacy in the world.

The American flag, for many was a symbol of hope, that anyone,  regardless of race or nationality,  could embrace and adopt as their own, not just for identity,  but for the promise of freedom it once stood for. In reality, that flag, based on many others with the same Red White and blue colours, represented Colonialism.  It was just more white supremacy, gift wrapped in "Patriotism" all the while, though manifest destiny, genocidally crushing indigenous opposition, labeling those whose land was being stolen, as "Savages" not worthy custodians of their own homelands. 

These same authoritarians who have dominated the land, standing on the blood soaked earth of the Indian minority they decimated just a few hundred years ago, now are illegally deporting immigrants and working migrants, as if they weren't once the same, coming to a new land in hopes of a better future. The only difference being their skin colour.

In the American South, many so called "Rebels" favour the Confederate flag, the flag of the defeated southern states, who, in Texas,  upheld slavery a further two years after Lincoln abolished it with the Emancipation proclamation of 1863. This flag still  carries with it the implication of a return of enslavement and domination,  usually wielded by people, who detest those who don't share the same skin tone. 

Today even that significant end spawned a new flag, the "Juneteenth" flag, a flag that symbolizes their freedom from white supremacists.  It became a National holiday in 2019. 

The "Pride"flag has gone through some evolution as well since it's inception,  from a rainbow, to now include trans and indigenous rights. I am happy to see these flags, both the "Juneteenth" and new "Pride" flags because they represent something new, liberation from oppression. 

While colonialist flags mark claimed territory, these flags only represent recognition.  That we exist, we matter,  even if segregationists who oppose our existence continue to try and rewrite history, and erase the accomplishments of those, whose individuality has been marginalized because of  race, sexual orientation, or nationality. 

Symbols of  oppression  should lose all integrity.  Those that uplift should remain. If your flag represents hatred of another, then you've lost.

If your flag represents  love and inclusion it should be welcomed.