THERE is a persuasive argument to be made about the emotive and visceral symbolism of flags. I hereby seek to make that argument. This is no ordinary subject, there is an entire branch of study committed to the study of flags, it is called ‘Vexillology’, derived from the Latin word ‘vexillum’ meaning flag or banner. It is no accident that this subject requires a distinct and separate field for examination; it demands this attention. It is not merely a piece of cloth with colours that represent a country or an entity, it teems with memories that can be positive or painful. Where there is positivity, there can be motivation and where there is negativity, there are resentment and the enflaming of passions. After 23 years of outright discrimination against some communities, apologies are needed, not flags.
Brief History of the Flag
Flags belonging to various countries are patriotic symbols that connote allegiance to a particular state or representative of the nation’s existence. They have their origins in militaristic associations. They were first used for that purpose. The use of flags goes back to the early human existence. Vexillologists such as Whitney Smith believe flags did not come into print until 1959. These symbols of the representation of various countries became wholly necessary as the world became more integrated. A globalised world meant that there was a need for specific and distinct identification. As nations interacted and engaged in various global affairs, these organised decorations became associated with certain activities and could mean different things to different people at different times. For example, the colonial flags of Great Britain, Japan, Belgium, France, Portugal and more shall forever remain symbols of imperialism. On June 6, Foreign Secretary William Hague expressed “sincere regret” for torture and abuse committed by British colonial officers against Kenyans in the 1950s. He also announced a compensation package worth £19.9 million (about $31 million), to be divided between 5,200 Kenyan victims. This marks the settlement of a landmark legal case initiated in 2009, by a group of Kenyans who allege that they suffered colonial-era torture at British hands. The British know what their flag represents to the people they once subjugated.
The Politics of the Flag
It is safe to argue that the flag cannot be separated from the politics it represents. Insofar as that submission applies to the Guyana context, it is worthy to note the recent flurry of political flags that have donned every nook and cranny. There is a school of thought which suggests that every political party should be free to put up their flags in any community of their choosing across Guyana. In principle, there ought not to be any objection to this. However, proponents must know, in so doing, there must be acceptance of the inescapable consequences that may arise from this activity. The most notable, yet ignoble Nazi flag with its Swastika shall forever remain a sign of hatred, evil and discrimination of the highest order. The Confederate flag which has become a source of controversy in the Southern part of the United States of America automatically conjures America’s vile and ignominious past. This remains the case because the Confederate States introduced strict racial segregation and developed a distinct cultural and political identity. The white supremacists and the Nazis will never apologize, they are not asking for votes. It behooves any political party with a flag that triggers dark memories to deal with the pain it inflicted before hanging a flag; it is offensive.
Party Flags
Your party’s flag represents your policies, it represents your leaders, it communicates your ideas and your party’s history. There is no escaping this fact. When a political party dabbles in destructive policies, the people associate that entity with your emblems. It is akin to branding. Branding, in the realm of marketing, is the practice in which a company creates a name, symbol or design that is easily known or recognized. This ensures consumers can identify a product and distinguish it. Branding is important because not only is it what makes a memorable impression on consumers but it allows your customers and clients to know what to expect. It is this expectation that becomes problematic for political parties that support extrajudicial killings and state-sponsored terrorism against its people. When you hang your flags in communities, there is a psychological trigger coupled with an expectation of the return of the sad state of affairs that once existed in those villages under your watch.
