How important is the national flag in the scheme of patriotism?

The flag is symbolic of a country and its people and each country has its own connotation in terms of honouring the flag.

Australia is truly multicultural and while it’s a quality that must be revered, if you go by the number of incidents in the past one year, multiculturalism seems to be working on the wrong end of the spectrum. Having said that, I’m not here to throw light on the racial events that took place but here’s an attempt to offer a fresh dimension in regards to how the national flag of the many cultures in Australia can be used as a driving force to stem the rot.

Patriotism is an emancipated display of love, support and loyalty towards one’s country and patriotic citizens never shy away from exhibiting their devotion at every possible opportunity. But, how important is the national flag in the scheme of patriotism? The flag is symbolic of a country and its people and each country has its own connotation in terms of honouring the flag. Asia follows a very conservative approach but the western world gives it a much more casual slant.

In 2000, a dress displayed at an Indian fashion parade sparked nation-wide outrage since the dress was designed in the colours of the national flag. In 2010 the country’s icon, Sachin Tendulkar, was in the news when images emerged of him celebrating his birthday slicing a cake made of again, colors of the national flag. Tennis star Sania Mirza and commentator Mandira Bedi were also condemned for disrespecting the flag; the former for resting her foot on a guitar painted in the tricolors in a sportswear campaign and the latter unfortunate that her sari bearing the national flag was in contact with her feet. A swimwear design displaying China’s national flag caused uproar and debate a few years back in regards to whether using the national flag for swimwear tarnished the image of the communist nation or not.

In Australia, slippers, bedspreads, bikinis and underwear are easily available with imprint of the flag. A few years back in a TV satire aired on the ABC, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her partner were shown draped with the national flag after making out in her office. Recently supermodel Miranda Kerr was pictured unadorned and wrapped with just the Australian national flag for a top magazine.

Countries like India and China will forever remain orthodox in matters related to the flag and a country like Australia will maintain its own informal stance. I’ve used the flag as an illustration to point out how mindsets differ yet we must continue to strive to consolidate the human tribe.

Picture this: at every Olympic Games, each nation proudly holds their flag aloft as they mark their entry on one of the biggest theatres of sport because every national flag has an inimitable identity that tells a story of its own. And the show goes on; it must go on despite differences in cultural backgrounds.

People come from different countries, people follow different traditions and customs, people also have a different set of beliefs but, in spite of differences ranging from a person’s national flag to skin colour, we all have the same blood running through our veins and that alone is reason enough for us to join hands and move forward as one because there can be no power greater than people power.