Flag Appreciation Thread

[Preezy]

Looks like a third eye test. I think I can see the dolphin!

[Vermilion]

The union jack does have a striking design. There was a bit of a debate before the Scotland Independence referendum about what the flag would look like in the event of a Yes vote.

I would like to see more Welsh representation on the flag, but there isn't an easy way to do that without making it too busy, like this:



This is a proposed design with the St David's Cross on it.

Looks like the love child of a French-Belgian union.

[Earfolds]

Looks like the love child of a French-Belgian union.

Yes, it does. It could also maybe even be for Benelux.

But on that subject, one of the unofficial designs for the flag of the EU was this:



This was known as the Barcode Flag, and was never officially used, except for Austria's EU Presidency in 2006.

[Moggy]

Looks like the love child of a French-Belgian union.

Yes, it does. It could also maybe even be for Benelux.

But on that subject, one of the unofficial designs for the flag of the EU was this:



This was known as the Barcode Flag, and was never officially used, except for Austria's EU Presidency in 2006.

That would be amazing if the EU ever had a joint sporting team and fans had to paint it on their faces.

[Vermilion]

Looks like a loading screen on the ZX Spectrum.

[Moggy]

Looks like a loading screen on the ZX Spectrum.

Farage, Johnson and Gove were obviously Amstrad fans.

Rees-Mogg didn’t have a computer, he was still playing with hand carved soldiers.

[Earfolds]

Flag News

Estonia celebrates its independence day today. In fact, it's the 100th anniversary of Estonia's declaration of independence.

I'd like to share my favourite take on Estonia's flag, the famous "Winter Forest" image.



Estonia is a very interesting country. Its language is one of the Uralic family, which also includes Finnish and Hungarian, and are totally unrelated to the Indo-European languages spoken in much of Europe and Asia.

Unlike its sister Finland, Estonia is not usually considered a Nordic country. Estonia has tried changing this, proposing its own Nordic cross flag, and debating on changing its English name to "Estland", as it is in most other languages.

Estonia offers anyone in the world "e-Residency", which gives them an Estonian digital ID card that they can collect from any Estonian embassy, and with it, the ability to start and run a company registered in the EU (Estonia joined in 2004).

Estonia is one of the fastest-growing economies in the EU, boasts of some of the strongest civil liberties in the world, and is one of the most digitally-advanced societies, famously being the first country to hold elections over the Internet.

Today, I will be thinking of Estonia, and to all Estonians:

Palju õnne Vabariigi aastapäeva puhul!

[Rightey]

Oh look a nice topic about flags!

*Reads first few pages*

Just a question, do kids in the UK have to sing the national anthem each morning? We have to do it here, and you have to pledge allegiance to the Queen when you become a citizen (although that's a one time thing), so I don't really see the American thing as that bad personally.

Just for comparison the Canadian Pledge is:

"I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, her heirs and successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada including treaties with Indigenous Peoples, and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen."

[Earfolds]

Just a question, do you kids in the UK have to sing the national anthem each morning? We have to do it here, and you have to pledge allegiance to the Queen when you become a citizen (although that's a one time thing), so I don't really see the American thing as that bad personally.

Many of us regularly call the Royal family a bunch of unelected sponges, we poke fun at their German roots, and there's been a consistent movement to get rid of them on the left-wing for a long time now.

We only really know the first few lines of our national anthem because of sporting events. I don't think anyone outside of Wiltshire knows anything past the first verse.

The only thing I was really forced to say every morning as a kid was the Lord's Prayer.

[Rightey]

I'm sure loads of people here forget a lot of the national anthem once they leave school, I was just trying to remember it now and I forgot a line but it seems like (at least from the discussion here) most people are pretty anti-patriotism in the UK, that is not to say they dislike the country, but they just dislike the idea of people liking the country. Then again maybe this place isn't representative, the royal family seems pretty popular when you watch stuff like the weddings etc.

Regarding the flags, I guess it is a bit different here as there are loads of places that have Canadian flags hanging up, pretty much every big box shopping plaza will have one in the parking lot, and they're in front of lots of other big businesses as well. There also seems to be an obsession with putting a maple leaf everywhere for businesses, like McDonalds for example:



Also if it's done well I think it's just awesome. I remember seeing a truck like this once while driving and I loved it!



It was also attached to a hockey stick which just makes it even better.

[Met]

So, what happens if you don't sing the national anthem or recite the pledge of allegiance or whatever you have to do in the US/Canada?

Because I know I resented having to sing the anthem or hymns or whatever if I was told to in assemblies and sure as hell wouldn't do it daily.

[Rightey]

So, what happens if you don't sing the national anthem or recite the pledge of allegiance or whatever you have to do in the US/Canada?

Because I know I resented having to sing the anthem or hymns or whatever if I was told to in assemblies and sure as hell wouldn't do it daily.

The UK seems like a grumpy place.

I can't remember anyone ever refusing to sing the anthem, but I imagine it would just be the same punishment as not listening to the teacher for anything else, you'd probably be sent to the principals office. If you won't pledge allegiance to the Queen then you can't become a Canadian citizen.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/na ... e14449686/

[Moggy]

The UK seems like a grumpy place.

Surely you've been on GR long enough to know that Brits are the most miserable bastards on the planet? We are only happy when we are moaning about something.

[Vermilion]

Just a question, do kids in the UK have to sing the national anthem each morning?

It's not something i ever had to do growing up, though i can't say whether that is the case now.

Many of us regularly call the Royal family a bunch of unelected sponges, we poke fun at their German roots, and there's been a consistent movement to get rid of them on the left-wing for a long time now.

There's been plenty of other movements on the left wing of late too, unfortunately though, they are usually best compared to those of the bowel.

I don't think anyone outside of Wiltshire knows anything past the first verse.

I'm Wiltshire born and bred, but i don't know any of it past the first verse either.

[Rightey]

The UK seems like a grumpy place.

Surely you've been on GR long enough to know that Brits are the most miserable bastards on the planet? We are only happy when we are moaning about something.

Yes, that is true.

Ok what about this. Mr. Beans car, with the English flag flying off a wooden tennis racket. Surely that would be weird enough to make even the most ardent flag skeptic ok with it.

[Hypes]

There's been plenty of other movements on the left wing of late too, unfortunately though, they are usually best compared to those of the bowel.

Trying to get rid of the gooseberry fool that's currently in?

[Moggy]

Ok what about this. Mr. Beans car, with the English flag flying off a wooden tennis racket. Surely that would be weird enough to make even the most ardent flag skeptic ok with it.

Nope, it is not patriotic enough for the English.

Mini's are owned by BMW, a GERMAN company.

Mr Bean barely talks, meaning we don't hear the beautiful ENGLISH language.

Tennis was first played in England, but has it's origins in FRENCH games.

So you are suggesting we take a German car, adorn it with the props of a French game and give it to somebody that speaks less English than immigrants?

[Vermilion]

There's been plenty of other movements on the left wing of late too, unfortunately though, they are usually best compared to those of the bowel.

Trying to get rid of the gooseberry fool that's currently in?

...and replace them with what? A bunch of lunatics & Diane Abbot, the latter being so insane she should never have even been allowed to get this close to high office.

The current govt may be an incompetent mess, but at least they're not the modern Labour party.

Ok what about this. Mr. Beans car, with the English flag flying off a wooden tennis racket. Surely that would be weird enough to make even the most ardent flag skeptic ok with it.

There's something very similar to this (a patriotic car) in the main London souvenir shop at Piccadilly Circus, there's also a guy who stands outside wearing a union jack uniform beckoning people in.

[Corazon de Leon]

So, what happens if you don't sing the national anthem or recite the pledge of allegiance or whatever you have to do in the US/Canada?

Because I know I resented having to sing the anthem or hymns or whatever if I was told to in assemblies and sure as hell wouldn't do it daily.

The UK seems like a grumpy place.

I can't remember anyone ever refusing to sing the anthem, but I imagine it would just be the same punishment as not listening to the teacher for anything else, you'd probably be sent to the principals office. If you won't pledge allegiance to the Queen then you can't become a Canadian citizen.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/na ... e14449686/

Guess I'll never be a Canadian citizen then.

[Vermilion]

I'll happily pledge allegiance, bring on my Canadian citizenship!