Whose flag is it anway? - Open Discussion

With flags becoming more visible over recent months we thought the use of flags would be a good focus for a discussion.

Flags are clearly symbols of group identity – real or imagined, and can prove powerful symbols that mean something and can bring people with often different views together.

Most commonly associated with national identity, flags can also identify different regional groupings (civic areas etc), ethnic groupings, religions, military groups, social and political movements, family identity (e.g. heraldry).  They’re sometimes used commercially to identify brands.

Flags are often visible during civic and sporting events – to show support and express a group identity.

Some of the flags can engender feelings of strong association – perhaps pride/patriotism and even represent some perceived values. But, emblems like flags can be appropriated – so that their meaning changes and how they are viewed changes – so much so that some people may…