What's in a flag?

Flags have been used as symbols for thousands of years and at their basic level are symbolic representations of an idea or group.

Most people will know that a red flag on the beach means danger, a white flag waved during war means surrender. They are symbolic.

A country's flag not only acts as a unique identifier but is also symbolic of what that country represents and stands for. Armies since time immemorial have brandished flags to keep their troops organised, to allow soldiers to identify friend from enemy, to bind them all together in the common goal. Flags are flown at half mast to unite the country in mourning for a tragedy of national importance. Flags are draped over coffins of soldiers in recognition that they have died fighting for their country.

So, the next time you see people burning the flag of your country, they are demonstrating their intentions to destroy the values that the flag stands for, it's a show of hatred, nothing more, nothing less. Physically it might just be a bit of cloth but symbolically it's our country. By burning the flag, they have identified themselves as the enemy, not a friend.

If someone burned a picture of your family outside your front doorstep, would you welcome them in your house? I thought not.