What's your favorite flag of the world? Least favorite?

http://ahpc-jp30.st-and.ac.uk/~josh/flags/intro.html ^

[watsonfellow]

Some time ago, browsing through my friend's atlas, I realised that there are significant differences in quality between the flags of different countries. Some are good, some are bad. Some countries have clearly taken care in the choice of colours, layout, and design. Others have been lazy, stolen the flags of their neighbours, or just designed flags that are clearly supposed to cause pain to those who look at them.

To my surprise, there is no international body responsible for upholding simple standards of vexillilic aesthetics. Nor do the UN or Interpol have the power to call in and punish those responsible for such atrocities as the Brazilian or Cypriot flags. I suppose there is probably a conspiracy of rich western nations (those with permanent seats on the UN security council, no doubt) to prevent such crimes from being brought to justice; however, in the meantime I am giving letter grades to the existing flags of the world.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I'm aware of only one other similar instance of such a convenient change of flag from one design to another.

AS you know the Stars and Stripes evolved from a colonial flag, a red field with the Union Jack in the upper left hand corner (I know there's a vexological term for this, ensign?). Later, the red field was divided by white stripes to show that the colonies had separated from Britian. Later still, the Union Jack was replaced by a blue feild with thirteen stars symbolizing the thirteen states.

[BSunday]

The blue, green, and red of "Gambia" (if, in fact that is a real country) are "great colors" ??? What a maroon.

[Travis McGee]

I agree, Maryland has the prettiest flag. I just hope the original seamstresses were paid by the hour, not the flag.

This is my current favorite, based on the "Naval Jack" which flies today on the bow of every US Naval warship:

[BSunday]

Best: USA, Texas, First Confederate, Bonnie Blue
Worst: Gambia (IF indeed that is a real country), UN, N. Korea, etc)

[BSunday]

Yes, in the interest of not offending anyone, it must come down.

[archy]

I always believed the French "White Flag of Surrender" was just devine. It is simple, not gaudy and tells the tale immediately.

And it is used so often, just everybody recognizes it.

Ever been to Camerone, in Mexico, near Puebla, in Veracruz?

Does the date 30.4.1863 ring any bells?

My altar-boy Latin's a bit rusty, but approximately:

They were here
less than sixty
Against an entire army

Its mass crushed them.
Life, rather than courage
abandoned these French soldiers
on April 30, 1863

To their memory,
this monument was erected
by their fatherland.

When the 62 men and two other officers under the command of Capitan Danjou had been reduced to six badly wounded survivors with all but one officer and NCO killed, they did what they had promised their officer: the six fixed their bayonets and charged the 3000 Mexican troopers.

Folks down around Texas way sometimes wonder if those Frenchies had heard the story about the Texian stand at the Alamo 27 years previously, and tried to do as well as Travis and his boys did. But Danjou's patrol knew there was no relief coming to their aid, and chose to go out fighting for eleven hours rather than accept terms for an honorable surrender. All of them.

Don't mistake weak and corrupt French politicians for the Average French grunt or French ForeignLegionnaire. Today, a hundred and thirty-one years after that fight, the Mexican Army troops passing that monument salute their former foes buried there.

[Askel5]

You know ... even though I just read "Taras Bulba" recently, I'm really tempted to get a Kyiv'ian flag to fly here at home ... =)

[Askel5]

Don't you think Nazi Germany would have saved a LOT of time and trouble if they'd managed to work up "Pride" movements such that Jews displayed their flag, blacks displayed their flag, homosexuals displayed their flag and handicapped (those not already a part of the Defective Children Network) could display their "Mentally Deficient & Proud" flags outside their door too?


In many ways ... particularly the way they dotted the i's and crossed the t's of Sexual Revolution in advance this time around ... the Revolution's done a remarkable job of getting folks to sort and redefined (down) themselves in the name of "blind" Diversity.

I find it fascinating, really.

[Darksheare]

It does seem at times that the brave Francais have abandoned France, or worse - kept silent.

[gitmo]

LOL!!!!!!

[spatzie]

le main de D'anjou...I seem to recall hearing about that somewheres...

[archy]

It does seem at times that the brave Francais have abandoned France, or worse - kept silent.

I think that when the pendulum in France swings back, it will be akin to the one in Poe's novel, and it'll take a great many heads off with its return.

Like a guillotine.

[Delta 21]

Outstanding!

[Dionysius]

Best: Stars & Stripes
Worst: UN (Symbol of Liberal Conceit; appeasement)

[Ciexyz]

Old Glory bump.

[Diva Betsy Ross]

I was wondering how many posts I would have to read before I saw this(Gadsden flag) beauty!

Here is my second favorite:

[Darksheare]

An OUCH thought.
Hopefully, it swings back soon.

[Dr._Joseph_Warren]

Favorite Flag:

Close Second Favorite Flag:

All Time Least Favorites:
;)

[Cronos]

WEll the wackiest has got to be the flag of Mozambique -- it's got a KALASHNIKOV on it!

[Cronos]

Nor do the UN or Interpol have the power to call in and punish those responsible for such atrocities as the Brazilian or Cypriot flags.

I kind of like those two flags -- the Brazilian is nice and cheerful -- green and yellow. And the Cypriot flag has a nice li'l map of the country.