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New Zealand Flag Institute |
WHAT DOES THE FLAG MEAN TO YOU?
Contributions
by readers and ordinary New Zealander’s. To make you own contribution, click
on go to the guest book, or join the discussion group of the New Zealand Flag
Institute.
“Who needs a flag? The games opening
marchers from New Zealand. Amidst the brilliant colours of other
countries proud to march. came the New Zealand competitors. Beautifully robed
in dreary funeral black. Undertakers assistants said Mary Jane. One
fortunately carried a large KIWI. What is wrong with a light blue flag on
which is the Union Jack and the brilliant Southern Cross.” Geoff Rodliffe, 6 September 2004 “Our flag has a
particular place of pride. It is the symbol of national unity and it reflects
our nationhood. When returned servicemen argue that the flag should not be
changed because it was the national symbol in WWII, they are reflecting on
the sacrifices made on behalf of the nation. Publicly burning the flag says
that their sacrifice was worthless, that the nation is not worth protecting.
That is why the flag has special protection as a symbol of nationhood. Most
democratic nations do not see that freedom of speech should enable the flag
to be burned.” Dr Wayne Mapp, Mapp Report, 30 July 2004 “The existing flag is more ‘typically’ New
Zealand than the black flag the Bays and Remuera Times proposes. Our flag’s
blue background reflects the sea and clear sky surrounding us. The stars of
the Southern Cross emphasises our location in the South West Pacific. The
Union Jack recognises NZ was once a British colony and Dominion. Your big
black flag is reminiscent of those little black flags that didn’t help us
much to keep the ‘you know what.’ |