What’s in a Flag?

For centuries different races, cultures and nations have used flags to distinguish themselves and mark their identity or cause. Whether these flags were carried into battle or flying quietly over peaceful countrysides, they were meant to mark commonality among a group, to recognize common histories, interests, and goals. Today there are over 190 nations in the world, each independent of the other, each with their own flag. Incredible, really, that every single nation has a flag yet the world itself, the “all of us”, has no such symbol. (Yes, yes, the United Nations has a flag but this speaks to the uniting of nations which, today, are less and less representative of their citizens. One World, One Flag is about the recognition and uniting of people, their nationalities notwithstanding.)

The world was a much larger place even 50 years ago. Competing societies could live in isolation with less reach or impact on each other. Vast improvements in travel and communication have effectively shrunk our globe and increased the contact between us. Similar progress in destructive technology has made it easier to inflict greater damage from farther afield. These two “advances”- increased connection and increased ability to destroy one another- have proved a live spark to the dry tinder of competing interests. Now, and increasingly as population and technological trends continue, we must seek ways celebrate (or at least tolerate) our differences and rejoice in (or at least recognize) our commonalities.

And so we acknowledge that the world is a complex tapestry of competing histories and interests, a weave that gives it great beauty but also poses great conflict. We accept the constant sources of energy that stand juxtaposed waiting for the slightest bit of friction to ignite them. And despite the danger of this we pledge not to try and homogenize the pot. On the contrary, we will maintain and celebrate the differences while at the same time asking that we each accept the others’ right to the same. We will try to plant at the very bottom of everything the simple understanding that we are all common travelers on unique trips aboard a miraculous but fragile vehicle, earth. And that each of us- and our actions- has profound and unforeseen effects (positive and negative) that are not contained by language or boundaries or religions, but cross the globe.

One World, One Flag is not about peace per se- there will always be disagreements- but about unity. About initiating a positive step, dropping a small pebble of “what if”, that might start a constructive ripple among us.

Pushing Patriotism for the Whole

Patriotism is a wonderful source of energy but, in practice, necessarily exclusive. It not only draws but celebrates the boundary. It defines and divides people by something as arbitrary as where they reside.

Religion can play a productive and meaningful role in many lives, but fraught with similar dangers. People become categorized by their beliefs and thereby separated from one another. We are defined and divided but what version of history we were raised to believe.

Consider the incredible energy that we pit against ourselves, the vast numbers of knives and guns pointed inward, the destruction we impart on ourselves year in year out, growing every decade. Now imagine the possibility of aligning this energy. Directing it in a productive manner, for the common good. The earth and her resources are not necessarily a zero sum game. The sum is still undetermined, it rests in our hands. With a common purpose, the sum is potentially enormous.

So let there be a completely inclusive level that recognizes all, that seeks to encourage a common purpose. A level that does not require dues, or taxes, or physical or spiritual hurdles. A patriotism for the whole that does not care where you live or what you believe. A patriotism ignorant of boundaries, made strong by its all-encompassing breadth. A patriotism that puts the question of almighty gods aside and is strengthened instead by the boundless spirituality of the human soul. And let us begin to recognize this with a rallying symbol, a flag, that might represent the individual and the whole, the differences and the like, the hope and above all, the opportunity.

And so the One World, One Flag is born. Is this cart ahead of the horse? Perhaps. Is it pretentious for someone to come forth with an image that is to stand for the entire world? Absolutely. But this is about first steps. About opening and furthering discussion on the possibility. Certainly others can do better… this is a work in progress. Jump aboard.

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