Vexillology

Another interesting interview from The Hub. They discuss the history of flags with Stephen Harper, former Canadian PM.

I’ve never paid much attention to flags because I don’t understand the whole concept of teams. I don’t grasp saluting “my flag” or “my team” or “my country”. If the government is performing its functions well, I’ll go along with it. Otherwise fuck it.

Harper grew up with flags since his father was a historian specializing in vexillology. Harper has written a history of the Canadian flag, following in his father’s tradition.

He also discusses the US flag, showing how a focus on one material object can lead to larger understandings. I’ve done the same thing with tech history. You can learn more about real culture and real politics by looking at specific objects, BECAUSE the historians and journalists who write about politics and culture are always propagandists. Tech writers are out of the mainstream, often untouched by the official censors, and perhaps unconscious of the implications. They’re just describing a device or a business.

Harper illustrates the method. The first flag used by the 1776 rebels was NOT the flag of a new nation. They simply added white stripes to the red field of a Union Jack, leaving the Crown’s crest in the upper left. They didn’t intend to create a new nation. They wanted to gain some autonomy while remaining under the crown, like modern Canada. They hoped King George would take their side and persuade Parliament to loosen the taxes and tariffs. When George didn’t take their side, they replaced the plan and and the flag and aimed for total independence.