Even though it is technically not a country flag, I always thought the Union Jack looked very nice. Also, the Japanese flag when in had the red and white stripes all connecting to the off-center center sun.
At the end of the 2006 Winter Olympics a Canadian journalist was writing about the Canadian flag flying at the closing ceremonies, as is the custom to indicate the country that would host the next Games. I recall her writing something like "the most beautiful flag in the world - it truly is". I believed her a little, but recognize the inherent bias in there. I think most would at least agree that the Canadian flag is distinctive. A previous boyfriend of mine who is now working in the US used to say that he didn't really like the US flag because he thought it looked 'angry'. I thought that was an interesting thing to say and I've thought of it often since. For me it's just got too much on it to be aesthetically pleasing, but it's elements are nice in their unifying symbolism.
An interesting offshoot of the question is what flags of the world do any one of us know on sight, and why? I'll try to answer that.
US, UK, Russia, China, Japan & Australia, just because I think most people who are reasonably aware knows these flags.
Germany & France partially for the same reasons as above, but also from international athletic competition.
Mexico, probably from geographic proximity.
Argentina because I think it's pretty. Nice shade of blue and nice sun. Thematically and aesthetically similar in some ways to Canadian flag.
Irish and Dutch flags because those are the countries of my family heritage.
Iraq and Afghanistan because of the conflicts and the nation building.
South Korea because I visited there.
Probably know others that aren't occurring to me right now.
I'm adding Italy in the 'flags I know'. Mostly I think from the extensive use of it's colours in both Italian food branding and packaging and it's association with local soccer and culture here in my city.
I would also add one that is closely like the Italian flag, but with an Eagle in the middle: The Mexican Flag. I'm being a bit bias as I'm Mexican-American, lol
I thought of four more I know. Sweden and Finland from hockey, Switzerland because it's iconic and distinctive and Isreal for I suppose similar reasons. I'm sorry to be all spammy with stuff nobody likely cares about but the mental exercise of figuring out how and why I knew stuff I didn't necessarily seek deliberately just kind of interested me. Where I live I guess, my own history, what my interests are and the places and things the culture emphasizes. Anyway, thanks for indulging me. :)
I mentioned my old boyfriend saying something about a flag that I'll always remember - the only other person that has done that for me is YV right here when she said that the kind of flag waving patriotism that most countries could take for granted was ruined for Germany by the Nazis. So clear in retrospect. Living next to the US is an immersion primer in the flag as exuberant unifier and teller of a powerful, noisy cultural story. It hadn't occurred to me that it wouldn't be, couldn't be like that everywhere.
Panchgani, your comment was interesting as well. Most cultures get to have their flags to themselves. Not so for the US. Weird combination of burden and privilege.
JoxerTheDeityPirate wrote:
isn't Italy's just white on a white background?
and the Union Jack has to be the best flag just to remind you colonials who's the boss.. :-D
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Not really, given that England ALWAYS loses what they have, or had, in possession. LMAO
The Lebanese flag is nice. Can't atagonise anyone with a tree motif.
I know it's not nice but I;ve always liked that old US "Don't Tread On Me" flag. I think it says more about America and Americans than any other single image.
The Falklands oath of citizenzhip:
"Sheep ship on a sheet shape. Sheep ship on a sheet shape. Sheep ship on a sheet shape. Sheep ship on a ship shape. Sheep ship on a sheep sheep. Sheep shit on a shape sheep..."
Holly2003 wrote: I know it's not nice but I;ve always liked that old US "Don't Tread On Me" flag. I think it says more about America and Americans than any other single image.
Everything old is new again...been adopted by the Tea Party as most will know.
Holly2003 wrote:
The Lebanese flag is nice. Can't atagonise anyone with a tree motif.
I know it's not nice but I;ve always liked that old US "Don't Tread On Me" flag. I think it says more about America and Americans than any other single image.
Hisssssssssss ........rattle, rattle, rattle......
Hisssssssssssssssss. Any small rodents about? Feeling hungry!