It has been stated that “a society is a superb and silent compact between the lifeless, the dwelling and the unborn.”
The nationwide Flag is the seen proof of this compact. It ties the generations collectively. It offers continuity to civilization. One of many occasions within the Olympic video games of the traditional Greeks was symbolic of this compact between the lifeless, the dwelling and the unborn.
It was a race during which a runner bore a flaming torch which he handed on to a different member of his group on the finish of his mile. Every runner dropped out in his flip, however the torch went ahead to the tip. It could be with every of us as South Africans, and it might be with our Flag. We’re runners.
Solely the dwelling can carry the torch from the lifeless to the unborn.
The Flag is many issues. It’s a mark of identification of the ship at sea and of armies within the discipline. It’s a technique of communication. It’s a mirror, reflecting to every individual his personal beliefs and goals. It’s historical past. It’s a mark of satisfaction. It’s an inspiration of what young children need their lives to be.
It’s a reminiscence on the finish of lifetime of all that life has been. It’s a ribbon of honour for individuals who served it nicely – in peace and battle. It additionally serves as a warning.
Compatriots are actually acquainted with the position a flag performs through the state, provincial and nationwide funerals. The flag drapes the casket or coffin of the deceased to honour the reminiscence of his/her service to the nation.
The South African flag, which many fought for, and plenty of died for, is an emblem of victory over the pariah state of apartheid.
To trivialize it’s to, similar to the racist Stellenbosch scholar, urinate on the graves of all those that paid the last word worth within the gallant struggle in opposition to the evil system of apartheid.
When the American, Justice Holmes, stated, “We reside by symbols,” – he didn’t imply human symbols alone. To some, it might be a little bit of ‘colored’ material, a small factor – however to nearly all of South Africans, it’s a image of significance. Using freedom at her finest, the fitting to assume as we want, the convenience of worship, and plenty of different inalienable rights, using these means and the train of those rights are a few of the functions for which our flag stands as an emblem.
One is just not positive whether or not it’s the hangover of apartheid that we nonetheless have individuals with warped political views in the case of our symbols our conquer apartheid. To name June 16 th the Youth Day, Sharpeville bloodbath, the Human Rights Day, is tantamount to urinating the abiding legacy of the compatriots who had been mowed down by the apartheid regime.
To some, our flag symbolizes nothing. They’d simply solid it into dustbin or use it to clean their kitchen flooring. They’d solid it into the gutter. The reality is, they’re all grossly in error.
Our flag symbolizes excess of nothing, and excess of automobiles or newest vogue designs. The flag stands for the sustaining beliefs that give us as a nation the energy to shed tears and to hold on; to sweat, and to bleed, and to endure disappointment with out failing; to try, – to despair – to endure heartache and heartbreak, however nonetheless with unrelenting grit and dedication, to go on, and on – and on.
It stands for the safety of the liberty of thought, expression, and worship, and it’s the image for indescribable braveness. It stands for resilience, for the energy of character, a energy woven into the very material of that being referred to as South Africa – woven so tightly and set so firmly that it has turn out to be part of the South African soul.
The South African flag is just not a scrap of fabric as the present brouhaha about it makes it to be. It should be with deep conviction that we pledge our loyalty to our flag and, if obligatory, with our very lives – that’s how vital our flag is.
Different nations’ proud and patriotic devotion and to their nationwide symbols put us to disgrace. When their athletes win in numerous sporting codes, the very first thing they should lay their arms on are their nations flags. When their flags are hoisted throughout award ceremonies, a few of them even cry.
Once they sing their nationwide anthems, they stand nonetheless and sing with gusto. With us, it’s a joke. With us, it’s chewing bubblegum and making aimless noise all the way in which. No sense of satisfaction in any respect.
No significance hooked up to both the flags or nationwide anthem. One thing is severely mistaken with our psyche!
The importance of a flag is finest captured every time a president of the nation proclaims that the flags should be flown at half-mast as an indication of respect or mourning. To our flag up there, we should always pledge that no weeds shall develop over the graves of our wrestle stalwarts.
We should always execute with proud and agency conviction that justifies the immodest efforts of those that have gone earlier than – with the conviction that places the joys of life into our waving image, our flag, that composite illustration of our collective character as South Africans.
With our flag unfurled, we pledge loyalty to our lovely nation. Certainly, our flag does greater than emblazon a momentous and wonderful historical past; it declares the aim and heralds the beliefs of our nation.
Given the DA’s desecration of our flag, one might argue that our flag is neither half-mast nor falling. It’s on the bottom with its symbolic significance besmirched by this newest and unlucky incident and the controversy of R22 million that was to be spent to colossally enlarge it (ginormous 100-metre-tall flagpole) within the quest to ‘ostensibly encourage nationwide cohesion and, concurrently, to create didactic vacationer vacation spot.’
By having the Flag besmirched, our hard-fought democracy can also be besmirched. It’s ironical that it has taken the DA to desecrate our flag to assist conscientize South Africans concerning the significance of our flag.
Provided that the meant huge flagpole was by no means constructed, it’ll make sense that the cash should as a substitute be expended for a large marketing campaign to assist educate the general public about our nationwide symbols whose meanings are hardly recognized by nearly all of South Africans.
The pressing problem is to “increase our flag from the bottom and hoist it on new flagpoles – within the minds of South Africans in order that it may possibly stay etched of their recollections. The elevating and hoisting of the flag on the brand new flagpoles could be the demonstration or manifestation of affection and patriotism and would require the dedication of each the federal government and the nation.
What the colors of the South African Flag imply. Inexperienced is taken into account to represent the fertility of the land lack symbolizes the African neighborhood.
Gold represents the mineral wealth of the nation. Blue represents the countless prospects for South Africans.
Identical to America, South Africa should take into account having annannual Flag Day programme the place concerted efforts are made to arouse the individuals to a larger love and appreciation of their Flag. It’s the South Africanism pure and undefiled, and never the watered-down model of patriotism that some good South Africans are content material to name love of their nation. I additionally consider that efforts also needs to be made to rekindle the love for our nationwide anthem.
South Africans ought to know what the nationwide anthem stands for. Is it merely a bit of bunting – a dull object? No. It’s a nice deal greater than that. It’s a nice image, an emblem acknowledged all through the world because the final finest hope for peace and freedom. To correct respect within the South African flag and the beliefs it represents, the residents should be inspired to take part actively within the affairs of the federal government, maintain knowledgeable about public points, be part of political events, and vote faithfully and intelligently (the latter is written in jest).
Most significantly, we should not overlook our foundation obligation to reside as much as the beliefs and ideas symbolized by our flag. It’s, nonetheless, the responsibility of the federal government to strengthen and broaden the attention of the importance of the Flag. By vigorously driving the re- schooling marketing campaign, the federal government shall have succeeded in transmitting to posterity within the South African beliefs of freedom, unsullied and undefiled.
The query is just not whether or not we are able to do it, the query is one in all our collectives will do what we all know should be completed. I wish to log off by citing an inspirational passage from Richard J. Whalen’s e-book Catch the Falling Flag.
Although the passage’s context is that of America, there are few classes we might draw to enlighten ourselves (South Africans) concerning the pivotal significance of the Flag. The passage reads as follows: “We …owe our loyalty, to not the gadget worn by quickly highly effective males in Washington, however to the enduring beliefs of particular person freedom and restricted, responsive authorities the flag represents.
The flag, as image of those beliefs, is falling, and I’ve written to hasten the arrival of the brave management wanted to catch and lift it.”
Dr Vusi Shongwe is from Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal Province
