Originally posted by sysyphus
Then I fully understand your high ranking of the Canadian Flag then: Plain and Dull. That's Canadians for certain.
I've always known that the three vertical bars as on the French, and many other flags represents a republic, but I never did understand the symbolism of that. Can anyone exaplain?
Well, this is just "my" top10. At the opposite of the webmaster, I assume it as such and I don't fake "objective" criterias. I've just tried to mix symbolism and aesthetic.
1.
South Africa
South African new flag expresses the diversity of the people of that country. There are 6 colours on that flags and I consider personally that they are brilliantly ordered. Mainly, we can feel that this flag represents the fact that the future of South Africa will be built by everyone together. I like the symbolism of that flag as much as its aesthetic.
2.
Canada
Of course, the symbolism isn't terrific in here. However, we can't deny this flag represents brilliantly the country it's supposed to picture. Who in the world doesn't know that the maple leaf flag is the one of Canada. I like also the funny hidden symbolism of the maple leaf with 11 ends, picturing this way the 11 provinces of the country. It's pretty, it's original, and it pictures well the spirit of the democratic and peaceful country Canada is.
3.
Kenya
No country pictures better the African pride than the one of Kenya. Many countries in Africa have copied European flags, showing this way how much colonialism has endoctrinated them in the idea of the inferiority of Africa compared to Europe. By the way, that flag doesn't picture weapons like it had been stupidily said, it represents the Massaï traditional Trophy ! The black expresses the people of Africa, the Red represents the blood needed to reach independance, the green represents hope towards the future. And finally, it's underlined with white representing the spirit of Peace. Great flag IMHO.
4.
United Kingdom
Who doesn't know the Union Jack stacking the crosses of Saint Andrew, Saint Patrick and Saint George. That flag expresses perfectly the idea of union. Actually, if we see only the flag, we could believe the country is far more united than it is in real. Moreover, I find it beautiful while waving.
5.
France
I've put the French flag as 7th the first time for politically correct reasons. After all, it's my flag and we can't deny it's subjective to put it on the Top10. Actually, I assume the fact that according to my subjective criterias, I honnestly put it at the 5th place.
The October 1789, at the beginning of the Revolution, La Fayette has inserted the royal white colour between the two traditional colours of Paris : the blue of the "capâ" of Saint Martin and the red of the oriflamme of Saint Denis. Parisians are representing the people in here. The king used to live outside of the main city Paris in Versailles. That flag expresses the fact that now the power is between the people. As such, it expresses the idea of Republic or Democracy (as you will). It's the first tricolour flag and I like those three colours together this way.
If you want to understand the spirit of the French flag, you should know that painting from Delacroix :
"Freedom guiding the People"
Tomorrow, I'll maybe comment the flag I've put from 6th to 10th. For now, I'm incredibly late so here are those flags :
6. United States
7. Saudi Arabia
8. Sweden
9. Brazil
10. Slovakia
, how could you forget...
