Flags which are considered controversial and why: How flags cultivate political will, sentiment and antipathy along with controversy in the USA.
Waving a flag is meant to be a way of showing pride in your nation, sports team, or school. On the one hand, a flag is a simple piece of colorful fabric. On the other hand, it can stir powerful emotions and create enormous conflict. It has the power to bring out some of the most tribal instincts in people’s hearts, and it has definitely led to some incredibly controversial moments in culture.
And yet, some flags are truly problematic and can lead to hurt feelings, brawling matches, and other unsavory issues. The following is a list of some of the most terrible flags out there, and the reason why they wreak such havoc.
The Confederate Flag
A symbol of The Lost Cause for some, for others a stark reminder of the pain of reconstruction, the confederate flag is arguably the most controversial one out there. While Southerners feel that it represents their heritage and has nothing to do with racism, plenty of people would argue against that. In fact, seeing someone unfurl this flag anywhere causes many people – especially those from historically marginalized groups who feel vulnerable – to steer clear.
Some would argue that waving the confederate flag is meant to act as a deterrent to people of color, and even a warning since white supremacists have also taken to it. While you will definitely find a few people insistent that this flag is meant to simply display southern pride rather than continued support for slavery, plenty of people would disagree.
Anti-Presidential Flags
This isn’t one particular kind of flag but rather a genre of flags that tend to be popular for four years at a time, then switched around quickly for the new president. This country has become increasingly partisan, and so it is not at all surprising that the more crass F*** Biden Flag has become a popular item of choice for die-hard conservatives or people who generally detest his economic policies. This genre of flags will never go out of style, regardless of how controversial they may be. Their uncouth packaging is deeply alienating for some, and can upset the neighbors – but for others who choose to wave this flag, that’s probably the point.
The Thin Blue Line Flag
Showing your support for the police seems like a fairly innocuous and “good” thing to do. In fact, most people feel that this shouldn’t be politicized at all and that all loyal citizens should want the best for the police forces. Enter the Thin Blue Line Flag. This flag has become increasingly controversial, especially as police departments across the country come under scrutiny for their horrifying and often unnecessary brutal tactics. It has even been criticized as a symbol of white supremacy given its popularity with the Proud Boys and similarly nefarious groups. It definitely evokes strong emotions from everyone.
“Waving the flag” has so many meanings. It can refer to a form of surrender, an expression of extreme pride or loyalty, or just willful ignorance. It tends to bring out the more primal and tribal instincts in us, and when a certain flag is carried by a group of people, the sight can be downright alarming. Of all the flags out there, the ones mentioned here are definitely the most controversial and tend to evoke the strongest reactions.
