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[Misc] Best Flag - Union Jack or Le Tricolore?
- Thread starter Cheeky Monkey
- Start date
JetsetJimbo
Well-known member
- Jun 13, 2011
- 1,097
Anyone who knows me will tell you I'm one of the least nationalistic Britons around (the fact I'm a dual national might contribute to that - hard to get too hung up on this stuff when you have two nationalities that are both meaningful to you).
But I will absolutely insist that our flag is one of the best, possibly THE best. Nepal makes a strong case with its crazy shape. Lots of people love the US flag (though it does little for me). The striking simplicity of Japan's has a kind of minimalist beauty. But the design of ours is absolutely iconic. If it's not number 1, it's gotta be top 3 at least.
But I will absolutely insist that our flag is one of the best, possibly THE best. Nepal makes a strong case with its crazy shape. Lots of people love the US flag (though it does little for me). The striking simplicity of Japan's has a kind of minimalist beauty. But the design of ours is absolutely iconic. If it's not number 1, it's gotta be top 3 at least.
Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 71,886
I always did think that the Union Jack was weirdly far more flair and iconic than the nation it represents. It's about the coolest remaining thing about The Artist Formerly Known As Cool Britannia
Gabbiano
Well-known member
Union Jack is objectively a better flag. Original design, striking to look at but well balanced. Plus the history of it combining the English, Scottish and Irish flags is interesting.
The French flag? Another one of hundreds of three banded dull tricolours? No imagination, drab.
You go around the world and you see the Union Jack emblazoned on T shirts, bags, posters etc as some kind of fashion statement, or at least design point of interest. They don't do that with tricolour number 1/156.
One thing I think this nation can actually be proud of is our flag. The anthem's shite but the flag is great.
The French flag? Another one of hundreds of three banded dull tricolours? No imagination, drab.
You go around the world and you see the Union Jack emblazoned on T shirts, bags, posters etc as some kind of fashion statement, or at least design point of interest. They don't do that with tricolour number 1/156.
One thing I think this nation can actually be proud of is our flag. The anthem's shite but the flag is great.
I was in Barcelona just after the 2012 Olympics, and I was amazed at how many young people were wearing clothes with union flag emblems on them. Sometimes it was a stylised version, fuzzy lines and stuff like that, but quite often it was just a plain flag.
I assumed they weren't all raving British nationalists and put it down to the success of the London Olympics in making Britain 'cool' again (at least for a bit). Be interesting to see if the French flag has a similar effect on fashion after the Paris Olympics.
Garry Nelson's Left Foot
Well-known member
I'm not sure how much effect the olympics had. I think the union flag/jack just has an aesthetic appeal that transcends its association with the U.K. All over the world it's used on clothing, bags, posters and loads of other stuff. I don't think many of those designs are about how great the U.K is, rather it just looks cool.
RandyWanger
Je suis rôti de boeuf
Blue for Saint Martin, white for the House of Bourbon, red for Saint Denis. Tricolore 
obviously came about after the revolution. Inspired by the Dutch revolution.
obviously came about after the revolution. Inspired by the Dutch revolution.
Tom Hark Preston Park
Will Post For Cash
- Jul 6, 2003
- 71,886
This. Only so much that even the most ardent marketing department can do with 3 bold bands before it just ends up as some other country's flag
Yeah, reading some of the other posts I think you may be right. It was just that it was so prevalent that my wife and I both noticed it. It was almost if you didn't have a union flag motif somewhere on your clothing then you weren't cool.
smillie's garden
Am I evil?
- Aug 11, 2003
- 2,694
Agreed. However, given that the snake-chomping eagle is perched on a very ouchy looking prickly pear (nopal), one does have to question its choices. Perhaps the raptor is of the Croydon variety?
GingerBeerMan
3-0
- Dec 29, 2011
- 8,125
I love flags.
Norman Potting
Well-known member
Surprised that this took so long to appear
papachris
Well-known member
Think it would be good if you could see more Union or St George flags flying on occasions in England.
When I lived in England I didn't really think much about it. But since moving abroad you notice a lot more flags flying, especially on official 'flag days' in Estonia for instance where you will see it on private and public buildings, even buses etc. It certainly contributes to people feeling more patriotic and proud of their nation.
When I lived in England I didn't really think much about it. But since moving abroad you notice a lot more flags flying, especially on official 'flag days' in Estonia for instance where you will see it on private and public buildings, even buses etc. It certainly contributes to people feeling more patriotic and proud of their nation.
Peacehaven Wild Kids
Well-known member
Switzerland hasn’t got much going for it*
but it’s flag’s a big plus.
*i’m sure Switzerland’s got plenty going for it but it’s the feedline to a so called joke, so just let it go eh?
but it’s flag’s a big plus.
*i’m sure Switzerland’s got plenty going for it but it’s the feedline to a so called joke, so just let it go eh?
basque seagull
Active member
- Oct 21, 2012
- 367
The Union flag has more depth of squad....The French tricolore/tricolour is simple, clean, quality, does what it says on the tin. The Union Jack is iconic, but overly busy.
Have a soft spot for the flag of Malta. Displaying the George Cross as a mark of thanks for the collected bravery of the Maltese people during WW2.
That’s class.
That’s class.
Probably not true of the centre of Brighton, but there's so many plastered all over the place in a lot of towns nowadays it's like somebody machine gunned them all over the place. Certainly far more than a few years ago.
I'm guessing this has been prompted by the succession of royal jubilees, funerals and coronations over the last few years. And to judge from politicians' need to have a Union Flag behind them or in shot on television at all times there may be a political aspect to it as well.
Doesn't make me more patriotic seeing them, I just wonder who paid for them to be put up and who's going to pay for them to be taken down or replaced. I don't particularly feel any need to have the country decorated like it's a set of bloody Foyle's War.