The Flag of Greenland

The other day, in school, Ian learned about the flag of Greenland, so when he mentioned it, the boys and I went online to get a look at it. Yes, apparently even thought it's more-or-less an extension of Denmark, politically, Greenland gets its own flag, which it has only had for about 30 years, and, being a recent flag, it's the product of some kind of contest, and the fruit of much creative, modern expression.

And it's weird. Sorry, it's weird. It's all red and white - a white sun half-sunken into a red ocean. Basically like some logo that didn't quite make the final cut for the "Scandinavian Design" furniture store. White stripe, red stripe, red half-sun, white half-sun. Like someone ran out of paint and images, but finished the job with what they had in the studio.

I'm not one of these flag-nationalists. I think the U.S. had a pretty good idea in sticking with primary colors - as did the French, the British, the Dutch, the Russians, etc. I would even submit that the U.S. flag looks a bit ...crowded, with all those stripes. And I have nothing against the Good People of Greenland. I'm sure they're both wonderful people. But, politics aside, if I had to be working around flags all day - let's say I'm coordinating some pro-government rally in Country X - I'd rather be looking at Old Glory than at Angry Scandinavian Sinking Sun.

And one of the boys captured my thoughts in his own language - Daniel, I suspect, but I forgot to attribute the source when I typed up the quotation:

"I wouldn't get tired of seeing the American flag - the American flag is pretty good - but that flag is crazy. The Greenland one is weirder."

(November 30, 2011)