flags

i kind of like flags in general. but of course don't forget that i'm the one who wanted to write a dissertation on the commodification of symbols, so i'm kind of a meaning sucker, maybe. obviously flags have served many purposes over the years, staking claims, signaling victory or defeat, indicating alliance with one or another political group.

my current favorite kind of flags are those that people use to decorate the fronts of their houses, that have some kind of cutesy or benign picture on it. i like to imagine that those flags are serving one of the traditional purposes that flags always have. so, like, we'll cross the street because we do not associate with members of the Butterfly Brigade. or, i could leave a basket of refugee Care Bears on the porch of someone with such a flag because i know they'll be safe there. or:

knock, knock."hello. [sotto voce] i understand that you like flowers. is this a flower-friendly home? we can organize, comrade. there are others out there like us. together, we can like flowers as a group. we can use these flags to signal and contact other people who like flowers. and then there will be no stopping us! we will be a large group of people, all of whom like flowers!! hahahahahaha!!!!!!"