Well- as Fallujah continues to fall apart, and the flag-draped coffins are rolling into Dover at an ever-increasing rate, it's nice to know the "provisional authority" in Iraq has been focusing on what's important.
The silly image above is the design chosen for the new "liberated" (bankrupt, mired in civil war, occupied) Iraq. It was designed by London resident Rifat Chadirji, who just happens to be the brother of Nassir al-Chaderchi, the chairman of the IGC committee charged with choosing a new flag for Iraq (who woulda' thunk he ever had a chance?)
Even though the flag was lauded as the winner of a nationwide competition (that garnered all of 30 entries out of a nation of 20 million-plus), Mr. Chadirji wasn't even aware there WAS a competition- it was submitted by his (undoubtedly impartial) brother.
Needless to say, it wasn't long after the first shipment of "flags" arrived in Baghdad before they found their way, in flames, into various anti-occupation protests, nationwide. It has been met with almost universal derision and condemnation from just about everyone. It will only be flying within the "Green Zone" in Baghdad Central (the only place where it won't get torn down by any Iraqi with a sense of national pride), and even the official Coalition Provisional Authority website, hasn't mustered the cajones to put this new rag up on their site.
I could go on- but I think I should take just a few minutes to explain exactly WHY this flag is such a stupid idea (other than its being imposed by a foreign occupier.)
Okay- first off- let's look at the colors- no blues, no yellows- we have red, black, white- and most importantly- GREEN.
You see- (for those of you in the red states), green is the color of Islam- not blue. Anyone who spends five minutes with an encyclopedia, or wanders into a muslim-owned business that displays their Koran knows this. This is why Saudi Arabia's flag is green- as well as Libya's.
Outside of the addition of the Islamic crescent- this new flag bears no resemblance to any muslim flag in the world. Flags in the region are traditionally marked by broad fields of color, or broad stripes, punctuated with iconography/national symbols.
Quite frankly, when I look at this new flag, I'm reminded of toilets- ya see, you have that yellow stripe (signifying a healthy streak of urine), blue, signifying the blue water, (impregnated with ty-di-bowl), and white, signifying pristine porcelain.
But, all of this aside- why didn't anyone ask a very simple question:
What is the only flag in the middle east that features narrow blue bands, with the symbol of faith in blue?
Give it a few seconds- and think...
Maybe this little film will help you figger it out:
(BTW- I might as well head off any mini-brained accusations of "anti semitism" for making such a comparison, right here- I han't even thought of this resemblance, until Jon Stewart- himself jewish- pointed it out last night, on the "Daily Show".)
I have to shake my head in wonder, at this one- was there any thought AT ALL put into picking this design?
Did it not occur to anyone (outside of Rifat Chadirji), that the color of the flag might mean something? Didn't they consider creating a new flag that is "in synch" with the prevailing sensibilities of the muslim world?
Nah- of course they didn't! Heck- very little thought went into the war, the occupation, or anything else that has eminated forth from the Bush white house- why should I expect a piece of cloth to be any different? |
