Waitangi Day - flag it?

Waitangi Day, our national day or flag it away?

Having witnessed the monumental fails of other nations as they have moved from 'colonial oppression' to self determination it behoves us to work toward a strong and resilient structure based on the unity of our citizenry and the work we do to make the principals of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity present in our daily lives.

Waitangi Day looms and we are sure to get the usual suspects out making their anger fuelled bids for media and sound bites. Where does our nation stand in our minds and what does the constant chat about changing our flag mean to the process of growth and stability?

If we change our flag we have to go to the international community and say we have changed who we are, we have moved forward, we have taken a moment to alter our course and we want you all to view this graphic image we stand under and understand something new about us and find respect for that change and the reasons behind it.

A National flag is a call to unity...... so, if you are Maori and feeling disaffected and do not think that the arch-conservative in Christchurch can stand under your flag as we face the World together, your flag is a fail... equally, if you are that arch-conservative and do not think your flag fairly represents and includes all Maori, your flag is also a fail.

A change of flag is not a simple logo change, it is a change in thought process and direction, it is a monumental chance for symbolic bringing together of us all for the cause of our nation. It is also a monumental chance for huge dissipation in the belief structure that binds our society together and an opportunity to cast ourselves in the eyes of the rest of the World as, well, twats.

To change our flag we must redefine who we are, what we stand for and what we are willing to die for. If we bring that down to the level of "the Canadian one looks nice, lets do something like that" or "well the All Blacks wear it" we are in what can only be described as a philosophical and spiritual nadir. Anything less than excellence in such an endeavour is pedestrian, weak and banal. If you want the fern, or a wave with stars as our national flag, slap yourself hard and wake the **** up, you might as well suggest jandals or a chocolate fish! MORE (refresh your page to view new website)

Print maker, artist & social commentator, Lester Hall is one of New Zealand’s most exciting contemporary visual artists. Hall’s work is provocative, striking, intelligent, and strongly political. Maori commentator, Willie Jackson states, “he is a cultural intellectual for NZ”. Hall has a clear message of unity that radiates strongly from his Ngati Pakeha Inks series.

ENDS

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