Flags, Emblems and Illogical Arguments

The Prime Minister has had a shocker. To try and attach the tragedy that is the death of Jonah Lomu to our flag referrendum is an appalling error of judgement. Not only was it an errroneous connection, it was also a weak argument and most obviously pushing his preference on the nation yet again. (for those who missed it, this is what John Key said on the Paul Henry Show, referring to the Irish Examiner's classy tribute to Jonah Lomu after his sudden and unexpected death.

"Here's the silver fern, front page, with one frond coming off like a tear, with Jonah Lomu and his years," Key said. "Amazingly powerful. That's New Zealand. Where was our flag? Nowhere.")

But let's for argument sake, concede that what the PM said has some merit and follow it's logic through to it's natural conclusion. His argument is basically that because everyone connects the silver fern to New Zealand, that it should be on our flag. It is used throughout our sporting codes as a symbol of their connection to the land that they are playing for. Don't get me wrong, I think it is a beautiful emblem. But, the jump from emblem to being on the flag is a dubious one. By the PM's logic, the following must be true also: We are known the world over as Kiwis. We are proud to be known as that, even if Americans think we have named ourselves after a fruit. Anyway, because a Kiwi is a powerful symbol and connects us to this land, surely by following John Key's logic, it too deserves to be on our flag also.

Oh, what about sheep? Whenever I have travelled overseas, people automatically refer to the number of sheep we have when I say I am from New Zealand. That and Lord of the Rings. Perhaps they too should be on our flag? So we have a laser eyed kiwi with a silver fern and a sheep and the Eye of Sauron. Perhaps the kiwi could be blasting the sheep thus symbolising that we are great at exporting sheep meat for the purpose of cooking. Behind the kiwi could be the Eye of Sauron, symbolising our growing movie industry and a healthy tourism industry helped in part by the LOTR fans descending on our fair lands all in the hope of finding an orc, or a troll, or even meet with an elf.

The reality is that just because an emblem can represent a nation and symbolise that nation well, it doesn't mean that it has to be on the flag. Which brings me to the next part of the argument. Do we need to have the silver fern on the flag? Is it necessary or even non negotiable?

I would argue that a symbol can represent a country but it doesn't have to be on the flag as well. Why do I say that? Well, because it is true and appears time and time again. Let's look at some of the nations we saw at the Rugby World Cup to see how things are. Firstly, the English rugby side uses a red English rose as their symbol. Their flag? A red cross on a white background:

Interesting right? They aren't the same.






How about Scotland? Emblem is a thistle, yet the flag is a white cross on a blue background:

And Ireland? A shamrock and a flag with three colours: Green, White and Orange.

I could also mention Japan, whose endeavours were the toast of the World Cup. Known as the Cherry Blossoms, and whose flag is a simple but effective red circle, symbolising the sun, on a white background. Then there is the team they defeated in their first game, South Africa. Known as the Springboks (which is an interesting story regarding redeeming the name from apartheid) their flag has no springbok on it and instead uses colours and shapes to symbolise their country, known now as the Rainbow Nation.

In fact South Africa is an interesting case and actually one I think we should look to as to how to change flags properly. The Springbok is a beloved symbol in South Africa, particularly amongst rugby supporters. They are proud of the heritage that the symbol represents. They have flags with the springbok on it that are waved and flown at rugby matches and other sports games. Yet the springbok doesn't even register on their flag. They chose something that symbolises who they now are. It was a fresh start flag wise and represented the fresh start the country itself was undertaking.

You can have a wonderful, bold, striking flag that the whole nation can be proud of and still have a wonderful symbol that represents our sporting codes. Both can be different. To claim that the silver fern has to be on our flag limits our options for the flag. To argue that because the silver fern is used for many of our sporting codes therefore it must be on the flag is an argument that easily and quickly falls down.

Now there is nothing wrong with having the silver fern on the flag if that is the winner. If the majority of people want a flag with a silver fern then so be it. However to claim, as the PM has, that it must be on the flag is wrong. It is fine to state that your personal preference is for a flag with a silver fern on it, but don't say it must because it doesn't have to.

My personal preference has always been for a flag based on the tino rangatiratanga flag, a wonderful connection to the Maori culture with a symbolic koru design and three colours. Bold, simple, striking and uniquely Kiwi. It looks like a flag, flies like a flag and stands out amongst other flags. However, no flags based on this design made the final contenders so I have to decide which one of the final five I would prefer. That hasn't been easy and I'm still not sure which one I will vote for yet. What I haven't appreciated is the Prime Minister of our land constantly proclaiming his thoughts and opinions in the media. I feel he is trying to tell me which one to vote for without blatantly saying "vote for this one". In fact it bothers me so much that I am reluctant to put John Key's preference as my number one.

Yes the whole process has been flawed. It could have been and should have been done better. Vexillologists (flag experts), artists and designers should have been on the flag consideration panel. Perhaps what should have happened is that a panel of vexillologists, artists and designers were tasked with coming up with five strong potential designs that we as a nation could vote on. The reality though is that it hasn't. We have to make do with the process we have. So consider all the options on their own merits, but don't just fall into the trap of voting for a flag simply because it has a symbol on it that our sporting codes use. Vote for whichever design you feel is the best on its merits. If you don't like any of the designs there are plenty of voices out there stating how you should vote strategically. If you like our current flag, vote for your next best in this referrendum and vote for the current flag in the next. Do what you feel is the best thing for our country, but don't, please, vote for a design simply because the PM likes it or it has a symbol on it that is used in sport.

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By the way, if you want to know more about what makes a good flag according to vexillologists and designers, check out Lachlan Forsyth's item on Story the other day. http://www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/story/what-makes-a-good-flag-2015112319#axzz3sOzaAzVj

Also, here is a great blog from a vexillologist dispelling some of the arguments put forward in this debate. Well worth a read: https://medium.com/@thomaslebas/shedding-light-on-flag-design-840c3e3fa83f#.o3rzt8b8u

Godzone Not So Heavenly

I suffer from depression. I am not crazy or loopy. I do not have a screw loose or am a few sandwiches short of a picnic. I am a late 30s male, I have two beautiful children who love me dearly, I am a Christian who attends church sporadically (because of my job), I have a good job, get on with most of my colleagues, I have great friends, I try to be active but could do more. In fact I am like most people in society. The only thing different to many is that last year I was diagnosed with depression, and this year I decided with consultation with my GP and a psychologist I was seeing, to use medication to help me with my depression.

I don't want to go into the whys and hows, the ins and outs of my depression because for me that is personal and I am not ready to share those in such a public forum. I have been on my medication for eight months and otherwise live a normal life. I have had to put some things in place to help me combat the overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, fear and panic that manifest with my depression. I have two guys who I have shared a lot with. They help form my anchor that stops me from being bashed and battered by the depression storm. As well as those two guys I have a slightly wider group of people I can reach out to for support and prayer when I need it. I love tramping so aim to keep fit by walking or getting into the bush. I have great friends who enjoy that too and with whom I go out on tramps when I can. I have seen, and continue to see a counselor who is helping me through some past issues. All of these things help me cope with my depression and stop me from listening too much to the negative self talk.

Today the Annual Provisional Suicide Statistics were released showing more people died at their own hands last year than any year since 2007, the year records started. These statistics show that for a growing number of people New Zealand is not the heavenly paradise we like to think and portray it as. For many life is very very hard and for some they feel the only way out of that dark foreboding place is to end their life. It is sad, tragic and as the Chief Coroner was quoted as saying, "appalling". However we all can play a part in improving this, which is why this week seems the most important for the release of these stats.

That is because this week is Mental Health Awareness Week. We can think about and mourn the people who have died from suicide as well as those who have been left behind. But more than that we can talk about depression, suicide and how we as a society can combat these two blights on our country. You see, I believe that we have done each other a disservice by not talking about mental health and depression in particular. There is a stigma attached to mental illness and depression that means people fear talking about it which can isolate them and make them listen to that negative self talk too much, which can lead to suicide. We need to remove that stigma which is why I shared that I have depression. Removing that stigma means that I applaud the efforts of people like John Kirwan whose efforts have helped break down the walls of that stigma. Much has been done already, but much more is yet to be done.

One good and healthy thing to do is to make sure you have someone you trust implicitly to talk to. It can be a friend, a family member, a colleague, a teacher, a counsellor, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a pastor/priest/chaplain, whoever. If you feel you don't have a person to talk to, have some courage to try and open yourself up to someone. Having people who believe in you and who speak positive messages into your life is key to battling the negative self talk that is associated with depression. Another equally important thing is to stay healthy - go for a walk, run, ride, swim. Anything that helps you stay active. Add to this healthy eating and get good sleep. None of this is rocket science so anyone can do it. Even if you do one positive thing a day helps. When I had a bout of depression 8 years ago I didn't want to get out of bed. This last year I felt the same feeling when I was on summer holiday with my family. The difference between last time and this time was I knew what was happening and I had the tools in place. I was also working through the depression journal on the Depression NZ website (http://www.depression.org.nz/ and the journal direct link is https://myjournal.depression.org.nz). I cannot recommend the journal enough. The website is good as well.

As well as making sure that we are doing mentally ok ourselves it is important to make sure those around us are doing ok as well. There is a bible verse that states "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another" (Psalm 27:17). There is a fundamental truth to that. We are social creatures and function best when we can have some interaction with others. It is important to keep in touch with those in our circle of connections, touching base and making sure they are ok. This seems to be becoming more important in this present society where the individual is king. Reconnecting with others allows us to say that they matter to us and we value them as a person. It also allows us to say to them that what they are or might be going through and how it affects them is of interest to us.

So contact with people you are close to. Let them know they are important to you. Share what is going on in your life, including the struggles and ask about their lives. If we all did that then depression will stop having the stigma it does and our national suicide rate will drop. We would be a better society for it and Godzone would become a little more heavenly for everyone.

(As well as the depression website, check out the Mental Health Foundation website for information. Here is a link to a page they have about suicide if you are worried about someone you know. There are a list of helplines on the page too. http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/get-help/a-z/resource/48/suicide-worried-about-someone )

Gross, pathetic and a waste of money

  V

Today the four top choices from the flag consideration panel were released today. $26 million spent and this is what we got for our money and what a spectacular useless waste of money. No originality. No boldness. And nothing that looks like a flag.

Technically there aren't four choices but three. The two silver fern / southern cross options are one in the same. Just take the red and replace it with black. The fact that both of these made it to the top four shows that the flag consideration panel wanted to push the country towards John Key's favoured option. A theory supported by the fact there were no flag experts or artists or designers on the panel. That and the fact that a number of the panel seem to be fans of the National Party. 

Neither of these designs are dynamic yet we are being told by sportsmen and women it is their favourite. Getting Ritchie McCaw to state his preference was a pathetic attempt at merging sport and politicking together.

I have seen on Twitter the brilliant gif of one of the silver fern / southern cross options being shown as a combination of the Labour and National party logos. Replace the red with the black and it is a merging of National and NZ First. 

The alternative silver fern design is a total rip off of the NZ Trade and Enterprise logo. How a blatant rip off can be considered one of the top options in the country is pathetic. I do not want a flag that is a rip off of some brand. It means nothing to me and says nothing about this awesome country. 

And then there is the fourth option. The koru design. How this is the best koru design baffles me. It is boring and meaningless. It seems to have been selected as a way of guiding everyone to the silver fern options. It truly is ugly. 

What disappoints me the most is not one of the final four has a Maori design or connection. We are a country that is equally Maori and Pakeha. Our nation exists because of a partnership between Maori chiefs and the crown. We as a nation owe so much to Maoridom. This flag debate was a chance to recognise that and connect the nation. I would love to see a flag that reflects how significant Maori are in New Zealand. None of the flag options reflect that and that is a shameful reflection on us as a country. 

I was ready for a flag change. I wanted one. I believe it is time for us as a nation. However, the options are so pathetic, dull, uninspiring and downright boring that I plan to vote to keep our current flag. It may get mistaken for the Australuan flag on a regular basis but it sure beats the $26 million dross being served up.