Ever since the US overthrew their British Rulers violently, they had no replacement for their erstwhile King. They didn't deem their President as their Supremo. So, they chose their Flag, the Stars & Stripes, as their inviolable symbol of pride and patriotism.
Their Moment of Victory in the Second World War is not symbolized by their Fat Man and the Little Boy who did the trick, but by their 'Iwo Jima' moment:
http://www.visitingdc.com/virginia/iwo-jima-picture.htm
The Marines are bending but the flag is aloft in the hot breeze of battle.
Wiki tells me the iconic story of American pride:
"...in the Summer Olympics of 1908 in London, where countries were asked to dip their flags to King Edward VII, the American flag bearer did not. Team Captain Martin Sheridan is famously quoted as saying: 'this flag dips to no earthly king'..."
There are strict rules pertaining to its use by public. In general the Stars & Stripes can't be used on T-shirts, potteries and footwear. And burning it in public is the ultimate insult to the erstwhile Superpower.
The story in Britain is somewhat different. They have their King who is the symbol of their sovereignty, although he has no power and has to practically cajole their Parliament for footing their expenses like maintaining their palaces and their life style.
I am told that in the Hyde Park, one can abuse any MP for his politics or persona and deride everything on earth to his heart's content, but nothing insulting can be uttered about their King.
Since the King (rather, the Queen) is their Holy Cow, their flag, the Union Jack, is more of an emblem and one can sport it more freely.
When India became free and got rid of their Emperors, their symbolic place was taken by the Indian Tricolour with elaborate flag codes that prohibited its use by private citizens except on the I-Day and R-Day.
But lately the flag code has been amended twice and people of India, that is Bharat, are now more free to use it.
I write this now since the recent 12 days at Ramlila Maidan witnessed thousands of the Tricolour waved by kids and cools. In fact the Maidan was awash with the three colors.
And I read that the historic ghoonghat vaudeville act by our policewoman was preceded by her 'furious' flag waving.
The other symbol in the Maidan was the HUUUGE photo of the Father of our Nation as the backdrop of the Event. No one could miss it. He was like the Happier Prince, smiling tolerantly at the goings on.
Unfortunately MG was not elevated to our Symbolic Sacred Crow, although I consider him the most interesting Indian politician...others may be greater. There is no law against breaking his legs and hands and head, which symbolic acts take place routinely nowadays.
Apparently B R Ambedkar was against his elevation to the Indian Throne...and he was sensible...who will protect the million statues of MG, big and small, behind which we daily hide and seek...
But there were two impositions of patriotism during my time.
During the 1950s, there was a law that every cinema hall has to precede its movie by a 10 minute 'Newsreel' made by the Films Division propagating the achievements of the Congress Government. Since I was a school student at that time, I found it very useful for 'collecting' material for our Social Studies Exam. But, by and large the Halls were empty till the bally thing was over.
I read the other day that the practice is going to be revived...
The other symbolic display of our patriotism came up when we were given a sound drubbing by the Chinese in our eminently forgettable 'war' with them that crippled Nehru once for all.
To ignite our smoking sense of pride, we were forced to stand up and keep mum at the end of every film in every theater when our National Anthem was compulsorily played. Well, most folks including me were edging to the exit gate to scram...I don't know when this practice ended...maybe after the Liberation of Bangladesh...I can only hope that it too is not going to be revived.
Why not Anna as our new National Mascot...sorry hon'ble MPs...I beg your pardon...
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Gift Boilers
Nino writes that his 6-year-old daughter called reverentially the Duchess was so enamored of big machines that he decided to gift her a Lathe as her wedding present.
But there is this curious news item from DC today which may be more exicting for the Duchess:
"The Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, rewarded the labour minister, Mr Danam Nagendar by allocating the department of boilers to him.
Usually the department of boilers is attached to the energy ministry, which is presently held by the Chief Minister himself.
The government on Tuesday issued orders deleting boilers from energy and giving it to (the labour minister) Mr Nagender."
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