Hammer and Symbol

As a form of political expression, flags are closely related to other symbols. Official seals and coats of arms authenticate the acts of governments; armbands and uniforms unite demonstrators in their common cause; emblems such as the American eagle, the hammer and sickle of Soviet Communism, or the swastika of Nazism appear on posters, ballots, and lapel pins. Groups of all sizes--even private individuals--may have flags that serve to state and affirm their beliefs in the face of opposing beliefs. The most important flags of the modern era are those that identify the nation-state.

appears in:

• "Reign Of Blows" (on The Big Express)

further reading:

• Reflections on Patriotism and Our Sense of the Past, by Michael Kammen
• Resources for the Study of Political Science
• The Rights Of Man, by Thomas Paine