Ken Jones, Contributor

It is normal practice for people of most countries, colours, classes and creeds, to use flags as a signalling device or a way of telling others about themselves, their hopes and aspirations. This standard, whether of woven cloth or graven image, reflects the flyer's frame of mind, serving as moral rearmament in the midst of battle, a sign of joy in victory and a symbol of hope in time of peace.

These laudable motives have lasted for more than 500 years since flag-flying began. But of late some events in this connection have caused it to look as if we Jamaicans are not far removed from the beasts of the field. In the animal kingdom, a red flag is supposed to stir the anger of a moody bull. And now, we are hearing that the waving of green or orange-coloured pieces of cloth can raise a hue and cry and send whole communities into internecine warfare. Only recently, our contending political parties were being advised that in the interest of peace they should take their cloths out of the volatile constituencies.

Embedded in the culture

Jamaicans have a history of loving flags and nobody should interfere with that which began in the distant past, starting about the year 1700, when pirates in Port Royal and elsewhere in the Caribbean flew the Jolly Roger. This flag of skull and crossbones was meant to indicate a sense of terror. That flag is history, but there is a Jolly Jamaican flag often encountered on our streets. This one provides a boost for the spirit of the user. Any motorist will tell you that the happiest member of a road construction crew is the person given a flag and the authority to tell drivers if and when they may get past him.

Considering our culture, it seems a bit unfair to be asking a Jamaican to desist from flying flags. We have long been accustomed to this means of drawing attention or 'bigging up' our causes; and it seems to indicate a flagging of spirit, that we should now be fearful or get nervous upon the sight of a green or orange-coloured cut of fabric.

Before the widespread use of telephones and cellphones, an enterprising Jamaican farmer with cows in heat would raise high in his yard a flag of whatever colour. This would enable extension officers to know that within those premises was an urgent need for insemination, artificial or otherwise. This is no bull; it's true; and as an aside I may mention that in these times this form of sexual announcement is some-times used by guys to indicate that they are 'gays'. Their signal is a rainbow flag.

Balmyard flags

Time should not dim the memory of the Jamaican balmyard and the flags flown to indicate the presence of an obeahman. There aren't as many as there used to be, but the spiritualists still keep the flag flying, still stock their oils and offer bush baths to cure bad feelings or frustrate their clients' foes. At one time, the parishes of St. Thomas and Claren-don were well associated with the practice, but there are villages islandwide where this form of healing is announced by balmyard flags. The police have orders to apprehend these practitioners, but I don't believe they have a right to ban the flags.

So, I am afraid I cannot join with those who consider a political flag as a vexatious vexillum that should be banned anywhere. It should not matter a red cent (which happens to be the colour of the Jamaican penny) whether a person hoists a green flag or one stitched or torn from orange-coloured cloth. Bearing the colour is merely a statement that the individual is a 'dye-hard' adherent of his/her party; it is not unlawful. The wrong-doers are those who would break the law or a few skulls upon the sight of a colour they do not like. I say, don't condemn the flag flyer; arrest the skull-breaker and, after due process, send the guilty ones to jail and have them wrapped for six months in a sackcloth of green and orange.