THE COMPANION FLAG IDEA
When asked “How can you make another man do good?” Mahatma Gandhi is said to have replied, “You cannot make another man do good. You can only create the conditions under which he will choose to do good.”
Imagine a simple, grassroots idea gaining momentum worldwide: people from all walks of life adding to the world’s symbolic landscape a new flag displayed below our existing flags.
Its purpose? Confirm and normalize throughout the world public awareness of the following reality: while we humans proudly display flags symbolizing our diverse national, historical, religious, and cultural affiliations, we must always remember our intrinsic humanity, as well—all that we share, even with our differences.
This shared humanity includes, for example, our concern for the safety and happiness of loved ones. It encompasses our desire for health and knowledge; our dependence on the plants and animals of the Earth, and our shared susceptibilities to pain and pleasure, illness and injury. And not least, it includes our desire, starting early in life, to feel safe and at home in the world.
I submit that, only by adding to our present awareness of “the other” at least one “human sameness” can we know that we are seeing the other sufficiently for purposes of avoiding incoherent (structurally irrational) “moral actions.” See Presuppositions and Definitions.
The “Companion Flag” is designed to complement, not clash with or detract from the beauty and significance of the flags flying above it. It’s a simple white flag featuring in each case a single stripe of color across the top that matches any color appearing in the host flag above—a visual nod to their companionship on the pole. (For a third-party perspective, click here.)
Considering the simplicity and transparency of the “companion flag idea,” for those who fly flags at home or do so for governments, schools, businesses, or other organizations, this transformative idea presents two paths: (1) Adopt and fly the companion flag below your existing flags; or (2) Decline the companion flag and continue flying flags strictly to emphasize our cherished national, regional or group distinctiveness and separation from other people around the globe.
The question for the reader is: Which of these practices offers greater hope for fostering in the world’s children and future generations an inclination towards others (informed by non-conscious “action tendencies” or impulses that are) marked by fellow feeling, patience, acceptance, compassionate regard, and (most importantly) a preference for non-violent conflict resolution whenever possible?
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This idea is non-proprietary—a bottom-up action plan meant to be considered, deliberated over, and ultimately (if approved) implemented one person, one household, one organization, business, or government at a time. The Companion Flag idea is not the product of, nor is it associated with, any political, religious, cultural, or commercial entity or ideology.
The flag is also non-proprietary. Anyone anywhere is free to make Companion Flags for personal use or to sell and distribute to others. The same applies to Companion Flag interpretive signs, and other materials that may relate to or mention the Companion Flag or the Companion Flag idea. There is only one proviso: that all Companion Flags and the optional interpretive sign suggested below must be produced and sold strictly on a non-exclusive (public domain) basis.
For flag specifications and sign details, or for help figuring out where and how best to order them, please see below or contact me at your convenience.
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This simple act of visual confirmation aligns with the wisdom of thinkers throughout history (as in the call to “Know Thyself”). Do you agree with Gandhi’s logic? —That, as a rule, we humans cannot make other people do good; we can only create the conditions under which they will choose to do good?
If so, do you agree that flying a “companion flag” to spur daily awareness of one or more of the human characteristics and experiences shared by people everywhere, without denying—and this is the key—without denying, or denigrating in any way the importance of our differences, or interfering with the flags that honor and celebrate them… that this simple but meaningful first-of-its-kind symbolic step will go down as a paradigm example of creating a new condition under which others (in this case, a great many others) will choose to do good?
Can you see yourself taking part in this?—flying the Companion Flag at home perhaps, or becoming a spokesperson or facilitator in your neighborhood, or at a local school, club, business, community organization, government, etc.? Can you imagine yourself introducing the idea to others, deliberating with them the merits of signaling to the very young, both near and far, the importance of maintaining an active awareness, not just of our differences and separation from each other, but of our innate “samenesses,” as well? These samenesses, after all, are the stuff of human inter-connectedness across all borders and differences. We are informed by, and rely upon, two distinct spheres of existence: one, the sphere of our human differences, diversity, and special affiliations, the other, our participation in the common lot of human samenesses.
What if the flags owned and flown by the adults of this world made it plain to children everywhere that an active awareness of both spheres is important to our identity and to understanding and interacting with one another in a life well-lived?
“I learnt of this from my childhood buddy Amos Akwabi of Nairobi Kenya. He has done such a marvelous job in our local schools and has requested me to join him in this noble mission. There is nothing as hard as trying to stop and idea whose time has come. Companion Flag is such an idea.”
Eric
Nairobi, Kenya
“What an honor to be an Ambassador of the Companion Flag in Costa Rica. Universidad De La Salle in San José became the first institution to fly the Companion Flag in Central America. It is not so difficult to imagine the Companion Flag flown around the wold—a universal reminder of all that human beings have in common.”
Alberto
San José, Costa Rica
“The Companion Flag is a wonderful idea. The growing number of ambassadors is encouraging and heartwarming.”
Karen
Haifa, Israel
“CF is a precious treasure for me which I was yearning for throughout my life. I do appreciate this organization and try to spread the idea to everyone: family, friends, neighbours, etc.”
Dilnoza
Samarkand, Uzbekistan
“I just wanted to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the website and learning about the Companion Flag. I am a recent graduate of Antioch University Seattle, I plan to tell people about the flag and spread this message of shared humanity. It is an excellent concept.”
Melissa
Seattle, WA USA
“It feels good when the idea of Companion Flag spreads out in Japan.”
Hiroya
Sapporo, Japan
“The more I travel, the more I am convinced how much we need the Companion Flag as a symbol to celebrate humanity.”
Tijana
Reading, England
“The Companion Flag Project is powerful because it fills a need this world so desperately needs right now—a real understanding of the holistic nature of the human race and how we need to change our thinking.”
Karrie
Dhaka, Bangladesh
THE COMPANION FLAG
INTERPRETIVE SIGN
(Suggested)
• English •
Coming soon:
• Flag sewing specification sheets
• Third party purchasing options
• Action step ideas and alternatives
• Reader questions and comments
. . .and more
Contact us!
Your ideas, feedback, and questions are welcome, and are likely to help others better understand and evaluate the Companion Flag Idea.
Write to us at:
info [at] companionflag [dot] com
