[Wikipedia-l] Re: Flags

Mon Jan 10 02:56:45 UTC 2005

I accept that for all of the major languages, there is rarely (probably never) a single flag capable of representing that language, completely and without complications.  That alone is probably as good an argument as any for not allowing flags.  On the other hand, when we start looking at minority languages, these can often be associated with the whole of a region within a country, which may happen to have a flag, or coat of arms, or whatever, that represents that region.  So you can end up with a very close alignment (although rarely perfect) between regional symbol and regional language.  I think that is the case with Sicily and her language and regional flag.

The next argument might be:  but isn't that a political statement? (showing the regional flag).  To which I would respond, there are many who would view simply having a wikipedia in a regional language as making a political statement!  In the case of the Sicilian wikipedia, neither is a political statement, both have a cultural intention (although that too may be considered as being political by some).   If flags were banned outright, I would simply put up the Sicilian Triskelion, a symbol as old as her language itself, i.e. over 2,500 years.  Why?  For the reason already given that it looks drab otherwise - I'm trying to entice people into registering and becoming active contributors. I know the main languages have fancy main pages with bells and whistles, but that isn't realistic for the minority languages.  Beyond banning the flag, what next?  the coat-of-arms?  a picture of an influential literary figure?  etc.  The Manx would be able to do the same, and I say good on 'em!
The flag is not necessarily something I feel overly strong about, but I would want some sort of symbol, picture, or whatever, on our front page - something that can become immiediately identifiable with scn:wiki, that tells you straight away where your are, that might encourage you to linger, maybe even get you thinking about the first language you spoke as a child, before it was drummed out of you through various means, or the language you heard your grandparents speak when you were little, etc.  Isn't that part of  what we are on about?
Salutamu
pippu d'angelo, canberra

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