During the European Championship, the German flag is everywhere. Color researcher Axel Buether explains the significance of black, red, and gold, the Germans’ changing relationship with their flag, and why healthy patriotism is especially important today.
Mr. Buether, with the European Championship underway, we’re surrounded by flags and bright colors every day. What effect do they have on us?
Colors are generally important to us; they guide us through life. They are key indicators that help us infer characteristics of people, animals, objects, or even environmental events. Understanding the world through colors is something that comes naturally to us—something children learn even before they acquire language—and it is the last sense that many people with dementia retain to help them orient themselves. Colors provide clues about an individual, but also about a group. Animals and plants can be classified in this way, and indigenous peoples used various shades of color for their clothing and tents from early on to identify themselves among their own and distinguish themselves from others. This principle can still be applied to nations today. Flags create identity. That is why every country in the world has its own national flag.
… 10 questions omitted
Why is it still important today for every country to have a national flag?
Take a look at the United States. It is a deeply divided country that has historically always split into two camps—which today are the Trump voters and the Biden supporters. The flag is an important national symbol; it represents the lowest common denominator for the population. It’s something all Americans can agree on, regardless of gender, social background, or political views. The flag shows the outside world that you’re part of a community. It’s just like soccer.
Can an event like the European Soccer Championship help improve people’s attitude toward the German flag?
It would at least be a nice idea for everyone in the country to feel represented by it. But of course, there are also many people in Germany who come from other countries and cultures, and they must not feel excluded or even discriminated against. Nevertheless, I believe it would be good for our country to claim the authority to interpret our most important national symbol and to be proud of what our country stands for in the world today. That won’t work if we avoid displaying the flag or feel ashamed of it at every opportunity. Because if democrats don’t clearly show their colors—if they don’t stand together in unity, justice, and freedom—undemocratic forces will.
Link to the full article on STERN
The interview was conducted by Cathrin Wißmann