Archbishop Chong enters debate about new flag

Friday, June 19th, 2015

The Catholic Archbishop of Fiji, Peter Loy Chong, has entered the debate about Fiji’s new flag.

He says,”….to create a new flag and ensure it truly represents a nation’s identity, those charged with this task must understand the notion of a symbol.”

“What is a symbol and how does it function?” he asks.

“I wish to contribute to the formulation of Fiji’s new flag by providing a framework for understanding the flag as a symbol. I draw my contribution from Roger Haight’s book ‘Dynamics of Theology’.”

After providing that framework the Archbishop draws the following conclusions:

1. The Fiji flag should communicate Fijian identity, beliefs, values and aspirations.

2. The new Fiji flag should use effective and powerful local symbols that communicate Fijian identity, beliefs and values.

3. The symbols should be drawn from the major local ethnic and religious communities.

“The 23 probable flags should be evaluated and critiqued in light of these three points,” Chong said.

“The comments we are getting in the media show the 23 probable flags fail to communicate the Fijian identity, beliefs and values.”

“Any Fijian who sees the Fiji flag should see something of the Fijianness in his or her heart.”

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