Ideas worth spreading

How flags unite (and divide) us

330,913 views |

Michael Green |

TEDxTAMUSalon

• November 2019

Flags are one of the simplest yet most powerful pieces of design ever conceived. They can make us swell with pride, burn with hatred -- and even inspire people to die or kill in their name, says vexillologist Michael Green. Take a brief walk through history as Green explores the symbolic fervor behind flags that unify and divide, inviting us to imagine a future where we can come together under one collective identity: humanity.

Flags are one of the simplest yet most powerful pieces of design ever conceived. They can make us swell with pride, burn with hatred -- and even inspire people to die or kill in their name, says vexillologist Michael Green. Take a brief walk through history as Green explores the symbolic fervor behind flags that unify and divide, inviting us to imagine a future where we can come together under one collective identity: humanity.

This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxTAMUSalon, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

After giving my talk, I wanted to start flying more flags outside my house that brought humanity forward, ones that inspired. But as I shopped around, I couldn’t find any flags that I really loved. So I decided to start my own flag company.

About the speaker

Michael Green

See speaker profile

Michael Green designs and studies flags, and is fascinated about how we use them as symbols of personal identity and pride.

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This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxTAMUSalon, an independent event. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

Read more about TEDx.

After giving my talk, I wanted to start flying more flags outside my house that brought humanity forward, ones that inspired. But as I shopped around, I couldn’t find any flags that I really loved. So I decided to start my own flag company.