British Flag (Union Jack)
The British Flag, aka the Union Jack, is likely one of the easiet to recognize flags in the world, it catches the eye when flown in a crowd of flags and symbolizes the resolve of the nation that utilizes it. However, what many may not realize is that the flag of the United Kingdom has never officially been named the Union Jack. The flag the world associates with Great Britain today is the flag of the monarchy and has become the flag of the nation only through widespread popular use by the people of the UK. Some controversy was created in the early 2000's over whether or not the flag was suitable as the flag of the United Kingdom due to racial tension and the lack of any influence from the flag of Wales in the design.
The private citizen who brought up the racial issue incorporated a design including the Welsch St. David's cross flag into the design to incorporate the color black in the design. Sentiment in the nation at the time was that racial tensions had nothing to do with the design of the flag and the flag design never took off, however, as there is no law decreeing the Union Jack as the national flag, all one would need to do is make a more popular flag that citizens liked more and it would in essence create a new flag, rather than change the existing one.
The flags influencing the union jack are the Flag of Scotland for the blue background and white diagonal stripes, the red stripes were brought in from St. Patrick's cross with the addition of Ireland and the large red cross in the center is St. George's cross, formerly the flag of England. The flag of Wales was not incoporated in the design because Wales was conquered by Britain in 1536, prior to the 1601 original design of the Union Flag, therefore Wales was represented with St. George's cross.
For free downloads, buddy icons, avatars, desktop wallpapers and cell phone wallpapers visit our Free Downloads page!
Copyright © 2008 Online Stores, Inc. 
