The Flag

I cannot imagine a scene more fitting – if pathos is what we need – than people gathered round, hoisting a perfectly white flag with only the word of 'Liberty' printed onto it in gold, while an orchestral hymn with a full choir is crashing cymbals. This is what takes place in my hometown every 10 July.

Oh beautiful, oh dear, oh sweet liberty..

The only ornament of this grove..

All the silver, all gold, all human lives

Cannot pay for thy pure beauty!

This freedom can be understood both collectively – which is the prerequisite for the other type – and individually.

Far from being a perfect society, the Republic of Ragusa nevertheless held ideals in high place, featuring such stone-incised slogans as Liberty is not sold for all the gold in the world (general admonition), Forget the private – tend to the public (for public officials) or As I weigh your goods, may the Lord weigh my fate (for merchants).

Of course, what is being held (at least nominally) in esteem must reflect in the political and ethical, i.e. practical agenda.

That times have changed can be vouched by the exclamation of one of my friends. When I explained that the only person who ever received the glory of having his monument erected - in the Republic's 500-year-long history - that this person was a simple tradesman who worked hard and then left all his belongings to the country, she said: But the guy is an idiot!

This world seems to be both a combination of gross acts and people scribbling The Little Princes. For one, my wild fantasy has sometimes entertained the idea of prominent international individuals visiting in July and hoisting.