Patterns & Metaphors

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Other Names:
Standard
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An emblematic flag associated with a particular military unit. Also a flag or emblematic device utilized by a militant social or political movement or party. These devices may be cloth, wood or metal, mounted on a long shaft, or wall-mounted, or carried, or, in the case of cloth, draped. Primitive standards have been poles surmounted by animals in their entirety (c.f. totems), snakes (c.f. Moses), and birds. Modern banners or standards bear emblems for such things as world peace (olive branches, doves, etc) and international cooperation (joined hands, etc). However national emblems remain primitive, bearing eneraged lions, irrascible cocks, rapacious eagles, ferocious bears, etc, particularly among the so-called developed nations.