Thai and American flags are similar in term of colors, which are red, white, and blue. However, each flag has a different design. The Thai flag has five stripes running horizontally as red, white, blue, white, and red. Thus, the blue stripe is two times larger than the red and white stripes. The American flag consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (on the top and bottom) alternating with white. On the upper left corner, there is a blue rectangle, which has 50 stars arranged in nine horizontal rows of six stars (on the top and bottom) alternating with rows five stars.
Each color of the Thai flag has a different meaning. Red means nation. White means religion, which refers to Theravada Buddhism. Finally, blue means monarchy, and it is represented as blue because blue is the favorite color of King Rama VI, who designed this flag. On the other hand, “red in the American flag means valor, bravery and sacrifice. White means purity, innocence, and peace. Lastly, blue means vigilance perseverance and justice” (http://americanflag.facts.co/usaflagof/americanflagusa.php). The thirteen stripes on the American flag represent the original thirteen British Colonies that fought against Great Britain for independence.
Both Thai and American flags have been used for a long time. The Thai flag first used in 1782 was red flag (Figure 1). It was used for indicating the Thai border for marine trading. After that, Thailand changed flag designs a few times. Before Thailand used the latest flag, we used a design that has a white elephant looking to the left at the center of the red flag (Figure 2). This flag design was changed into the latest one because, during a flood, King Rama VI saw the flag hanging upside-down. As a result, he prevented the problem in the future by creating the flag we currently use, which is symmetrical. Meanwhile, the American flag was first used in 1777 after passing the Second Continental Congress (Figure 3). The American flag would add a star as the United States got more states.
According to Thai law, we should stand up and sing the national Anthem, which opens all radio and television channels, at 8 a.m. along with the pulling up of the Thai flag and at 6 p.m. along with the pulling down of the Thai flag. Therefore, we usually do it only when we are in a school because students are required to do it before getting into a class (Figure 4). For other situations, people would show their respect by stopping doing things and staying in peace.
Both of the Thai and American people see their national flag at all public and government buildings. Also, flags are used during important national holidays, for example, New Year’s Day, Labor Day, Constitution Day, Armed Forces Day, and Independence Day. Finally, the flag would be displayed at half-staff to proclaim sadness for death of an important person or bad events like 9/11.
Citation
http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/ธงชาติไทย
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_United_States
Treanna Deane Alston says
I love that colors are shared among flags by different nations but correlate with different meanings proving how important perspective is
Bryan Smith says
Its interesting how different cultures have vastly different meanings for similar looking symbols. Red white and blue are all very common colors for flags but as you ave pointed out, they stand for different things. Personally I really like the white elephant flag.
Gregory William Collins says
The different things that diversify the flags and those which make them similar are really interesting. I especially like how the same colors can mean different things for these two countries’ flags.
Mark Hewertson says
An overwhelming majority of modern day flags feature just the colors Red, White, and Blue which is kind of funny given the US’s pride in it’s flag color choice. I wonder why exactly that is?
Karam J. Salameh says
I think it’s pretty cool that they have the same colors but different meanings. One thing that really caught my eye is that the blue stripe is significantly larger than the other stripes. Is this representative of something other than the whims of King Rama VI?
Renee Marie Tillman says
I love the differences and similarities between the flag. I find it very interesting that we have the exact same colors but they stand for different things. Sometimes I believe we don’t stand as strongly behind our flag as other countries do, simply because we have such a mix of nationalities and religions.
John Worthley says
Just imagine if the elephant was still on flag! That would be he coolest flag ever. Right now I think Lebanon has a cool flag because it has an evergreen tree on it. I wonder if the countries of the world will ever trend away from stripes which seem to be in most flags nowadays.