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We stole countries with the cunning use of flags. Just sail around the world and stick a flag in. 'I claim India for Britain!' And they're going, 'You can't claim us, we live here! There's five hundred million of us!' - 'Do you have a flag?' - 'We don't need a bloody flag, this is our country, you bastard!' - 'No flag, no country! You can't have one! That's the rules, that... I've just made up.'

Eddie Izzard#18

HistoryColonialismOwnership

About this quote

What does it mean?
Izzard argues that colonialism used flags to claim land despite local populations existing.
In plain terms
Colonial powers claimed land with flags ignoring people already there.
What can you take from it?
Symbols like flags were used to justify taking land.

Where it applies

  • history class
  • political discussion
  • stand-up

Putting it to work

  • critiquing colonialism
  • discussing national identity

Questions to consider

  • Who owns land?
  • How do symbols create power?

Another view

It simplifies complex historical processes into a single rule.

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  3. If women fall over wearing heels, that's embarrassing; but if a bloke falls over wearing heels, then you have to kill yourself! End of your life!

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