soft power

I believe National Flowers are a missed opportunity to represent the best of humanity. While researching the origins of these symbols, I gained unique insights into cultures and people that I had never personally encountered. Humanising otherwise faceless entities in a way that I consider to be quite powerful. And yet, National Flowers are largely unknown and scarcely utilised in international communications. Generally, these symbols are regarded lazily as amusing but menial identifiers. But could they be more? In this selection of writings, I reflect on my personal identity as an American and the significance of political symbols. I ponder the inadequacies of national flags as I investigate their origin and use. I consider floral symbolism throughout human history and make the case that in an era that grapples with intercultural dialogue, well-chosen national flowers offer an alternative empathetic representation of our societies. Exploring themes of identity, patriotism, cultural diversity, and peaceful exchange; I seek a richer, more nuanced understanding of how we might express national identity.