Another Flag Controversy?

Ghent, Belgium

The place: Stockley Gardens, Ghent, Norfolk

The time: Late afternoon

The characters: Two homeless guys. Brick, a native of Norfolk; Block, a native of Portsmouth

The action: Brick and Block stroll, arm in arm, enjoying a moment. 

Then Block stops, Brick stumbles, nearly falls, nearly on his face, nearly screams...

Block says to Brick.

Where are the benches? Block points at a slab of concrete overgrown with weeds. The benches were there...

Ghent, Norfolk 

The city removed them, Brick says.

Why?

Someone complained, Brick says.

Who?

I believe it was the Ghent Neighborhood League, Brick says. 


They complained about crime, flashers and old homeless guys hanging out on the benches.

That's what the homeless do, Block says.

The Progressives were upset, horrified by the cruelty, began a campaign to have the benches returned, Brick says.

The Republicans?

They were elated, Brick says.

What happened to the campaign?

It fizzled, Brick says. The Progressives, being Progressive, had other causes to trumpet, Brick says.

Charming people, Block says. They're always giving me stuff.

That sums up Ghent, Brick says.

But it's a public park with public benches, Block says.

This is Ghent, Brick says.

Ghent? Like Belgium?

Yes, but not quite, Brick says.

How so?

Ghent, Norfolk, adopted the flag of Ghent, Belgium, Brick says.

But not quite?

Look at the two flags, Brick says. Do you see a difference?

No, Block says.

Look closely, Brick says.

No, seriously, I don't see a thing, Block says.

OK, here, look at this photo, Brick says. What do you see?

I see a white lion with a yellow pendant with a cross on a black background, Block says.

Very good, Brick says. Now here's the flag of Ghent, Norfolk. Tell me what you see.

The same thing...A white lion with a yellow pendant on a black background.

How can you be so dim-witted? Brick says.

I can't see, Block wails.

Just look and stop whining, Brick says.

Ah, the pendant in the Ghent, Norfolk, flag has no cross.

You're very observant, Brick says, but you still need glasses.

Thank you, Block says. My powers of observation amaze me.

They could amaze someone on this planet, Brick says. But I'm not one of them. 

But it's not the same flag, Block says, surprised, disconcerted and annoyed.

Of course not, Brick, calm, says.

What happened to the cross?

Someone complained, Brick says. So the neighborhood league got rid of the cross.

Someone in Ghent always complains, it seems, Block says.

That sums up Ghent, Brick says.

But how can they wave that flag if it doesn't represent Ghent, Belgium?

No one notices, Brick says.

I noticed, Block says.

Sure, after I jammed the photo in your face, Brick says.

That's disingenuous, Block says.

That's Ghent, Brick says.

That's incorrigible, Block says.

That's Norfolk, Brick says.

Come to Portsmouth, Block says.

Not on your life, Brick says.

Let's meet on the ferry, Block says.

Agreed, Brick says.