Whatever you say about the White Flag, the fact is, the White Flag is not by any stretch of the imagination the Flag Of Stepping Up And Solving Problems.
It's not the British Union Jack, flag of Benevolent Imperialism.
It's not the American Flag of "Liberty and Justice for All"
It's not even the French flag of "Liberty, Equality, and Brotherhood".
It's not even the Rainbow Flag of Tolerance and Community.
It's not even the Code Pink Flag of Stepping Up and Solving Problems the Code Pink Way.
The White Flag is the Flag of "now that you've gotten our attention with your violent criminal temper tantrum, we're willing to sit down and listen to your demands".
The White Flag is not the flag flown by people with self-respect, pride in their community and culture, and a desire to succeed in their endeavors.
It's the flag of negotiation, compromise, and unwillingness to step up and actually fight against a violent and unreasonable enemy in order to preserve that which you believe is good and true.
Even if I would prefer to negotiate with the rioters, and work with them to meet their needs and ease their suffering--and believe me, I do--I would be ashamed to fly the White Flag. Were I a Gaul of the Gauls, heir to all the glory of France, I would come to the negotiating table under the French Flag, urging national unity, recognition and celebration of a common culture, and renewed devotion to the ideals of the French Revolution: Liberte', Egalite', Fraternite'. Any other banner would be shameful.
The White Flag says the protestors are willing to negotiate with beasts. The French Flag, at least, would make it clear that the protestors are interested only in negotiating with human beings.
