Permanently flagged: Bautzen sets an example with flags in front of schools!

Permanently flagged: Bautzen sets an example with flags in front of schools!

A new resolution was passed in the Bautzen district that concerns the permanent display of flags in schools and administrative buildings. The district council has approved the request from CDU district administrator Udo Witschas, which states that in the future the federal flag and the state flag should be hoisted where the technical requirements allow it. This decision was made loudly daily news in the wake of increasing social tensions and growing polarization in the region. The application also addressed the question of how a visible commitment to homeland, origins and shared values ​​can be promoted.

The current situation means that flagpoles are available on only 10 of the district's 33 school buildings. Nevertheless, the flag should be displayed at both administrative locations not only in Bautzen, but also in Kamenz. There are four flagpoles here that will display the European flag, the federal flag, the state flag and the Sorbian flag all year round. Particularly in the Sorbian settlement area, the Sorb flag is given priority and is hoisted in front of schools.

Public discussion and criticism

While the district council has spoken out in favor of the flag, there are also critical voices. The spokeswoman for the tvBUNT network, Maren Düsberg, expressed concerns that the measure may undermine the responsibility of politicians. She pointed out that the elimination of the position of immigration commissioner and the discontinuation of the federal “Partnerships for Democracy” program are serious problems that cannot be covered by raising the mast. Düsberg emphasized that flags should not replace political education structures.

The decision to display a permanent flag must be seen in a temporal context that underlines the importance of a clear identity and belonging. This could indicate that the decision is also seen as an educational measure to pass on values ​​to the younger generation. In other federal states there are different regulations for flagging, such as in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where there are also special regulations for non-sovereign flags. This gives communities the opportunity to set flags more easily, as long as no sovereign flags are hoisted at the same time, as in the information from the state government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is to be read.

The visibility of flags is further increased, particularly on public holidays and days of remembrance, such as the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of National Socialism or Remembrance Day. A corresponding regulation stipulates that flags are flown at half-mast on such days to serve as a symbol of remembrance. Here too, the social demand to anchor values ​​and make them visible is evident.

The decision to display the flag in Bautzen is not only a step towards the visibility of federal and state identity, but also attempts to bring the relevant discussions about belonging and identity into the public space.