Last modified: 2025-04-12 by rob raeside
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All "British Arctic Territory" flags are hoaxes, developed by Clay Moss et al. on April Fools' Days
image by Pete Loeser, 1 April 2025
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On a recent visit to the coastal vacation and resort city of Brr in the
British Artic Territory a friend noticed this unidentified flag flying from
several of the older buildings of the old town region. He found it strange as
its background pattern seemed to be an upside-down Union Jack defaced with what
appeared to be an igloo or shield. Since the text on the flag was upright the
upside-downness it seems intentional, but I have not been able to identify what
group, organization, or movement it might belongs to. Because the outside
temperature was a bit nippy and there was nobody nearby to ask about the strange
looking flag, my friend was unable to provide any more information. Can anybody
help identify this flag?
Pete Loeser, 1 April 2025
I do know what this upside down Union Jack is all about. It is a bit
complicated.
There is a small number of "Batters", (as the youth of the
BAT has begun to call all citizens of the territory, soon to be country), who
have two agendas, and two complaints.
First agenda - You'll notice on
the older buildings in Brr, dome like structures on top of each building. And,
those domes are painted to look like the BAT shield, minus the bear. The domes
are interesting on one hand, but not nearly as attractive as the building owners
suppose.
For years now, these people have been browbeating the entire
territory, cajoling everyone to put a dome, not only on top of all other public
buildings, but their own homes.
Or, if you were a family in an igloo,
you should make that igloo comply to not only the shape of the domes, but the
outside appearance. Well, if nothing else, Batters are very difficult to
intimidate, and have largely ignored the Brr dome citizens.
So, in
protest, those Brr domers started flying the BAT Governor's flag upside down.
That's not particularly respectful toward the Governor, but in the BAT, the
collective cultural sentiment is; "to each his own".
Later, the flag
would be slightly modified to what we have posted here today. It encompass a lot
of so-called "issues".
Second agenda - Everyone in The BAT can tell you
all about Nanuq, which is Inuit for Polar Bear. Anyway, back in 1997, or '98,
Nanuq comes sacheting into Alert. The first thing that happened was, all the
sled dogs went nuts, and sort of got into an attack posture. But Nanuq, began to
roll around in the snow, acting as if he wanted to play with the sled dogs. To
everyone's stunned surprise, the sled dogs responded positively, and next thing
you know, there's a ginormous game of chase going on between Nanuq, and the
dogs. The dogs, and Nanuq were having a really good time. Then the local cats
got involved, and then the local children. It was a really, really fun day.
Nanuq has been making occasional appearances in, and around the BAT ever
since, and each time he shows up, a big ol' bunch of fun breaks out. Well, the
Brr dome folk believe Nanuq is mentally, and intellectually compromised, because
of this very abnormal polar bear behavior. So, they think it is their calling in
life to "save" him,
and don't understand why the feeling isn't universally
reciprocal among the Batters.
And, even if the whole territory wanted to
get involved, (which they don't), despite all the wonderful things we have here
in the BAT, we have neither a polar bear psychologist, or a polar bear
whisperer. So it's really hard to know if Nanuq can ever be saved. Or, if it's
even necessary.
The complaints - Over time, the Brr dome folk removed the
polar bear from their upside down protest flag, because at the beginning of the
history of the territory, they wanted a narwhal to be the emblem of the
territory, instead of the polar bear. So The bear simply disappeared from the
flag.
Then, just recently, they added the motto" KEEP THE BAT! SAVE THE
BEAR, simply as a written protest, that they are not happy that the BAT will
become a nation, and that Batters aren't collectively interested in counseling
Nanuq.
There's a bit more to it all than that, but I have been somewhat
too long winded. I hope the above quasi-diatribe more, or less explained things.
Clay Moss, 2 April 2025