Best thoughts go out to Latvia on it's 26th Declaration of Independence Day on this sunny spring May 4th morning. As of July 2, 2015 it is no longer mandatory to fly the flag on residential property as it was found by the constitutional court to be (wait for it) unconstitutional. Previous to this a fine of 40 Euro was applied to those who did not comply of which there were some 248 fines levied in Riga alone for 2014. Even though some fine citizens felt that not forcing folks to honour the national symbol of the countries flag would cause a general erosion of civil society after some years here I have observed no decrease in flag flying, waving, wearing or what have you on this day since the court made it's ruling because one faces some pressure from ones neighbors to comply and this is no small thing in such a small conservative country as Latvia. We aren't even citizens but Mrs. TRex & I have a tiny one in our window. Just to be safe.
So let your freak flag fly today Latvia! Just play safe if you know what I mean, and I think that you do. ;)
So let your freak flag fly today Latvia! Just play safe if you know what I mean, and I think that you do. ;)
