Luke Fletcher, Secretary of Cardiff Branch, shares his thoughts after seeing the film ‘Black Panther’ recently.
As of late there has been much excitement around the fact that the Welsh Flag was seen on the big screen. The film? Black Panther. The setting? A meeting of the UN.
Two emotions spring to mind here. First of course being the said excitement. Is Wales an independent state in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? That would certainty fulfill a dream I’m sure many of us have for the real world. But when I think about it deeper a second emotion also appears – despair. Despair at the fact that this, alongside the ‘Great Swansea Earthquake’ has made headline news through several news outlets.
At the risk of sounding negative, this reinforces what is evident about a serious part of the Welsh political atmosphere, a lack of self-confidence. Would Americans be excited at the sight of the United States flag in a Hollywood film? Or the English at the sight of theirs? No, they should be there in the minds of their citizens.
It’s that lack of self-confidence or self-worth even that allows such excitement to take hold. If being recognised on the world stage means so much then there is one sure way of gaining that recognition, becoming louder as a nation.
Now I’m not calling for a revolution in the streets, much to the despair of our revolutionary friends. What we should be doing as a nation is simply turning out to vote once in a while. Stand up to Westminster and shout about why Wales deserves more of a say in its own affairs!
If people are proud to see the Welsh flag represented at the UN and what that means in the fictional world, then why do they not seek the same in the real world?
Until that day, I suppose we will just have to settle for glimpses, in a fictional universe, of Wales’ true potential.
