Different cultures, different colors: on this French electoral result map, as you can, François Holland's wins (LEFT leaning candidate) are shown in PINK whereas, Sarkozy (RIGHT leaning candidate) 's are shown in BLUE.
The reason for pink, I believe, is that since 1971, the French Socialist Party has used the emblem of the Fist and the Rose. This emblem became associated with the 1980s and Mitterand. It has fallen out of use, but the color pink is now often associated with the Socialist Party. It may be appropriate since pink is watered down RED, traditionally associated with the LEFT (and not just communism) and revolutions.
Except in the United States where RED is now associated with the Republican Party, while BLUE is associated with the Democratic Party, but it has only been so since.... the 2000 elections and it is due to television media, not party decision.
I like the irony that such an old leftist symbolic color, partly associated - even in the United States - with communism is now used for the American RIGHT.
NOTE: Interesting reminder that the seemingly universal division between RIGHT and LEFT in politics actually originated in the French Revolution:
The terms "left" and "right" appeared during the French Revolution of 1789 when members of the National Assembly divided into supporters of the king to the president's right and supporters of the revolution to his left. One deputy, the Baron de Gauville explained, "We began to recognize each other: those who were loyal to religion and the king took up positions to the right of the chair so as to avoid the shouts, oaths, and indecencies that enjoyed free rein in the opposing camp." However the Right opposed the seating arrangement because they believed that deputies should support private or general interests but should not form factions or political parties. The contemporary press occasionally used the terms "left" and "right" to refer to the opposing sides. (Wikipedia)
No comments:
Post a Comment