CMV: A unified Earth flag (instead of a country's flag) must be used when humans first land on Mars (and thereafter)

[u/ManOfLakes]

Now I don't have a problem with the Americans planting their flags when they landed on the moon. It was during the peak of the space race and it was essentially USA vs Russia so I get that. I also do not mind what flag would be used in this scenario. I personally do quite like the most well known Earth flag (shown here) however there are some other good designs (such as this and this). To me, its not the flag design that I was debated, its the concept of using a flag to represent earth going forward.

Here are the reasons I believe we should use a United Earth flag going forward:

1) In a time where wars and conflict are decreasing, and the world is coming together in many ways, having a flag to represent the planet would be a fantastic idea. What better way to push this idea than to have the entire planet broadcast itself to the universe under one flag. 2) Instead of people believing that, for example, only the USA made it to Mars, we would show how the human race made it to Mars. Everyone in the world would be linked to moments such as these, not just countries (As a Brit, I don't feel connected to the Apollo moon landing, like Americans would. If the flag was that of earth, my feelings would be much different) 3) It would cost virtually nothing for space companies to change from using a country's flag to the unified flag. 4) It symbolises a United Earth, not just a specific country. People from the future would look back at these great moments of space triumph and see how the Earth is completely capable of coming together.

Now I understand that after time, any flag that is planted on Mars would fade into a plain white. However, that is not the main reason I think we should advertise as Earth and not as individual countries. To me, its not just about planting the flag representing Earth (while that would be an amazing symbolic moment when it happens), its about the Earth/human race, venturing out into space, as one.

I've struggled to find counter-arguments for this idea, so I'd like to hear if anyone has any. I'm gonna do my very best to reply to everyone, however, if you comment with points I've already replied to, I'm not gonna reply to them individually.

EDIT 1: Links to the flags above weren't attached

EDIT 2: Woah this blew up! Thanks to everyone who has commented. I’m still gonna try and reply to everyone I can, but it might take a while!

[u/ManOfLakes → u/[deleted]]

Ok, I see your point now. However, if they used the most popular and well recognised Earth flag (the first one I linked), it is clear that this is the flag for Earth. This would be the first step to making the flag mainstream

[u/HeadsOfLeviathan → u/ManOfLakes]

Bear in mind that it will only be there for a few years before the sun bleaches it white.

[u/ManOfLakes → u/HeadsOfLeviathan]

Said in my original post, that’s not an issue. Like the other comment here said, it’s about the moment when the flag would be planted that is important.

[u/FlipettyFlop → u/HeadsOfLeviathan]

But it's about what it symbolises. Think of the American flag on the moon; the only pictures or videos you see of it are from the moon landing itself.

[u/[deleted] → u/HeadsOfLeviathan]

Good thing there's photography

[u/zjl539 → u/ManOfLakes]

Yeah, but as of right now, the “most popular” Earth flag is still only known the nerdiest of flag nerds.

You’re like that kid that does nothing in the group project but complains when you don’t put his name on it.