There are lots of (Portuguese) flags around on balconies, in windows and in cars, so I (Norm) decided some flags would be a great way to conceal the true purpose of my amateur radio antenna, an attractively profiled, slender metal rod that projects 2.5m (8 ft) horizontally from the balcony of the apartment where we are staying. Incidentally this minimalist antenna (as antennas go) has permitted at least one HF (short wave) radio conversation with Angola, as well as several others with radio hams in Africa, North America and various parts of Europe. When we get to Angola it will hopefully see service on a vehicle, allowing contacts with MAF's aircraft. Audrey remains unimpressed!
Reflecting our various allegiances, I chose the flags of Portugal, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Angola. Despite past colonal ties it seems the Angolan flag isn't recognized by many here. However its central element, similar to the hammer and sickle, betrays the Angolan government's Marxist roots. After only a couple of days, someone aparently has commented to our dear Christian friend who owns the florist shop opposite that we must obviously be communists!
This is highly amusing - I have sometimes jokingly described my political views as "somewhat to the right of Ghengis Khan." But it's not an indifferent matter here in the north of Portugal where a traditional, tightly Catholic conservativism still influences the political scene. This contrasts with the south of the country where communism was one of the forces in the 1975 revolution and vestiges of communist sentiment persist to this day.
Audrey immediately assured our friend that no, it's only the flag of Angola where we expect to be going as missionaries next year, and I'm sure that information like everything else of interest in the village, will be rapidly disseminated.
The incident does remind me of the 1970's when some in the Jesus Movement described our Lord as a "communist" based on his constant concern for the oppressed and disadvantaged. Not only the Gospels, but Acts and the Epistles give us some wonderful examples of the caring "community" that the Church should be, including the example of the early church which at least in some situations practiced "communal" ownership of what had been personal possessions. That kind of "communist" I do aspire to become; sadly, the Sino-Soviet-inspired political philosophies of recent decades have turned out to be just another excuse for oppressing the poor and needy whether in Europe, Asia, or Africa.
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