The Flags On The Highway

FOTP Monday

In 2020, while in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, Melissa and I heard a story about how, a year earlier, when then-Vice President Mike Pence visited the country, Icelanders put up Pride flags on Route 41, the main highway from the Keflavik Airport to the center of town. This was impressive, considering how the city and Keflavik are about 49 KM (30 miles) apart. Our friend Ingvar, a musician we met on an earlier trip who, incidentally, played Paul Simon and Johnny Cash at our wedding on the roof of the Alda Hotel, told us the reason was that people wanted Pence to know he wasn’t in America anymore.

From Global Cocktails

The tech company Advania decided to “celebrate diversity that day,” and flew rainbow flags in front of their office. The headquarters for Efling trade union followed suit, as did many other organizations throughout the city. In fact, flags were even being flown in front of Hofdi House, where Ronald Reagan famously visited in the 80’s. To really top it off, Iceland’s president and first lady even wore rainbow bracelets during the meeting.

And it wasn’t just a stunt.