"auntieapple" said:
one more thing mitscherman, a white flag does not mean "I surrender you have won"
A white flag signifies ceasefire/truce/negotiation/. It was first used in the far east over 2300 years ago and was used during battle as a sign that one side was willing to negotiate and arrive to a truce. It was not designed as a sign of surrender it was only used much later for this purpose including its original meaning.. Men always assume that victory is in the one that fires more bullets. On the contary good contructive negotiation is superior to warfare.
Origin
The first mention of the usage of white flags to surrender is made during from the Eastern Han dynasty (A.D 25–220). In the Roman Empire, the historian Cornelius Tacitus
mentions a white flag of surrender in A.D. 109. Before that time, Roman
armies would surrender by holding their shields above their heads. The
usage of the white flag has since spread worldwide.Buddhist-Confucian countries
In Buddhist countries, white is the colour of mourning, so a white flag is used where other cultures might fly a black flag.
White flags have had different meanings throughout history and depending on the locale.The white flag is an internationally recognized protective sign of truce or ceasefire, and request for negotiation. It is also used to symbolise surrender,
since it is often the weaker military party which requests negotiation.
A white flag signifies to all that an approaching negotiator is
unarmed, with an intent to surrender or a desire to communicate.
Persons carrying or waving a white flag are not to be fired upon, nor
are they allowed to open fire. The use of the flag to surrender is
included in the Geneva Conventions.
The improper use of a white flag is forbidden by the rules of war and constitutes a war crime of perfidy.
There have been numerous reported cases of such behaviour in conflicts,
such as fighters using white flags as a ruse to approach and attack
enemies, or killings of fighters attempting to surrender by carrying
white flags.
Many times since the weaker party is in a decrepit state, a white
flag would be fashioned out of anything readily available, like a
t-shirt or handkerchief.