Grrrr – The Bear Flag
Yes, I know, I said in the last post that we were working on all of the state flags of […]
flags
The First State – Delaware
With Delaware we begin our journey through the states and territories of the United States. I briefly considered taking this
The Stars and Stripes Forever
In 1818 Congress passed a plan which would come to be known as the Flag Act of 1818. This act established many of the characteristics of the flag we know today. The flag of the day was changed to include 20 stars, one for each of the states then admitted to the Union but the number of stripes was reduced to 13 to honor the original 13 colonies. The Act also specified that new versions of the flag would become official on the first 4 July following the admission of new states.
It would not be until 1912, with the adoption of the 48 star flag, that the arrangement of the stars in the blue field would be standardized into the staggered arrangement of nine rows with every other row having five or six stars.
The First Order and the Galactic Empire
Today our flags continue the journey into the realm of popular culture. The top flag is the flag of the
To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before
I don’t necessarily consider myself to be a “Trekkie” but I have watched all of the movies and the broadcast series. I remain most intensely fond of Star Trek: Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager. I have long enjoyed the way that each episode, adhering to Gene Roddenberry’s original vision, uses the trope of a future civilization to comment on and analyze current social and political issues, often long before they reach the point of common consideration in modern culture. Star Trek has tackled everything from gay rights to racism with many other stops along the way. Sometimes, especially when portraying the first inter-racial kiss on television, the controversial action or dialogue was acceptable because it happened in a future timeline or in another civilization such that it wasn’t considered as radical or threatening as it might otherwise have been.
May the 4th Be With You
The top flag is the flag of the Star Wars Resistance movement, which has arisen from the original Rebel Alliance that was strongly featured in Episodes IV through VI. The main carryover players and leaders from the Rebel Alliance to the Resistance movement are Princess Leia Organa and Admiral Ackbar. Some of the new main players, such as Poe Dameron, had parents who were in the Rebel Alliance. In short, the Resistance fights against the new overlord of the galaxy, the despotic First Order with its mysterious leader, Supreme Leader Snoke.
Japan
Public perception of the national flag varies. Historically, both Western and Japanese sources claimed the flag was a powerful and enduring symbol to the Japanese. Since the end of World War II, the use of the flag and the national anthem has been a contentious issue for Japan’s public schools. Disputes about their use have led to protests and lawsuits. The flag is not frequently displayed in Japan due to its association with ultra-nationalism. For some nations that have been occupied by Japan, the flag is a symbol of aggression and imperialism.
Wallis and Futuna Islands – Where in the World Are They?
Communication costs are high, costing up to ten times as much as in western countries. The island of Wallis has about 62 mi of roadways, of which 16 are paved, while the island of Futuna has only 12 mi and none are paved. The territory has two main ports and harbours, Mata-Utu and Leava (on the island of Futuna), that support its merchant marine fleet consisting of three ships (two passenger ships and a petroleum tanker).
There are two airports, Hihifo Airport on Wallis and Pointe Vele Airport on Futuna. New Caledonia-based Aircalin operates the only commercial flights that go to Wallis, where it has an office in Mata-Utu. From Wallis it is possible to fly on, or back as the actual case happens to be, to Futuna.
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The Mysterious Islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
The official flag of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, as is true of all of Overseas France, is the French Tricolour. However, there is a local and unofficial flag that is seen in use and that is the flag we were flying today. The unofficial flag was designed in 1982, likely by a local business owner, André Paturel. The flag is based on the Collectivity’s coat of arms. The flag is blue with a yellow ship, said to be Grande Hermine, which brought Jacques Cartier to Saint-Pierre on 15 June 1536. Three square fields placed along the hoist recall the origin of most inhabitants of the islands, from top to bottom, Basques, Bretons, and Normans.
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Half An Island – Saint Martin
Interestingly, Saint Martin is the only island thus divided by two colonial powers. Cyprus remains divided but one half of the island is operated as an independent nation. The French and British jointly administered the New Hebrides Islands, now the independent nation of Vanuatu, but there was no boundary line on any island or area, instead the entire island group was jointly, if confusingly, administered by both nations. Saint Martin stands unique in terms of being an island divided into separate overseas territories of European powers.