North-South, Calvert-Penn Flag

North-South, Calvert-Penn Flag

The divide between the North and South is enshrined with the border between Pennsylvania and Maryland.  Long story short, slavery was an inherited institution found in all of the original 13 colonies.  However, by 1860 the Union was divided into slave-states and free-soil states.  Thus, the Mason-Dixon line became the de-facto dividing line between the North and South.

This flag is based upon the arms of Lord Calvert of Maryland and William Penn of Pennsylvania.  Somewhat similar to the Maryland flag, however, the three white dots on the horizontal black stripe and two white field are the coat of arms of William Penn.  While the black and yellow quarters represent Lord Calvert's arms. This flag is based upon the Crownstones that mark every 5th mile along the Pennsylvania-Maryland boarder.  The north facing side has Penn's arms, while the south facing side has Calvert's arms.  Note that every mile, excluding every fifth mile, it is marked with a P and M in the same manner for Pennsylvania and Maryland. 


The Mason-Dixon line only goes so far, some historians have figured that it continued onto the Ohio River.  When they do this, they are overlooking the fact that the Ohio river ain't a line.  But if you really wanna' be a Mr. Smarty pants, the Mason-Dixon line technically isn't a line. Because, the world is curved; therefore it's an arc, so we could call it the Mason-Dixon Arc.  No big deal, but what people are fixing at, is that it's the divide between slave and free soil. But people always overlook Delaware!  Delaware was also a slave state back in 1860.  Oddly the East-West Mason Dixon Arc of Longitude divides a slave state from the another slave state?

So no matter, this flag is to be flown along the divide of slave soil and free soil as it was in 1860.  For the start, the flag can be flown anywhere along the border of Pennsylvania and Maryland.  Then to the Ohio River, round' Pennsylvania. From where Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia meet, down the Ohio river, until it meets the Mississippi.  Then upstream, northwards, up around Missouri, down along the western border of Arkansas.  But then, we cut through Oklahoma, west, along the Arkansas River till it meets up with the Canadian River.  Then around square hat of Texas.

The reason for cutting through Oklahoma's Canadian-Arkansas branch, is itsa' reminder of how divided the entire country was.  We should never forget many of the Native American warriors in Oklahoma took the Confederate side, while just a minority took the Northern side.   And yes, several battles took place in Oklahoma north and south of the Canadian River.  Furthermore, the Canadian River is good a dividing point, because its name reminds us that we had two earlier wars against our own brethren to the far North, in 1812 and 1776.

Now back to the North-South, Calvert-Penn Flag route, once you go around Texas's square hat and hit 32 degrees north, you head due west along this line, or arc to be more scientifically accurate, of latitude.  Reason being the first government to divide this western territory was the Confederate Government.  By which, below the 32nd North, the Confederate state of Arizona was created.

Again, this a reminder of the deep divide politics can have, that another group of Americans were fixing to cut up New Mexico territory long different lines.  The South even had a functional Confederate capital at Mesilla, C.S.A. Arizona, which is now officially a part of New Mexico.  Finally the very west of the North-South/Calvert-Penn divide follows the modern west end of Arizona below 32 degrees north.

Oh yeah, finally, some consideration for Delaware.  Since this flag represents the divide between free slave soil, it should be flown along the upper curve of Delaware from Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania to tri-state area of Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. 

 
So we have a new flag dedicated to the fallen from the US Civil War.  It's good to never forget the past, yet we must to live and cherish the now.  Sometimes it's hard to put the shoe on the other foot.  You can only guess how another is feeling, only God knows.  Memorial Day was originally created to heal the wounds between the North and South, and this is another flag dedicated to that memory and bring a glimmer of honor on all sides.




MD Crownstone Imgage: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mason%E2%80%93Dixon_line
PA Crownstone Image:
https://www.historicalmarkerproject.com/markers/HMCY0_mason-dixon-line-crownstone_Millington-MD.html

Bionic Commando Flag 1988 or Hilter's Resurrection - Top Secret (ヒットラーの復活 - トップシークレット)

A classic long forgotten game is Bionic Commando 1988 for the original Nintendo.  An enemy flag of red, yellow, and black is in the distance.  You can see it in the background here; it features a black falcon on a yellow-orange sun, upon a field of red.  The bad guys are known as the BADDS.  You might be thinking it's vaguely similar to the Nazi. And if you ever beat the game, then you might remember fighting Hitler in the end.  If you beat him, then you would have seen his head explode in graphic 8-bit graphic glory. 

The original game was known as ヒットラーの復活 - トップシークレット (Hitler's Resurrection - Top Secret) as it was known in Japan.  However when it hit the American market, a name change was in order. Apparently American kids were deemed too soft to handle the Nazi imagery?   Game play consisted as you controlling a red haired American hero, fighting the Badds/Nazis.

Here is a side by side intro scene of the Japanese and English versions.  Notice the change in the flags.  In the Japanese version the Neo-Nazi group had a flash lighting bolt symbol underneath the swastika.  

Bionic Commando illustrates cultural censorship through flags and symbols in video games, which continues onto this day.

Nevertheless Bionic Commando is a memorable experience, with great game play, challenges, and is fun to play.  The end fight scene is amazing action that gives the player total 8-bit satisfaction.