UK Flag Institute Spring Meeting 2010: Part III

The third speaker on the London 2010 Spring Meeting was Alexandru Dan Mandru from Romania. His tone was serious and academic. It became obvious Alexandru could offer a deep and wide range professional and philosophical views on the emerging science of vexillology.

He gave his first vexillological presentation at the 2007 International Congress of Vexillology in Berlin, Germany. Since then he as been studying philosophy and communications at the Free University in Berlin.

His lecture was entitled The Science of Vexillology. Alexandru started his lecture with a formal history and introspective discussion of vexillology, "since 1958, when Dr. Whitney Smith introduced the term vexillology and it became part of the human heritage, a certain obscurity has surrounded the limits of the words. Who is a vexillologist? Is he or she a collector and hobbyist? Or may he or she be scholar in this field?" Mandru said. Mandru continued, "We will try to find essential criteria, in order to properly define a science as a science and apply them to Vexillology."

One idea expounded by Mandru that stuck out in my mind or rather caused a cerebral communications explosion of neurotransmitters (it resonated with me) was Mandru pointed out that, 'Whitney Smith stated that the ultimate purpose of vexillology would be a better understanding among people,' as quoted from the Flag Bulletin# 191, page 4. With this statement Mandru further explained that, "Consequently, vexillology serves life because, in its final meaning and purpose, has an improvement of human relations and identity as goal." I interpreted this as basically saying vexillology can bring a greater peace, harmony, and understanding in the world.

With my flag symmetry idea, it is also my hope that a new understanding between nations and peoples can sew an amazing thread of connectivity and understanding between nations. As odd as it may sound, to study the flag and story of an alien nation is also to study the flag and story of ones own nation.

Mandru's final thoughts on vexillology were essentially a forecast on the future of this 'social science' that may or may not promote understanding between nations. Vexillology is sort of in the 'hunter-gatherer' phase and it is now growing into the 'meta-vexillological' phase. Like any 'ology' will grow with time.

You can read more about by clicking here: Alexandru Mandru

UK Flag Institute Spring Meeting 2010: Part II

The second speaker at the UK Spring Institute Spring 2010 meeting was David Goldie of the Royal Navy, BSc MSM. His presentation was titled Command Warrant Officer (Surface Ships).

Goldie joined the Royal Navy in 1975 as a radar operator. Officer Goldie was decorated for service in the Falklands Islands and former Yugoslavia campaigns. Currently Goldie is a part of command to a surface fleet with over 18000 seamen under his chair. His physical stature matches harmoniously with his outstanding service record. His imposing military presence is matched with a polite and friendly British temperament, as a proverbial modern knight in a shiny new suit.

Coloured letter E

command excellence awards
that the US ships gets to wear

Goldie's presentation focused upon command excellence awards that ship crews could attain. There was a comparative study between the US Navy which painted stripes on ships of different colours. If you ever see the letter 'E' with various colours on the side of ship it means that it has been awarded bragging rights for being efficient and in top ship shape.

Capricorn in it's Chimeric form
Another focal point of Goldie's discussion was of the mythical hippocampus, which has become an icon of Royal Aircraft Carriers. The hippocampus is similar to Capricorn which in its chimera form is a goat upfront and a fish in the back.





But the hippocampus is a horse upfront and fish in the back. Probably the most famous of these fanciful

mammalian-fish hybrids is the mermaid or siren which is usually a human female up top with a fish tail body for the lower half.

However the hippocampus of the British Navy is a winged horse-fish. The flying seahorse is a harmonious icon of an aircraft carrier. It is the union of an animal that can swim, fly, and gallop in to war: the winged hippocampus.


Learn more about the UK Royal Navy at Her Majesty's Youtube Site Here:
www.youtube.com/user/TheRoyalNavy#p/a/u/1/rvRn997hI3g

UK Flag Institute Spring Meeting 2010: Part I

In 2010 the UK Flag Institute held its Spring Meeting in Mayfair, London at the Naval Club. I was gracious enough to speak about my vexillological flag symmetry concept. May 15, 2010 was a lovely day for London, blue skies, sunshine, and pleasant weather.

Lt. Colonel Weekes
The first speaker was Lt. Colonel Nick Weekes, AE MA FFI. He served in the regular army for 30 years and followed up with a 13 year duty in the reserve Air Force. He is also a member of the Flag Institute Council. His presentation was titled 'Report from England's Front Line.' It was a study of flags along the coast of England towards the European Continent focused on the coastal districts of Dover, Sandwich, and Deal.

Weekes conveyed that the specific protocols of hanging the UK flag are often incorrect. Most lay persons probably would not notice the inconsistencies and improper display of national flags. However to the refined eye of a vexillologist the minutia of flag protocol is still inconsistent.

One thing I learned is that National Flags of the Royal Navy flying on land should point towards the main entrance of a building.

The Original
'PORT AUTHORITY FLAG'
The Cinque Ports Flag of was one of the many flags discussed. This flag represents a confederation of what used to be five important seaports that were given certain tax privileges because of their location and link towards the continent.

These intercontinental ports were supposed to muster sailors in defense of England. Eventually the originally five 'port authorities' were linked up with 30 other coastal towns and became the core hatchery of naval personnel. The original Cinque Ports five were: Dover, Hythe, Hastings, New Romney, and Sandwich.

To learn more about the UK Flag Institute Here:
www.flaginstitue.org

Pamphlet UK Flag Institute Meeting - Sping Meeting 2010

 On May 15, 2010 my first meeting at the UK Flag Institute commenced at the Spring Meeting.  It was held at The Naval Club in Mayfair.  It was delightfully posh neighborhood. 

Below is the list of speakers.  I was slated to speak at 16:40 to a warm and receptive audience.

NY & NJ the Big Apple & the Zesty Tomato

New Jersey State Flag
Goddess Liberty & Goddess Ceres (Abundance)
New York and New Jersey have similar flag charges. They are the only states with goddess supporters on both sides. On both their left sides they have the goddess Liberty holding phrygian-freedom hats on poles, but the supporters on the right differ. New Jersey has the goddess Ceres who represents abundance of grain-cereal crops, thus 'cereal' is derived from Ceres. New York has the goddess Justice who is blindfolded and holding a sword and scales.

New York State Flag

Goddess Liberty and Justice

The background colours of their flags differ, but the combination is patriotic. Oftentimes people will mistake the background colour of New Jersey as yellow, partly due to sun bleaching. The colour's official name is buff, which in layman's terms is a light khaki with a tint of yellow. New York's colours are dark blue. When you combine them you get the official colours of George Washington's regimental colours: buff and blue.

New Jersey are New York are like Yin and Yang of American culture. New York has the reputation as being the white collar, classy and just a bit snooty. While New Jersey is more typically blue collar, earthy and a bit boorish. New York gave America the famous Manhattan cocktail, which can only be consumed by people over the age of 21, while New Jersey gave America Yoohoo a chocolate drink for kids and adults.

Both states are in the stress belt and driving in their urban areas can be hazardous. People who walk in crosswalks often do so at their own peril, and many of the drivers disobey yield to walkers in the crosswalk law.

Italian culture has deep roots in both states. The American Underworld has become something of cultural icon and institution, and two classic imaginary American Sagas took place in these states. First the Godfather was set in New York, while the Sopranos were set in New Jersey.

You can enjoy theater anywhere in America but for NY, theater is on top of the world with Broadway. NY may be the king of Broadway but NJ is the King of Boardwalk.

You cun go'd'da' beach anywhere in the USA, but the original, oldest, most American seaside amusement town belongs to New Jersey. New Jersey has a shore town for every kind of American. Classic Jersey style is Atlantic City, but if you want something the whole family can enjoy there is Ocean City, NJ where the sale of alcohol is prohibited. Then there is the southern grace in Cape May, NJ which is actually below the Mason-Dixon line. But if you're young and just want to have fun, there is Wild Wood, NJ. Even if you're tough guy with somethin' to prove there is Seaside Heights, NJ. America's firstly famous shore town was Atlantic City. Its fame has resulted in one of America's most popular board game based on none other than a city in the great state of New Jersey: MONOPOLY. Since then every state in the union has followed in the footsteps of this "Jersey Original."


Country music may be for Southern folk and people who live in the boon docks, but if you could make up a "Yankee-Country" music category... we have from NY, the honorable Tony Bennett and from NJ the original sensation old' Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra.






You can sum up the stereotypes between NJ & NY with two poster boys who reflect their states identity. Born in NY is the sparking knight in shining armor Sir Michael Jordan, and born in NJ is the gritty, flavor-flab, outspoken, outrageous, and colourful Dennis Rodman. They are American men who expressed their freedom in drastically different forms and enchanted the sports world with their superior basketball skills, and charming personalities.




Finally.......when you say the pledge of allegiance you are in a strange way saluting the state flag of New York. Why? New York has the Goddesses Liberty and Justice on it, and believe it or not the man who wrote the pledge of allegiance was from New York, Francis Bellamy. Francis Bellamy wrote it in 1892 for the 400th anniversary of 1492.

GODDESSES
'LIBERTY & JUSTICE...for all'

New York and New Jersey are the A to the Z of America

"Big Apple and Zesty Tomato"

Official Port Authority Flag of NJ & NY

NAVA 42 Post Card

NAVA 42 (2008) took place in Austin, Texas and I proposed my flag symmetry concept to Vexillologists for the first time. I did not speak about it, but had a display and made several post cards for free, with one catch. If you took a post card you were supposed to email me and tell me what you think about my flag symmetry idea. So far only 2 persons have emailed me!

Anyways the card to the left shows the extreme pair of flags: the Confederate Naval Jack, 2nd design, is bonded to the Soviet Naval Jack, 1st design. One flag represents the extreme rational right-side of mind, while the other represents the extreme intuitive left-side of mind.

The ship on the bottom is the USSR's Icebreaker Sibiryakov. The Sibiryakov was the first vessel to sail across the Arctic Ocean in one season from Europe to Asia. She was originally a scientific ship but during WWII she was outfitted with weapons and armour. The fates saw that she tangoed with one of the most powerful and ships of the Nazi Fleet the, Admiral Scheer. Interestingly the Admiral Scheer was referred to as a he instead of a she. It was no contest, the warship Admiral Scheer sunk the Sibiryakov in the Arctic Ocean.


The ship to the right of the Confederate Flag is the CSS Shenandoah. She was the only Confederate ship to sail around the world. She crippled the US Merchant fleet in the North Pacific and was the last ship to lower the Confederate Flag. Interestingly before the Soviet Union adopted the red and white naval jack the Sibiryakov was the last ship to fly the first Soviet design that had crosses.

After the US Civil War, the CSS Shenandoah was poetically sold to an African Islamic Nation, the Sultan of Zanzibar. She was later lost at sea, perhaps in the Indian Ocean since Zanzibar is completely surround by it. Both the Shenandoah and Sibriyakov were rugged and cutting edge technology. And both were built by Scottish hands in Scotland.

China & Vietnam, Red Men in Iron

Flag of Red China
Many Stars
I have paired up China with Vietnam. Their histories have been intimately linked for countless centuries. They had the same cultural influences and were once thriving centers of study for Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. But in the age of discovery and imperialism these two nations were subject to aggressive European adoption. They became independent nations only after war with United States. They were able to free themselves from the yoke of European Colonialism, under the mighty weights of Communism.

Flag of Vietnam
One Star

First, China became violently entangled with the United States during the Korean War. Red China shifted the destiny in Korea, to a draw. It was kinda' like the War of 1812 but with a greater death toll of civilians and combatants.

Several years later another similar situation arose in Vietnam. Like Korea, Vietnam became divided after the fall of a colonial empire, France. Once again the warrior castes of the US and East Asia crossed paths.

Although the United States lost this battle it won the Cold War. Even though China and Vietnam are officially ruled by Communism many executives on Wall Street and Walmart would think otherwise, rather China and Vietnam are 'Capitalists in the Closet.' Or perhaps something in between as "Commu-apitalists."

Both flags have red backgrounds and yellow stars. China has five stars while Vietnam has only one. China and Vietnam are ancient sisters, similar yet very very different of matching colours.

Long before these nations became enchanted with Communism, the colour dynamic between red and yellow was reversed: their flags were mostly yellow (Yang) and red lesser but essential colour was red - (Yin).

Last Flag of Imperial China

Flag of old Imperial Chinese Ching Dynasty in 1890, as standardized as a rectangle.








Last Flag of South Vietnam
Flag of Vietnam first created in 1890 and later became the flag of South Vietnam during its ally period with United States during the Cold War.






As for the Iron Man comment in the title, the Iron Man comic book was inspired in American Consciousness by the Vietnam War and Iron Man 2 officially opens today May 7, 2010 (make mine a Marvel)