Eight NineTen

Next year it'll be September 10, 2011, then November 11, 2012, and finally December 12, 2013

08/09/10 August 9, 2010
09/10/11 September 10, 2011
10/11/12 October 11, 2012
11/12/13 November 12, 2013

Malawai Flag Shift

(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

Old Malawi Flag -2010

New Malawi Flag 2010-

Malawi has recently shifted the design of the flag due to political considerations. This has been something of a popular tool of political parties that surrender power after a long period of time, especially in Africa and less developed nations. Perhaps every nation of Africa will come to modify the national flag whenever there a dynamic political shift?

Maybe this practice of a "new flag, new party" will be the wave of the future? Evey time a political party changes power, they change-modify the national flags? The uninformed and uneducated public simply accepting it as this is how it ought to be? New party new flag, so be it. Political parties in Africa will simply campaign with, 'Here is the New National Flag If We Win", so the public will know what their getting into?

Flag of Bosnia-Herzegovina
So what does this mean for my Flag Symmetry concept? An added dimension and a call for patience. This has happened before, for instance when Bosnia-Herzegovina Adopted the blue, yellow and white star flag on February 4, 1998. It became a partner-less flag. But after waiting a decade, the partner flag emerged. On February 17, 2008 the flag of Kosovo was adopted officially, which has a striking similarity and thus balance was restored. Thus here is an example of a 10 year gap in between soul searching-wating for an 'eternal fraternal sister.' I strongly speculate after a period of time the Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina's flag will change once again.

Flag of Kosovo

Old Bosnia-Herzegovina FlagHowever the old Bosnia-Herzegovina flag is partnered with the current Cyprus Flag. This is a special case since their official overlap period is only six years from 1992-1998 when both flags were officially flying. These oddly paired flags are indicative of the political turmoil between Eastern Europe and Western Asia, as reflected by Christianity and Islam.

Official Cyprus Flag

Flag of Georgia

The current conflict of Northern Cyprus 'within in' Cyprus is reflective of the current conflict of Georgia. Georgia, like both Cypruses, has a conflict of 'linguistic-ethnic crusader-jihad' turmoil with its separatist states of Abkhazia and Ossetia. Both nationally tumultuous situations arose from interference from our civilizations lastly purely Eurasian Nations that have soil by all definitions in both Asia and Europe: Russia and Turkey.

Flag of Northern Cyprus

PS.....BONUS BLOG for Generation I folk only!!! (LOL): You can think of it as an odd metaphor between the rivalry of Vampire and Warewolves.

(((Warning)))
(if you take this too seriously you should have your head examined by a professional)

Islam with the crescent moon are the Warewolves which would be the Turks. Since Christianity is associated with being reborn after death like the immortal Vampire, they would be the Russians (blood = wine). For centuries the Sultans-(Warewolves) of Turkey have fought the Czars-(Vampires) of Russia for dominance along the Black Sea and even Romania. That's partly why there is so much chaos in Georgia, Cyprus, and the Balkans. Islam and Christianity have clashed here, like a mucho grande supersize Taco Bell burrito toilet bowl buster!

I suppose to complete this metaphor the Jews would have to be mummies? After all, ancient Egyptians had a special fondness for circumcision, ouch! In any case the battle between 'Vampires' and 'Warewolves' is totally intense in Cyprus, Georgia, and the Balkans.

Czar vs Sultan

Vampire vs Warewolf

JOIN, or DIE Flag

In 1754 the colonies were caught in a life or death
struggle fighting off Spain and France for survival

On May 9, 1754 the essence of the popular Gadsden Flag now used by the US Marie Corps appeared in the Pennsylvania Gazette.

The snake is chopped up into 8 pieces. The head is New England: NE. At the tail is South Carolina. Missing is Georgia and Delaware, as Delaware was still a part of Pennsylvania.

Why the lowly snake? Back in Franklin's time it was thought that if you could put the dismembered parts of snake back together before sunset it would come back to life. Franklin also went out a limb. Back then as well as now, snakes were considered something less that goodly. But Franklin's boldness to picture the US as a serpent was quite shocking. He wanted to shock his readers with a wicked message of unity.

This political cartoon was not made as a metaphor to unite against the UK in colonial rebellion, rather it's statement is more akin to "United We Stand, Divided We Fall." And in 1754 the primary threats to colonies were the French, Spanish, natives, and themselves.

In 2010 Gen X,Y, and I terms it means, "Come Together Right Now or else it's Game Over."

Recently this 1754 drawing has seen the like light of day in 2010

August is Leo Month

Flag of Venice, a part of Italy














Lions make many appearances on flags. But perhaps the most interesting flag, with a lion on it, is the flag of Veneto (a federal district in Italy), better known as Venice. It is the best example of a lion flag, at least in the West. In the East the flag of Sri Lanka has a lion holding a sword. These two flags bring together the idea, 'the pen is mightier than the sword.'

Flag of Sri Lanka, in the Indian Ocean

Video of Venice Flag at NAVA 41

Captain Samuel C. Reid's Flag

Reid's Idea for 1818 Flag

Every flag book will tell you that in 1818 the flag was standardized under president Monroe. Some may even tell you that it was Samuel C. Reid, a US Naval Officer who advocated the reduction of stripes from 15 to 13 stripes. And so it was on April 4, 1818 the US Flag 'came of age' when She was 40 years old. The first known congressional record about the national flag was made on June 14, 1777.

Reid's Original Design

Of Yin and Yang the 13 stripes connect the banner to the original revolution from 1777 with a modern constellation with 50 stars of 1960...that's a 183 year time span.

Although there is some controversy as to who sewed and designed the first national flag back in 1777 (I believe the Ms. Ross account) we know for a fact a not so nutty Nutmegger was responsible for 'retro' 13 striped and perpetually modern and expanding star field flag. State bragging rights go to Norwich, Connecticut home town of Captain Reid.

Captain Reid also proposed other flags that were rejected. I have made a modern rendition of his personally designed flag that was to be the:

'Standard of the Union'

Modern Rendition

Reid's original design

The background colour is buff which looks like khaki with a darker tint. Blue and Bluff were to colours of George Washington.

The Four Tribal Elements

When someone asks, 'what are you?' They are generally concerned about your nationality. And there are a number of ways to answer this question. In the Old World it was fairly simple, but in the New World things have gotten jumbled up.

You can distill any individual nationality into four categories that are reflective of the four elements: EARTH, WATER, AIR, and FIRE.

First there is EARTH, the lowest energy level that is reflective of the modern notion of the SOLID state of matter. The EARTH aspect of an individual is ones specific ethnic-blood line. Like matter in a solid state, it dose not change. A person who is born a white person will leave his or her body as white person. As of now, it is still impossible to change your ethnic heritage.

The second level is that of WATER, which is the next energy state above matter, aka... LIQUID. This dimension represents language. We all learn different languages that connect us to different nations. Language is like WATER since it conforms to the shape of the container or culture that one is immersed in. It dose not matter what your ethnic heritage is, if you grow up in an English speaking family in London and you happen to have African, Chinese, Arab, or German blood, you will grow up with some kind of London accent. Language shapes the internal architecture of your mind-soul, on the level of proteins and neurons.

For Generation I the Four Elements
have been popularized by a Cartoon

The WATER/LANGUAGE element is often overlooked. The ability to speak a language is like having the ability to swim in an ocean. Most Americans can only swim in the English Ocean, and a few can putz around in the Spanish Ocean. But there are a minority of WATER-minded Americans who can swim and navigate multiple oceans. Thus the US may have the strongest 'Linguistic Navy' of mind.

Even if you only know 10-15 words in Japanese, then you can proverbially play in the Japanese kiddie pool, but if you were thrown in Japan literally you'd linguistically sink to the bottom. You'd have to depend on others for food and shelter. Eventually you'd either learn to swim in Japanese, or you'd have to stay in the Japanese kiddie pool.

If you are reading this then it is likely you and I belong to the same WATER TRIBE: of the English Ocean which is vast and has many seas within it (Scottish Accent, Australian Accent, Etc) All in all, we can swim in each others mind with relative ease.


In the US hardly anyone can swim let alone putz around any of the Native American linguistic Oceans. I can putz around in one Native American kiddie pool because of Dances with Wolves: 'Ta Tanka.' Metaphorically speaking if you put the average American in any Native American kiddie pool they will drown.

The Third element of ones identity is Spirit which makes a harmonious tie with the element of AIR. Clouds, wind, sky, and incense all play a role in most religions, if not now then at some time in their history. Breath is the sign of life. When you cross paths of people of your 'spirit tribe' you will encounter a harmoniously divine spirit, which should feel good. Basically, if a person's speech feels like 'fresh air,' then you are of the same AIR TRIBE. But when people speak and it feels like they are 'polluting your soul' then your are of different AIR TRIBES.

Thus music is a kind a WATER-AIR element like rain or mist.

The Fourth element is FIRE which identifies with ones nationality, which is a political construct of events, ideas, and papers. Two people may have matching AIR, WATER, and EARTH (same religion, language, and ethnic) but yet are totally repulsed by each other. The best examples can be found in the Americas. A white English speaking Irish-German Protestant beer drinking hockey loving Canadian may find is difficult to relate to white English speaking Irish-German Protestant beer drinking hockey loving American because they are in different 'FIRE TRIBES.' They are separated by the passionate element of FIRE...aka NATIONALISM. For the 'Southern Brother' 4th of July is a patriotic holiday, but for the 'Northern Brother' 4th of July is quite unpatriotic. It's a good bet that Canada would never try to enact a law banning the burning of the US-American Flag. A legislator who would do so, would be committing political suicide.

With this rubric the FOUR ELEMENTS are matched to four aspects of identity. There are literally infinite ways to label oneself. With this four pronged system, it should bring a depth of clarity when people ask, 'what are you?' Rather you should respond, "are you asking about my EARTH, AIR, or FIRE-tribal affiliation?'


FIRE - NATIONALITY
AIR - FAITH
WATER -LANGUAGE
EARTH - ETHNIC

I have often ran into people who don't know how to articulate what they are, I hope this helps. In a weird way every individual is one person made up of many different nations. I have created a flag that articulates these differences when people ask or wish to express who they are. It also helps one remember which element of national identity ones belongs to.

EXAMPLE

This person is a US citizen, English is his primary language followed by Spanish and Japanese. His father is Protestant and his mother is Catholic. His wife is Jewish and he must have converted to Judaism. On his mother's side he has Irish and Scottish heritage. On his fathers side his grandmother is from Germany. His paternal grandfather is a mix: whose paternal great, great-grandfather was black who married an English woman. Also on his paternal grandfather's side he has Welsh and English ethnic heritage.

For Generation I: this guy can AIR-bend with Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish Magic. He can also WATER-bend with English, Spanish, and some Japanese. He can EARTH-bend with Scottish, Irish, English, Welsh, and African magic. Finally with the most deadly kind of magic: FIRE, this guy can FIRE-bend via US 'fireworks.'

Link to "Four Tribal Elements - Part II"

KEY FOR 'FOUR ELEMENT'S SHIP FLAG'

Mary Pickersgill: "Betsy Ross 2.0"

PROFILE OF OUR UN-DISPUTABLE STAR SPANGLED MOTHER

Lived in Baltimore Maryland: from 1807-1857
Sewed the real Star Spangled Banner
Flag was 30 by 42 feet
Received payment of $405.90
Flag given to Fort McHenry August 19, 1813
Born in Philly 1776

Ms. Pickersgill is responsible for sewing the flag that flew over Ft. McHenry that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner during the war of 1812, when the US was invaded by the UK.

By strange utter providence (that's what they called synchronicity back in the day) she was born in 1776 in Philadelphia, in Betsy Ross' hometown.The great thing about this flag is we know much about it and it had 15 stripes! Two states joined just after the revolution, during Washington's Presidency. The first state born after the original 13 was also the first state born completely free, without slavery, Vermont #14 in 1791. The second state born after the original 13 was also the first state born in bondage: Kentucky (1792). Tennessee (1796), Ohio (1803), and Louisiana (1812) were also official states during the War of 1812, but there states were not included on the "official" flag. Unofficial flags had 16-18 stars and stripes before the War of 1812.

15 stripes instead of 13
The Original Star Spangled Banner

Also the star field rests on a long red stripe rather than a white one. There are seven long stripes coincidentally reflective of the big states: New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky. They are balanced with eight short stripes by amazing alignment to the small states: Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Vermont.

Here it is at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC

Flag on Display in early 1900s
(note stars were allowed to float back then as if twinkling like distant suns)