150th Anniversary of the "Offical" Opening of the US Civil War

Flag of the Union at Ft. Sumter & Confederacy
150 years ago today

150 years ago the US Civil War officially started with the shelling of a US Base that was just off the coast of South Carolina.

Shots had already been fired in Charleston Harbor on January 9, 1861. But this occurred before the formation of the Confederacy.

South Carolina fired upon The Star of the West. But this ship did not belong to the US Navy. And on that date, only one state had left the union - South Carolina. Coincidentally Mississippi was on the cusp of leaving the Union. Mississippi was in the Union on the morning of January 9th 1861, but out of the Union by nightfall.

Thus the Alpha & Beta of the Confederacy was South Carolina and Mississippi.

Rising of the Confederate Flag
Ft. Sumter - April 1861

But by April 12, 1861 - seven states formed the Confederacy under provisional president Jefferson Davis. Seven states dissolved their ties to the US Constitution under the 15th president - Buchanan. The rebel governments were essentially dissatisfied with the outcome of the 1860 Presidential Election. Even today, several nations especially in Africa are fighting wars over political elections (Ivory Coast).

Perhaps it would have been more polite to give the new president a 90 day trial run before trying to get your money back...so to speak? Instead, seven states jumped the gun and got out before any official business could take place under the democratically and fairly elected president could take one breath of presidential air.

Thus the first shot of the Confederacy occurred 150 years ago today, along the enchanted and hallowed shores of South Carolina. It started over a small thing, the possession of a tiny island in the Atlantic Ocean.

It was the straw the broke the camels back, or rather the snowflake that caused an avalanche.


Of course there were other political considerations, which unto this day still remain hotly contested by some...

Bavaira & Saxony - German Flag Symmetry: Part V

The flags of Bavaria and Saxony are another pair. Although the colours differ, green and blue are similar tones. Bavaria also uses another flag with a lonzenge pattern and same light blue colour.

State flag of Saxony

Many elite English and American family lines can claim a link to Saxony - via the ethnic label of WASP. Three states of modern Germany carry the name Saxony - Lower Saxony, Saxony Anhalt, and Saxony. Most importantly the origins of the Protestant Voice fall upon the shoulders of a man born in "Saxony."

However, the German People were destined to be divided at this tragic and yet hopeful crossroads of Christian Faith. The subsequent churches born in the wake of Luther's path can trace their roots to a voice from 'Saxony.' The majority of American Churches owe a grain of gratitude to this man weather they be Quaker, Mormon, Calvinist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Jehovah's Witness, Pentecostal, Unitarian, Anglican, Revivalist Evangelical and of course - Lutheran.

Half the German family remained loyal to Rome while another half went their own way. In contrast to the Saxon path, Bavaria chose to remain mostly Catholic. Bavaria is matched in faith with most American-Irish, American-Italian, American-Polish and American-Hispanic Communities.

State flag of Bavaria

Geographically, Bavaria and Saxony are landlocked states on the Eastern border next to the Czech Republic. Saxony on the northern and Bavaria on the southern border.

Bavaria and Saxony are centers of testament for World War II. Leaders of the Axis Powers were judged and met their fate at the trials of Nuremberg, Bavaria. While the common folk of Dresden, Saxony were witness to wrath of England and America. During this fury of furies a German-American boy from Indiana - Kurt Vonnegut - was destined to be witness to those dreadful days at Dresden, Saxony. Subsequently Mr. Vonnegut was inspired to write about it in a semi-fictional and therapeutic book - Slaughterhouse IV.

Saxony and Bavaria carry a heavy, nostalgic and romantic feeling. In many ways Bavaria and Saxony are totally distinct from other parts of Germany, yet they are essential ingredients to the German Story.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern & Schleswig-Holstein - Germany Flag Symmetry: Part IV

Flag of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

These are the 'coastal provinces' of Germany. Germany only has a north shore, along the North and Baltic Seas. Although this may seem tiny, Germany is lucky to have a coastline at all. They are also international gateways to the North and East.

These flags are strikingly similar. These seemingly chance alignments of flag design seem strange, but this phenomena occurs in all nations to some degree.

The harmonious elements are the red, white, and blue horizontal tri-bars. The only difference being is that Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has an added yellow stripe down the center.

Flag of Schleswig-Holstein

These two states link Germany with her northern eastern European partners. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a linking point between the Germany and Denmark, while Scheleswig-Holstein is a linking point between the German and Poland.

The cultural divide between Germany and Denmark is like that of a 'half-sister' thus the relation with Poland would be more like a third cousin, once removed. Germany and Denmark have similar linguistic systems, while the Polish is a Slav Language. Thus it is easier for a German to learn Danish than it would be Polish. Likewise it would be easier for a Polish person to learn Russian than German.

Link to Part V

Rhineland-Palatinate & Saarland - Germany Flag Symmetry Part III

Flag of Rhineland-Palatinate

Both of these flags reuse the colours of the national ensign.

Upon their heraldic shields are matching elements. Both have an English St. Georges Cross look a like. The red cross on a white is a very popular symbol. Officially it represents the Archbishopric of Trier. The crowned Gold Lion on a black background also represent the same herald - the Elector of Palatinate.

Flag of Saarland

Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate are in the twilight zone in between France and Germany. Essentially the Rhine River that starts in Switzerland and ends in the Netherlands is somewhat of a natural divide between Germany and France. But the Rhine has a German tilt, likewise Switzerland is more 'German' than French, just as the Dutch are more closely related to the Germans. Germany was called "Deutchland" after all. In Pennsylvania the great misnomer of the Pennsylvania Dutch has confused common folk into thinking that they are Dutch when they are really in fact German.

France hoped to Created a New Nation in the 1950s: Saarland but the Saar people voted to reunite with West-Germany. To the right was the flag of Saarland under French Rule. It could have become the national flag of Saarland if independence were chosen? Perhaps it is in some other 'quantum' reality. If Saarland went it alone, she could've kept company with other in between mini nations like Andorra, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein

After WWII Saarland was plucked away from Germany and ruled by France from 1947 unto 1956. In a way Saarland is the Okinawa of Japan, because the US plucked Okinawa away from Japan and made it US territory. But since Okinawa was mostly Okinawan and the Japanese were being a loyal allies, the US returned it in 1972. Likewise France allowed Saarland to return to Germany a wee bit earlier. Finally just as Saarland is middle point between Germany and France, Okinawa too is a middle point in between China and Japan. But both Saarland and Okinawa have German and Japanese tilts, respectively.

Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate are monkey in middle regions between France and Germany sort of like the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Alsace-Lorraine, and Switzerland. However these middle regions have linguistic and cultural tilts towards Germany.

Also instead of beer being their preferred choice of 'fungal dope' the people of Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate are more like their French-siblings to the West with a fond love growing and dining with fine wine.

Link to Part IV

Thuringia & Hesse: German Flag Symmetry - Part II

Flag of Thuringia
formerly a part of East Germany

Germany has 16 federal subjects and as in previous posts about the sub-federal bodies of Japan and Russia, the flags of Germany also align by coincidental flag aspects. The modern flag of Thuringia and Hesse are what I call "fraternal banners." Thuringia and Hesse feature a horizontally divided red and white background, with red and white striped lion on a shield of arms. Both the shields have golden crowns, but in different positions. The lion of Thuringia is wearing it, while the top of Hesse's shield is decorated with a crown.

Flag of Hesse
formerly a part of West Germany

The coincidence of stars with a red and white striped lion seems to reflect an essence of American Patriotism. Coincidentally during the American Revolution many German Units serving the British Empire came from Hesse. Much, much earlier, Hesse was united with Thuringia but broke away during the War of Thuringian Succession in the mid 1200s. In any case, military units from all over Western Germany assisted Parliament and King during the English American Colonial Rebellion in 1775. The majority came from Hesse, and consequently German soldiers were miscategorized as 'Hessians.'

A Battle Flag of the Hessian Troops

from the American Revolution
(note the similarity to the lions of Hesse and Thuringia)

In the middle ages, Hesse and Thuringia were divided by the Royal Powers. A few hundred years later, Hesse played a critical and well remembered role in the American Revolution - at the Battle of Trenton of 1776. This Patriot Victory restored Congresses' faith in General Washington and rallied the Patriots. A few hundred years later, the Americans were destined to return the favor. By dividing Modern Germany in the wake of WWII. Subsequently, Hesse was fated to be an ally of Western Europe, while Thuringia was chosen to be a servant of Eastern Europe.

Close up of modern shields

In 1936 Hesse and Thuringia were drafted to fight as brothers against the World in 1941. After 1945, the World saw that these German Brothers were impressed to fight against each other, until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

CLICK HERE FOR PART III
CLICK HERE FOR PART I

Baden-Wurttenburg & Saxony Anhalt: German Flag Symmetry - Part I

Flag of Saxony-Anhalt

The sub-national flags of Germany are also subject to the phenomena of flag symmetry. The flags of Germany have an interesting blend of time lines. They have elements from the feudal age, mid 1800s, and post modern age - as Saxony-Anhalt's flag was altered in 1991. The boundaries of Germany were very chaotic during the 1900s, but since the end of the World War II and the reunification of East and West Germany, new flags were adopted for the sub-federal or semi-equivalent "states" that make up the modern nation of Germany. Since the end of USSR the German States have stabilized.

Flag of Baden-Wurttenburg

The flag of Baden-Wurttenburg matches with Saxony-Anhalt. These two German states are united by black and yellow. Their flags are divided horizontally in the middle. Baden-Wurttenburg has black on top and yellow on the bottom, while Saxony-Anhalt is 'counter charged,' so to speak. In the center of both flags are heraldic shields, without supporters. The three bold lions of Baden-Wurttenburg match with the bold bear and eagle of Saxony-Anhalt. There are two official flags for Baden-Wurttenburg, the more prestigious service flag is shown. In the aftermath of WWII these two states were drafted into opposite political camps of the Cold War. Baden-Wurttenburg became a part of West Germany aligned with USA, while Saxony-Anhalt became a part of East Germany aligned with USSR.

November 9, 1989 - 11/09/89
a broken heart was healed today

In 1984 the issue of a United Germany seem like a distant wish, for some distant of generation yet to be conceived. It seemed that our world was to be permanently divided into two political and aggressive polarities. However history is full of dynamic shifts, and the bitter frost between the East and West Germany melted in the Autumn of 1989.

East Germany and West Germany were nations created by hatred and destroyed by Love

This was a fall of walls to remember in the fall of 89'. For a short moment the world fell into love and peace. In the aftermath of this joyful reunion, a flag of the Saxons was reborn in the re-booted and post modern province of Saxony-Anhalt on January 29, 1991. These two Germany States carry different histories and share a special bond. This fateful alignment of flags, is reinforced by their provincial colours, let us hope we never forget their stories.

CLICK HERE FOR PART II

April 5 2011 Reservation

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