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May 05, 2008
The End Of The World
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| Image: The end of the world seemed to be taking place
in downtown Chico last Friday. When the "we are the world" flags went up last year I thought they were fine. They were just somebody's expression of concern for the environment, and the planet. But now that the mother Gaia flag could be the catalyst for the American flag not flying in Chico, I find myself a little less tolerant. I thought I'd provide some background on the two flags... Earth Flag: Here is a portion of an article by John McConnell that states he copyrighted the Earth flag in 1969 and it is based on an Apollo mission photo of the earth. He states that the flag was created to celebate cooperation in space at the U.N. The Chico Earth flag flies to celebrate Earth Day, also apparently attributed to McConnell. See more here. Earth Day 1979 was observed at the New York headquarters of the United Nations in cooperation with the Year of the Child. Several hundred children streamed across the street into the United Nations grounds, carrying and waving small (12" x 18". 31.5 x 47 cm.) flags which portrayed the Earth as seen from space on a dark blue background. At the last minute a volunteer had come up with the idea of distributing "Earth Flags" to the children, who were participating in the Earth Day program. By the time I learned of this they all had their flags. Knowing the stiff protocol at the United Nations, I asked the guards if it would be all right for then to carry the flags and was informed that they might carry them up to the gate, but must leave the flags there and pick them up as they left. Yet when they came through the gate no guard had the heart to ask for a flag and so the Earth Flags added to our joyous celebration. What is the Earth Flag? What does It stand for? Is it a real flag? How did it get started and how has it been used? When the first photo of Earth appeared in Life in 1969, I was deeply stirred -- as were many other people -- by what I saw. The Copernican revolution in thinking back in the l6th century had enlarged our view, our perspective of the human race. We became more aware of our planet, its relation to our solar system and to the universe. In viewing the first photo from space, thereby sharIng in part the experience of the astronauts, we ex perienced in a deep and emotional way a new awareness of our planet. In fact, our venture into space resulted in a conceptual revolution that gave us a more generalist approach to our problems and new and reverent wonder about the nature of the human adventure. American Flag: It was impossible to find a definition and history of the American flag that wasn't tied up in political speech. So here is beginning of the Declaration of Independance that seems to sum up the reason for the American flag pretty well. When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world. |
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 CI Challenge: Can you guess what it is? Winner: Two founding fathers, Mark Sorensen and Rainman. See comments below for the answer. |
Posted by Lon at May 5, 2008 09:03 AM
Comments
CIC: The 'Join or Die' flag from the pre revolutionary times
Posted by: Mark Sorensen at May 5, 2008 09:32 AM
join or die flag
Posted by: Tovey at May 5, 2008 09:41 AM
CIC: The "Don't Tread" on me flag, designed by B.Franklin.
Very cool history in that flag, worth the google search.
Posted by: D. Erickson at May 5, 2008 10:11 AM
Join or Die
Posted by: Gregg at May 5, 2008 10:11 AM
It looks to be part of the "Join or die" flag.
Posted by: bob at May 5, 2008 10:20 AM
Was the CIC a trick question? I think you threw everyone off with the flag discussion because the CIC image is not a flag but a political cartoon.
Here's an appropriate contemporary political cartoon for the earth theme:
http://www.investors.com/editorial/cartoons/CartoonPopUp.aspx?id=268604318595849
Posted by: rainman at May 5, 2008 01:48 PM
Rainman,
You are correct. That's the Ben Franklin wood carving of his famous political cartoon. There was a flag (the Gadsen, Gasden, Gardsen???) that carried the "don't tread on me" message.
Found it... it was the Gadsden flag
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadsden_flag
Attributed to marines in the first American navy and carrying the rattlesnake. The rattlesnake was a popular symbol of the colonies. Ben Franklin wrote (from wikipedia)...
I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids—She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance.—She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage.—As if anxious to prevent all pretentions of quarrelling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenceless animal; and even when those weapons are shewn and extended for her defence, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal:—Conscious of this, she never wounds till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of treading on her.—Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America?
Posted by: Lon at May 5, 2008 02:09 PM
True in that it did start as a bit of political symbolism or a political cartoon.
But it was later used as a flag and symbol of the effort to unite the colonies:
http://www.solcomhouse.com/usaflag.htm
http://www.usflag.org/history/gadsden.html
You can even buy one on ebay:
http://wantitnow.ebay.com/1774-Join-or-Die-Ben-Franklin-Flag_W0QQadidZ230233569210
Posted by: Mark Sorensen at May 5, 2008 02:11 PM
I've split the challenge bewteen Mark and Rainman. I was looking for Join or Die, but Rainman did point out that this was a political cartoon and not a flag. I couldn't find a specific flag that used Ben Franklin's imagery on the internet.
I'm not sure if this was pointed out, but the Join or Die woodcarving of a rattlesnake was apparently the first political cartoon.
Lon
Posted by: Lon at May 6, 2008 08:55 AM