NorthStar Flags

Do you know how the Acadiana flag looks like? It’s like the Philippine flag, only that it has a star and no sun and some other designs. Funny thing is even the Microsoft Word program doesn’t recognize the name Acadiana. If you Google, Acadiana is the name given to the French Louisiana region. Makes me wonder if Acadiana is country or a province? Basing on my research, Acadiana is also called the Cajun country so I guess it is a country, but why is it unknown?

If you would ask people where the city called General Santos is, no one would know, except some avid fans of the boxing phenomenon named Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. Same goes for Acadiana or the even the Acadiana flag. Sure, the flag itself is fancy and artistic but what is the use if you don’t know the country itself?

Most of the people of today dream of traveling the world and exploring every part of it. Looking closely at these big time dreams the persons who desire to travel only want to go to famous places. In my eyes, if we want to discover the world and its many wonders, we should start from places unknown and unheard of. If I randomly ask anyone if they would like to go to Iraq to travel, I believe 90% would say no. If you travel to explore the world, why would you look for smiles? Why not look at grief and distraught to understand the world more? If you would ask me, I would say no to that question too. If I were to travel I would want to be safe, but when you say discover the world? I would force myself to say yes. I guess there are dreams that could hurt and still they are being chased by people.

Do you know how the Acadiana flag looks like? It’s like the Philippine flag, only that it has a star and no sun and some other designs. Funny thing is even the Microsoft Word program doesn’t recognize the name Acadiana. If you Google, Acadiana is the name given to the French Louisiana region. Makes me wonder if Acadiana is country or a province? Basing on my research, Acadiana is also called the Cajun country so I guess it is a country, but why is it unknown?

If you would ask people where the city called General Santos is, no one would know, except some avid fans of the boxing phenomenon named Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. Same goes for Acadiana or the even the Acadiana flag. Sure, the flag itself is fancy and artistic but what is the use if you don’t know the country itself?

Most of the people of today dream of traveling the world and exploring every part of it. Looking closely at these big time dreams the persons who desire to travel only want to go to famous places. In my eyes, if we want to discover the world and its many wonders, we should start from places unknown and unheard of. If I randomly ask anyone if they would like to go to Iraq to travel, I believe 90% would say no. If you travel to explore the world, why would you look for smiles? Why not look at grief and distraught to understand the world more? If you would ask me, I would say no to that question too. If I were to travel I would want to be safe, but when you say discover the world? I would force myself to say yes. I guess there are dreams that could hurt and still they are being chased by people.

If people think that feather flags are for decorating only, I say it has many uses. The flags can tell us wind directions and wind speed. Usually you see these flags swaying with the wind as if they were wind vanes telling people wind direction but when they sway hard they give a sound. A minor booming sound that is, that tells wind speed. Unlike the anemometer that measures wind speed feather flags were somewhat created to predict wind speed and give color and decoration to any terrain. Amazing isn’t it?

Sometimes it makes me think that golfer’s instinct in shooting is because of the said feather flag. When you’re a golfer I believe wind direction and wind speed are key factors for that winning shot. If you have seen the Tiger Woods commercial for Accenture, Woods utilized every aspect to get a better angle of the shot and land a perfect one too. I find it amazing how people create things with multiple functions. If you would ask me I just look at flags like sheets that either resembles a country or a business or an endorser. I looked at them that simply up until now.

I guess things have other uses even if it’s simple, like using a flag for a blanket or a wind vane which is not an option of many. Same goes for people too. We all wear masks and we tend to hide what’s good in us, therefore some people see us as worthless but that’s only at first sight. Sometimes we just have to take a second look at people but the second time around it should be closer. That’s what I learned from someone in the past, he was always aware of things and before he talks he puts himself in that certain person’s shoes which is really nice.

Getting over things are pretty hard especially if you were attached to that person or thing. To one of my friends it was like starting a run but every time he looks forward things get blurry. He liked to travel like most of us, but this one time everything changed. He was excited to go to Argentina, it was his first time and he was ecstatic! He brought the flag of Argentina to his house and to one of our meeting places just to tell everyone he has roamed the world. To me, it was somewhat boastful but he was happy he was going there for pleasure and not work so I understood.

He stayed in Argentina for two weeks and when he came back he was a changed man. When we picked him up in the airport we brought the flag of Argentina with us to let him know that we were glad to see him home. When we saw him exit, we went berserk as if seeing a famous rock artist. Usually he would play along with the routine but this time he was not himself. After getting to our meeting place he told the whole story. Like any other man his weakness was the woman from her dreams and sadly he found her in Argentina. He told the sad story of how he fell in love and faltered. And the memories are staying and the flag remains in his head and he is unable to forget what he had found and lost in Argentina.

Now, he is almost back to normal but not quite and as friends we are by his side. A few weeks from now he is going to go back to the country were he found smiles and tears, to put a closure on what had happened and to move on. I myself would pray that he’d get over it.

Getting over things are pretty hard especially if you were attached to that person or thing. To one of my friends it was like starting a run but every time he looks forward things get blurry. He liked to travel like most of us, but this one time everything changed. He was excited to go to Argentina, it was his first time and he was ecstatic! He brought the flag of Argentina to his house and to one of our meeting places just to tell everyone he has roamed the world. To me, it was somewhat boastful but he was happy he was going there for pleasure and not work so I understood.

He stayed in Argentina for two weeks and when he came back he was a changed man. When we picked him up in the airport we brought the flag of Argentina with us to let him know that we were glad to see him home. When we saw him exit, we went berserk as if seeing a famous rock artist. Usually he would play along with the routine but this time he was not himself. After getting to our meeting place he told the whole story. Like any other man his weakness was the woman from her dreams and sadly he found her in Argentina. He told the sad story of how he fell in love and faltered. And the memories are staying and the flag remains in his head and he is unable to forget what he had found and lost in Argentina.

Now, he is almost back to normal but not quite and as friends we are by his side. A few weeks from now he is going to go back to the country were he found smiles and tears, to put a closure on what had happened and to move on. I myself would pray that he’d get over it.

After four years of hardships and struggles, I can see the checkered flag. It is a bitter sweet feeling to graduate. Leaving the fun times and close bonds with friends to face the real world. It’s as if it was yesterday when I showed up at this school. I was a complete stranger with no one to turn to and no one to talk to. I enrolled and started the semester at a place where I felt unsafe.

After months of studying, I learned to open up and I bonded with some persons and they became my friends, my colleagues, my happiness and strength. Surviving college was a lot easier for me with all of my friends behind me, supporting me and cheering out for me. They became the most precious treasures I ever had. At times we quarreled and never talked to each other but after the day is done we become friends again and the friendship only grows stronger.

They say that constant togetherness develops into love and that happened. With a special bond my friends love me and I love them as well but someone in the group became the apple of my eyes. I saw her as a beauty beyond compare and I was lucky she felt the same way for me. The relationship blossomed and she became the jewel that brightened up my days.

Now, it is time to part ways and pass the checkered flag signaling the end of the race. It is time to leave the past behind and start a new, facing the world who they say is cruel. I know one thing for sure, the bonds that we had are as strong as diamonds and cannot be broken and this time I can ask my jewel if she could be mine for all of time.

One may vividly recall the banners and the posters being used by propaganda movements depicting Uncle Sam pointing a finger at the reader. This design has been one of the trademark symbols of the US Government recruiting volunteers and patriots to defend the motherland. Those who are courageous or patriotic enough sign up.

During the Second World War, soldiers who have offered their lives in keeping the influence of the U.S. flag flying in enemy territory have successfully defended the cause of liberty and freedom for everyone by liberating cities captured by the enemies. Nowadays, these same men who were decorated as patriots are revered as living heroes, for without them, the current country which is symbolized by the flag of red, white, and blue, and stars for its states wouldn’t be seen as freely.

Those were the days of heroes born from the chaos and memory of fallen comrades in facing a common enemy.

Today, the battles of everyday have shifted from the bullets and shells to the urban setting. Politicians have slugged it out every election to win over all other competitors. These civilian warriors are the modern patriots, involving themselves in a different form of campaign. This campaign is to liberate the civilians from economic stagnation, civilian upset and global alienation.

New laws are being deliberated each day at the modern civilian arena called the senate, where each representative of the respective states, uphold and lobby their laws to maintain overall legislature. These modern servants of society are also modern patriots who try to assure the rest of the country that the U.S. flag will remain hoisted up for others to recognize.

Who else can be one? Being a servant to the country doesn’t require one to have guns and ammunition, or become a zealous lobbyist. Even normal citizens can be Uncle Sam’s helpers. By merely keeping the peace and security of the immediate vicinity is a small thing to do, yet a big help in the general sense of contributing to the community.

Modern patriots who wish to uphold the U.S. flag wouldn’t have to enlist in the nearest recruitment agency, or study law intensively and campaign for elections. It can just start with a simple act of following laws.

One may vividly recall the banners and the posters being used by propaganda movements depicting Uncle Sam pointing a finger at the reader. This design has been one of the trademark symbols of the US Government recruiting volunteers and patriots to defend the motherland. Those who are courageous or patriotic enough sign up.

During the Second World War, soldiers who have offered their lives in keeping the influence of the U.S. flag flying in enemy territory have successfully defended the cause of liberty and freedom for everyone by liberating cities captured by the enemies. Nowadays, these same men who were decorated as patriots are revered as living heroes, for without them, the current country which is symbolized by the flag of red, white, and blue, and stars for its states wouldn’t be seen as freely.

Those were the days of heroes born from the chaos and memory of fallen comrades in facing a common enemy.

Today, the battles of everyday have shifted from the bullets and shells to the urban setting. Politicians have slugged it out every election to win over all other competitors. These civilian warriors are the modern patriots, involving themselves in a different form of campaign. This campaign is to liberate the civilians from economic stagnation, civilian upset and global alienation.

New laws are being deliberated each day at the modern civilian arena called the senate, where each representative of the respective states, uphold and lobby their laws to maintain overall legislature. These modern servants of society are also modern patriots who try to assure the rest of the country that the U.S. flag will remain hoisted up for others to recognize.

Who else can be one? Being a servant to the country doesn’t require one to have guns and ammunition, or become a zealous lobbyist. Even normal citizens can be Uncle Sam’s helpers. By merely keeping the peace and security of the immediate vicinity is a small thing to do, yet a big help in the general sense of contributing to the community.

Modern patriots who wish to uphold the U.S. flag wouldn’t have to enlist in the nearest recruitment agency, or study law intensively and campaign for elections. It can just start with a simple act of following laws.

I am a big fan of American musician and singer Jason Mraz. While listening to a playlist with most of his songs in it, I noticed a song that mentioned Gibraltar. From then on, I was wondering and got curious about this place. I didn’t even know this country existed in the first place.

Gibraltar is actually a British Overseas Territory. It got its name from the Arabic name “Jabal Tariq” that means ‘mountain of Tariq’. This symbolizes the geological formation called the “Rock of Gibraltar” which later was named after Gen. Tariq ibn-Ziyad who was the leader of the first incursion into Iberia in advance of the main Moorish force in 711. Presently, Gibraltar is famously known as Gib or the Rock.

Gibraltar enjoys subtle winters and warm summers being in the Mediterranean. The country’s prevailing winds come from the Sahara in Africa resulting to a balance of both humid weather and warmer ocean with the refreshing air and cooler sea.

Looking at its flag, one may notice that there is no British Ensign or the small British flag on the upper left, also known as the Union Jack. Take for example the flag of Australia; since the country was originally British Territory before, they have the Union Jack on the upper left of their flag.

The white part of the flag means peace and honesty with the red bottom half means strength, bravery and honor. The Castle represents the Fortress of Gibraltar, although there are no actual castles that looks like that on the island. Then, there’s the golden key which symbolizes significance. So it’s a pretty important place considering it has historically been an important base for the British Armed forces and Royal Navy.

So now, after I knew that a country by the name of Gibraltar exists and that I have described its flag, I realized it wasn’t really as uninteresting as I expected it to be.

I am a big fan of American musician and singer Jason Mraz. While listening to a playlist with most of his songs in it, I noticed a song that mentioned Gibraltar. From then on, I was wondering and got curious about this place. I didn’t even know this country existed in the first place.

Gibraltar is actually a British Overseas Territory. It got its name from the Arabic name “Jabal Tariq” that means ‘mountain of Tariq’. This symbolizes the geological formation called the “Rock of Gibraltar” which later was named after Gen. Tariq ibn-Ziyad who was the leader of the first incursion into Iberia in advance of the main Moorish force in 711. Presently, Gibraltar is famously known as Gib or the Rock.

Gibraltar enjoys subtle winters and warm summers being in the Mediterranean. The country’s prevailing winds come from the Sahara in Africa resulting to a balance of both humid weather and warmer ocean with the refreshing air and cooler sea.

Looking at its flag, one may notice that there is no British Ensign or the small British flag on the upper left, also known as the Union Jack. Take for example the flag of Australia; since the country was originally British Territory before, they have the Union Jack on the upper left of their flag.

The white part of the flag means peace and honesty with the red bottom half means strength, bravery and honor. The Castle represents the Fortress of Gibraltar, although there are no actual castles that looks like that on the island. Then, there’s the golden key which symbolizes significance. So it’s a pretty important place considering it has historically been an important base for the British Armed forces and Royal Navy.

So now, after I knew that a country by the name of Gibraltar exists and that I have described its flag, I realized it wasn’t really as uninteresting as I expected it to be.