NorthStar Flags

How often do you drink coffee? In most instances, one cup to start your day in the morning, then coffee break at ten, another cup right after lunch, then one more cup at three, then probably a steaming hot coffee before you hit the sack. If you can’t live without coffee, then blame it on the people of Yemen who invented the drink in the 11th century.

But, if you happen to love coffee, thanks to Yemen (southwestern Arabia) a major center for the early spread of Islam, and at the crossroads of trade from the Orient, Africa to the Mediterranean. As much as 3,000tons of frankincense was borne by camel caravans annually to Greece and Rome, during Christ’s time through the biblical queen city of Sheba.

After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Yemen was subdivided into North and South Yemen, later to become the Yemen Arab Republic and the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen in the 70’s. Then followed years of conflict spurred by ideological differences, since the north is pro-Western while the south has Marxist leanings and pro-Soviet.

However in May 1990, world events somehow tamed striking ideological barriers and the two nations merged. The merger was not met with cordial handshakes, but by several weeks of civil war in 1994.

Out of this union, a new Yemen National Flag emerged. The flag was adopted on May 22, 1990, the day the two Yemen’s unified. It copied the pattern of the Pan-Arab colors, consisting of equal horizontal bands of red, white, and black, similar in context to the flags of Egypt, Syria and Iraq.

The colors symbolize bloodshed of martyr’s for red; a bright future for white; and the dark past for black.

When visiting Syria for the first time, it is a must that one visit Palmyra, one of the most preserved historical site. Palmyra or the “City of Palms” is an ancient city and once viewed as the “Bridge of the Desert,” was a vital R&R; stop for caravans crossing the desert. It was even mentioned in the Bible as a fort for Solomon and later flourished under the Roman era.

Since preserved remnants are still standing today, tourists flock to see several temples and structures dedicated to Aramean, Babylonian and Mesopotamian deities. In fact it has been officially classified as a UNESCO heritage site.

If Syria as a country is interesting, the development of the National Flag of Syria is doubly absorbing. The current Syria flag is a re-adoption of the flag of the former United Arab Republic in 1958, consisting of three horizontal bands of red, white, and black with two green stars on the white band. The choice of colors is symbolic of the traditional Pan-Arab colors and inspired by the flag of the Arab Revolt.

All in all, Syria had developed six national flags or world flags since its independence in 1946. The two stars in the flag represent Syria and Egypt of the previous United Arab Republic; green is for Rashidun or Fatimid; white is the color of the Umayyads; black is for the Abbasids; and red is for the blood, shed by the martyrs, although some attribute it the color of the Hashemite Dynasty.

Syrians are mostly Arabs, about 9% are Kurds that are residents of northeastern Syria, 90% are Sunni Muslims and 12% for the Alawite minority, but is the dominant political group having control of the Baath party.

After the British pulled out of this barren and arid coastal region in 1971, the seven sheikdoms left behind on the Arabian Peninsula coalesce to form the United Arab Emirates. The seven are Abu Dhabi, now the seat of the federal government and oil capital; Dubayy (Dubai), the main port and commercial industrial center; Ajman; Umm al Qaywayn; Ras al Khaymay; Al Fujayrah; and Sharjah.

Oil discovered in 1958 is the major source of revenue for the federal country and foreign workers who worked and developed the oil industry had become residents and now make-up about three quarters of the population. The UAE is also the favorite destination for tourists because the country has liberal attitudes towards other cultures and religious beliefs.

The symbol that represents the seven federal states is the National Flag of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), officially adopted on December 2, 1971. The colors were patterned after the symbolic hue of the Pan-Arab colors, contains red, green, white, and black that signifies Arabian unity.

Also the colors have individual meanings, green for example refers to fertility; white pertains to neutrality of the country; black is important being the color of the custom flag of the Islamic prophet Muhammad; and finally red is for the unity not just of the federal states but the people in particular.

Revenues from oil production had raised the country’s GDP comparable to the more prosperous nations in Europe. The nation for the moment is undergoing a massive infrastructure development as hotels, office and residential condominiums are being built. In fact, the tallest man made structure in the world the Burj Dubai Tower is now under construction and will soon be opened in downtown Dubai in late 2009.

The present day Muscat is the capital of Oman, a rich Middle Eastern country that lies along the trade routes of the Persian Gulf. During the late 18th century, the Sultanate of Muscat entered into a series of friendship treaties with Britain, and over time it grew dependent on British political and military consultants but it never became a British Colony.

British educated Qaboos bin Said al Said overthrow the repressive rule of his father, established the present day Oman and has ruled as Sultan ever since. He opened new avenues for the extensive modernization program for his country while also adopting measures to promote Oman to the outside world and steadily preserving the long-standing close relationship with the UK. In fact Oman’s moderate and independent foreign policy had maintained good relations with all Middle Eastern Countries.

The official symbol, the Oman national flag could be attributed to the direct wishes of the Sultan it consists of three stripes (white, green, and red) with a red bar on the hoist side that contains the national emblem of Oman. White stands for peace and prosperity; green is for fertility and the green mountains; and red is obviously for battles against foreign invaders.

Aside from the national emblem, the badge of the Albusaidi Dynasty was added to the canton and depicts cross swords over a gambia (a traditional curved dagger).

The bulk of the country’s revenues comes from oil, exported since 1967 and is responsible for the infrastructure programs (roads, schools, and hospitals) of the government. The majority of the residents of Oman are still pre-occupied with farming and fishing, although modern equipment is now used in the industry – agriculture and fishery.

The concept used in the design of the National Flag of Qatar resembles that of Bahrain, although the color is entirely different and the serrated edges contain nine points. The Qatar flag is purple and with a broader white serrated edges at the hoist side.

The white color of the flag follows the internationally recognized symbol of peace; while the maroon color refers to the blood, shed during the several wars Qatar was involved, particularly on the later part of the 19th century; and the nine-point serrated line would only mean that Qatar is the ninth member of the “reconciled emirates” in the Persian Gulf after the conclusion of the Qatari-British Treaty in 1916.

Qatar had been under the al-Thani Dynasty since the middle of the 1800’s, it evolved from a poor British protectorate, known for its pearl industry into an independent state with abundant reserves of oil and natural gas. During the late 80’s and the whole of the 90’s, the Qatari economy suffered due to the Amir’s penchant for siphoning-off the petroleum revenues.

However to save his country from eventual political and economic ruin, the current Amir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and a son, overthrew the previous Amir in a bloodless coup in 1995. He instituted political reforms including allowing women the right of suffrage and to hold office; resolved its long-standing border disputes with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia; and redefined economic priorities. Then as of 2007, with oil and natural gas revenues, Qatar had established the highest per capita income in the world.

This rich nation saw its reserves in oil dwindling and has since turned to natural gas production, which is the largest single reservoir of natural gas in the world.

The concept used in the design of the National Flag of Qatar resembles that of Bahrain, although the color is entirely different and the serrated edges contain nine points. The Qatar flag is purple and with a broader white serrated edges at the hoist side.

The white color of the flag follows the internationally recognized symbol of peace; while the maroon color refers to the blood, shed during the several wars Qatar was involved, particularly on the later part of the 19th century; and the nine-point serrated line would only mean that Qatar is the ninth member of the “reconciled emirates” in the Persian Gulf after the conclusion of the Qatari-British Treaty in 1916.

Qatar had been under the al-Thani Dynasty since the middle of the 1800’s, it evolved from a poor British protectorate, known for its pearl industry into an independent state with abundant reserves of oil and natural gas. During the late 80’s and the whole of the 90’s, the Qatari economy suffered due to the Amir’s penchant for siphoning-off the petroleum revenues.

However to save his country from eventual political and economic ruin, the current Amir Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, and a son, overthrew the previous Amir in a bloodless coup in 1995. He instituted political reforms including allowing women the right of suffrage and to hold office; resolved its long-standing border disputes with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia; and redefined economic priorities. Then as of 2007, with oil and natural gas revenues, Qatar had established the highest per capita income in the world.

This rich nation saw its reserves in oil dwindling and has since turned to natural gas production, which is the largest single reservoir of natural gas in the world.

Cedrus libani, the green cedar or the cedar of Lebanon, is immortalized in the Bible, as it is mentioned several times particularly in the building of God’s Temple. For example Psalms 92:12 states “the righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”

It was probably due to the reference of Lebanon’s cedar in the Bible that the framers of the Constitution and the designers of the National Flag of Lebanon included it as the official symbol. The Lebanon flag is formed by a central white stripe sandwiched by two horizontal red stripes (top and bottom), with the white stripe twice the width of the red stripe. The green cedar is strategically at the center of the white stripe and touches the red stripes and is one-third the width of the flag.

The Flag of Lebanon was officially adopted on December 7, 1943 by the Lebanese parliament. The red stripes symbolize blood, shed by Lebanese heroes during the struggle for liberation; the white stripe refers to peace and white snow on the Lebanese mountains; and the green cedar is for immortality and steadiness.

Lebanon is a small country in the Middle East and was granted independence in 1943. It was through the guidance of France that Lebanon prospered as a banking area, resort and university center. It was even touted that its capital Beirut would be the new Paris in the Middle East. From estimates (no official census was made) two-third of the resident population are Muslim and the rest being Christian.

Cultural differences led to a civil war between the Muslims and Christians from 1975 to 1991, a truce was in effect until democracy was restored in 1992.

Cedrus libani, the green cedar or the cedar of Lebanon, is immortalized in the Bible, as it is mentioned several times particularly in the building of God’s Temple. For example Psalms 92:12 states “the righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”

It was probably due to the reference of Lebanon’s cedar in the Bible that the framers of the Constitution and the designers of the National Flag of Lebanon included it as the official symbol. The Lebanon flag is formed by a central white stripe sandwiched by two horizontal red stripes (top and bottom), with the white stripe twice the width of the red stripe. The green cedar is strategically at the center of the white stripe and touches the red stripes and is one-third the width of the flag.

The Flag of Lebanon was officially adopted on December 7, 1943 by the Lebanese parliament. The red stripes symbolize blood, shed by Lebanese heroes during the struggle for liberation; the white stripe refers to peace and white snow on the Lebanese mountains; and the green cedar is for immortality and steadiness.

Lebanon is a small country in the Middle East and was granted independence in 1943. It was through the guidance of France that Lebanon prospered as a banking area, resort and university center. It was even touted that its capital Beirut would be the new Paris in the Middle East. From estimates (no official census was made) two-third of the resident population are Muslim and the rest being Christian.

Cultural differences led to a civil war between the Muslims and Christians from 1975 to 1991, a truce was in effect until democracy was restored in 1992.

In 1802 E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., the pioneer and giant chemical and plastic manufacturer, opened up a gunpowder plant near Wilmington that spruced up Delaware as business-friendly community. And today, thanks to du Pont, 300,000 companies had settled in the area, urged by a favorable business climate that spurred phenomenal growth in banking and financial services.

But what was Delaware’s involvement to the union? Delaware fought as a separate state in the American Revolution and proudly became the first state of the union to ratify the American Constitution in 1787, and it never seceded the union during the Civil War, even if it was named as a slave state.

In fact, during the revolution Delaware carried the custom flag that was to become the official state flag that bears resemblance to the colors of the uniform of General George Washington. It has a buff-colored diamond at the center on a field of colonial blue, with the coat-of-arms of the state of Delaware inside the diamond. And below the diamond is the date December 7, 1787, or the day in which it became the first state to ratify the Constitution.

The coat-of-arms depicted on the State Flag of Delaware was adopted on January 17, 1777, a shield of horizontal green, blue, and white stripes. A sheaf of wheat, an ear of corn, and an ox standing on grass and all representing the agriculture of Delaware is printed visibly on the stripes. While above the shield is a sailing ship and found supporting the shield is a farmer on the left and a soldier on the right.

And legibly written below the shield is the motto “Liberty and Independence,” symbol all included in the seal of Delaware.

In 1802 E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., the pioneer and giant chemical and plastic manufacturer, opened up a gunpowder plant near Wilmington that spruced up Delaware as business-friendly community. And today, thanks to du Pont, 300,000 companies had settled in the area, urged by a favorable business climate that spurred phenomenal growth in banking and financial services.

But what was Delaware’s involvement to the union? Delaware fought as a separate state in the American Revolution and proudly became the first state of the union to ratify the American Constitution in 1787, and it never seceded the union during the Civil War, even if it was named as a slave state.

In fact, during the revolution Delaware carried the custom flag that was to become the official state flag that bears resemblance to the colors of the uniform of General George Washington. It has a buff-colored diamond at the center on a field of colonial blue, with the coat-of-arms of the state of Delaware inside the diamond. And below the diamond is the date December 7, 1787, or the day in which it became the first state to ratify the Constitution.

The coat-of-arms depicted on the State Flag of Delaware was adopted on January 17, 1777, a shield of horizontal green, blue, and white stripes. A sheaf of wheat, an ear of corn, and an ox standing on grass and all representing the agriculture of Delaware is printed visibly on the stripes. While above the shield is a sailing ship and found supporting the shield is a farmer on the left and a soldier on the right.

And legibly written below the shield is the motto “Liberty and Independence,” symbol all included in the seal of Delaware.