Update: Ed makes us see stars. See below the “continue reading” line.
I slept so late today recovering from my jet lag I almost forgot to place my flag outside.
Flying to Australia and traversing the country, gives me an appreciation for liberty no matter what hemisphere you reside in. Aussies have made many contributions to freedom, such as I witnessed with this WWI war memorial in Emerald, QLD:
There is also a WWII memorial just to the right of the photo. Aussies have been side by side with the USA in every world conflict. They are owed thanks on this day as well.
As the founders of our country declared in this document:
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.
The Declaration justified the independence of the United States by listing colonial grievances against King George III, and by asserting certain natural rights, including a right of revolution.
Like with the colonists, with this blog, the readers, and the publications, I often assert my right of revolution against unreasonable acts of taxation, such as Kerry’s cap and trade bill.
Today, once again Ed Darrell and I are in agreement, and I particularly like the flag on the moon he chose. It is depressing that President Obama has proposed killing the next step in the manned space program, Aries.
So today, take a cue from myself and Ed, no matter whether you are a free market optimist or a tax happy sourpuss, fly your flag. Later today, I’m going to pursue some life, liberty, and happiness, you should too.
UPDATE: Speaking of Ed Darrell and Australians, perhaps some of our readers “down under” might like to educate Ed as to what the 5 stars mean in the logo for the AU Climate Skeptics Party.
I laughed out loud when I read this from Ed’s blog. Not only does he misappropriate the source of the logo, even though all he had to do was click the image on WUWT, he also seems to have no clue as to the reference to why the stars of the “southern cross” is a symbol of Australia. After learning about it with the help of some WUWT commenters, perhaps he’ll make a lesson plan of it for his students.
From Ed’s blog:
==================================
That may explain why Anthony Watts’ logo for his Australian tour shows a kangaroo whose rear end has just been kicked (you can tell by the stars).
In cartoons, stars show where a character has been punched or kicked, right?
No agreement to control greenhouse gases came out of the Copenhagen conference last fall. So-called climate skeptics patted each other on the back, claimed victory, and proceeded to send Christopher Monckton on his Bonnie Lies All Around the World Tour. In cool light of morning, however, the facts can’t be silenced: Warming continues, science shows the extremely high probability that humans cause it, official investigations show that climate scientists who had their e-mails stolen were victims of crime, not perpetrators, and climate skeptics failed to stop warming with their big-dollar, nice-banquet meetings with the Heartland Institute, or anywhere else.
If they are skeptics, they are pretty bad at it, falling like chumps for a story that fourth-grade science project made the case they have failed to make everywhere else, and for the story that one of their comrades was sent a bomb in the mail (it turned out to be a misdirected fuel filter).
No wonder Americans remain concerned about warming.
=======================================
The Southern Cross stars with a boxing kangaroo is a common design in Australia. This car decal for example:
http://beaututes.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=153&products_id=934
or this t-shirt
http://www.gooses.com.au/categories.asp?cID=32&c=55834
or this flag:
http://www.1uptravel.com/flag/flags/au-kang.html
BTW here’s the update on the bomb scare story, it also fooled a journalist and a terrorism expert. In fact, suspicious packages are cause for alarm every day around the world, and often get misidentified (and often blown up) by professional people erring on the side of caution. Here’s a few examples: 1 2 3 4 5 and even in Ed’s home state of Texas they react to suspicious packages the same way. It’s hard to be skeptical when you risk life and limb to find out. Sheesh Ed.
Heh, “big dollar nice banquet meeting”. The once a year meeting not using a dime of taxpayer money, totally privately funded, and yes, no big oil either. I guess he’s still sore for not getting invited to the IPCC meeting in Bali. Ed’s a slippery sort of bloke, so he’ll probably try to claim post facto that it was humor, or that we misinterpreted his reference to the 5 stars. Give him no quarter.
With regard to your photo of the WW1 memorial, one of the reasons why so many Aussies answered the call to the colours in 1914 was the ‘unprecedented’ drought across large parts of Australia at the time, which forced large numbers off the land.
Another ‘climate’ event that has been airbrushed out of history.
Respect.
The Southern Cross also featured in many early flags, including the Eureka Flag, when gold miners rebelled against taxation.
Thanks god you are back…the sun was waiting for you too, just for the “watts effect”, it is suffering a kind of jet lag too: it almost produced a cycle 25 spot!
And…about us: During your trip we have suffered from “friendly fire”, really “friendly ice” from ice fan Steve.
Re:
Hu McCulloch says:
July 4, 2010 at 2:42 pm
What’s the big star under the Union Jack? Alpha Centauri?
No. That star is called the Federation Star. It is not a literal star in the sense of the 5 stars that make up the Southern Cross. Australia became a Fully Self Governing Federation of States on 1/1/1901.
The Federation star was drawn with 7 points to represent the (at the time) 6 states and Territories that were part of the Federation, ie 6 points for the 6 states and 1 point for all the territories).
The Southern Cross has long been a symbol of Australia. It is referred to as “The Bushman’s Guide” as the axis of the longer part of the cross points South and so was a guide for navigation on land.
A stylised version of the Southern Cross was flown at Ballarat in Victoria in December 1854 during the rebellion known as the Eureka Stockade, where gold miners were protesting about unjust practices. Qute below.
“The Eureka rebellion, which is often referred to as the ‘Eureka Stockade’, is a key event in the development of Australian democracy and Australian identity, with some people arguing that ‘Australian democracy was born at Eureka’ (Clive Evatt). In addition, the principles of mateship, seen to be adapted by the gold diggers, and the term ‘digger’ was later adopted by the ANZAC soldiers in World War I.
The rebellion came about because the goldfield workers (known as ‘diggers’) opposed the government miners’ licences. The licences were a simple way for the government to tax the diggers. Licence fees had to be paid regardless of whether a digger’s claim resulted in any gold. Less successful diggers found it difficult to pay their licence fees”
Many people consider the original Eureka Flag to be the true flag of the birth of Australia.
Happy Independence (and Freedom) Day to all, no matter your home country.
and thanks for the reminder – I need to go out and take down the flag – do not have light on it for night viewing, yet.
Oh, and to Ed – Happy 5th.
tommy says:
July 4, 2010 at 2:11 pm
“@INGSOC
Maybe you should travel a bit more around to see rest of the world?
USA is not the only country who enjoys freedoms.”
I have travelled around the world. There is a reason so many wish to immigrate to America. Freedom is her foundation. Appreciating this does not denigrate others who seek the same. God Bless America, and all those who chose her same path.
Always honor Independence Day by taking down my Canadian Red Ensign and putting up Ole Glory. I’m out of town with the family, visiting Drumheller, Alberta this week, but made sure to put up the Stars and Stripes before I left on Friday.
Best wishes to my American peers south of the 49th.
God Bless America.
The Aussies saw the good sense of staying with the British way of life:
1. Cricket, skillful and dignified, compared with baseball, where the ability to spit appears to be of paramount importance.
2. Driving on the left hand side of the road, essential if you are right handed and want to smite a right handed enemy coming towards you.
3. Drinking tea, gentile and aromatic, compared with the muck which is called coffee south of the Canadian border.
Revolutions rarely work out well: look at Cuba, Russia, Iran, Spain and America.
Just imagine what America would be like now if it had stayed within the British Empire.
I hope you had a chance to visit the King’s Park War Memorial Anothony, it is set at a magnificent point overlooking the city. Here’s a picture or two:
http://elevation7.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/memorial.jpg
and
http://www.perthperth.com/images/anzac.jpg
and the Last Post at King’s Park last year:
The first shot from British Imperial forces in WW1 was fired by the Royal Australian Navy in Melbourne harbour, 11 minutes after the Empire declared war in Germany.
(A German merchant ship tried to make a run for it to avoid internment)
“Aussies have been side by side with the USA in every world conflict.”
As the USA is usually late in joining in scraps while the Aussies have their boots on and bayonets fixed whenever the call goes out, shouldn’t that more correctly read the:”Yanks have been side by side with the Aussies (and the rest of us ) in every world conflict”…… 😉
Ironic that every other major British colony, (Canada, Oz etc) managed to achieve political independence without anyone being hurt and nothing getting broken…
Yeah ok, George III was a bad’un and mad as a box of frogs. There is a saying here in Blighty, that at every time of crisis throughout British history, a charismatic giant of political and diplomatic talent and/or military genius has always emerged to save the day from the actions of idiots- except in the late 18th century and America was lost as a result.
Happy birthday USA- you couldnt have doen it without us. 🙂
Tommy,
With all due respect…
America has many problems.
However the nice nations and other places of freedoms? Don’t dare for a second remember who has always been at the fight of freedom for the other nations of the world.
There have been at least occasions in World history where if it was not for those arrogant, live free and die Americans… whatever nation you live in would probably be under Communist, Nazi, or Chinese control.
Maybe while we enjoy our long, hard, bloody battles of freedom, which founded our nation, you could show a little respect please.
Thank you!
“[…]I find it quite arrogant when people shout about how it is the best nation in the world and act like USA is the only free country with democracy.”
Well, they exported it to quite a lot of places already.
Actually, no, they haven’t. Don’t believe me? Name them! Name places that are only democracies because of the US.
Japan. Iraq. Erm …
I’m not bagging the US here. Quite a few countries owe their freedom in large part due to the USA. Much of western Europe, some of Latin America, most of the Pacific, Taiwan, South Korea. A case can even be made for eastern Europe. It’s a record that does the US credit.
But the exporting of democracy has proved to be largely futile.
Yes Peter,
Just look at where America would be if we’d stayed a British Commonwealth
1. most likely 90% of the inventions that came from American individualism would never have been invented and we’d still be riding in the horse and buggy relying on cow manure for heat and light.
2. We’d still be living under the tyranical control of the British Government only now since they’ve turned the reins to the EU, we’d be at the mercy of the EU and whatever socialist agenda they are pushing at the moment.
3. We’d still be living in Ignorance of freedom and still be in a Pre-Industrial nation
4. We’d be living in even more of a corrupt justice system as is evidenced by the white washing of Phile Jones.
5. We could look forward to Prince Charles as the next fake leader of our nation
6. We could look forward to being even more bankrupt than we are now.
7. we could be driving some of the ugliest cars ever made
8. we could be playing games of rugby,soccer, and cricket that make no sense whatsoever
9. we could have even more Muslims in our country causing problems than we have already
10. We never would have known and tasted freedom and be able to hold our heads up high and say we live in a might nation that was once a really special thing, until we let the British bankers and the socialists screw it up.
Hmmm no I think I’ll go with a non revisionist view of history and say GOD BLESS AMERICA, LAND OF THE FREE AND HOME OF THE BRAVE AND HAVE A BLESSED 4th of July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(sorry CTM and Anthony, but the last few weeks of people ripping our country to shreds and trying to destroy it have made me a bit sensitive to stupid comments snip me if you must but I believe our country is a great country, full of mistakes and bad people but far more good than bad)
The problem is how does one define “freedom” and “democracy”
We know whar these concepts mean to ourselves, but they can and do have different meanings to others.
So I don’t sound like I hate Britain or poeple from GB, I will apologize for going off on Peter.
Despite the fact that I’m currently very angry with our current administration and congress and senate. I still love this country very much and I would die defending her.
And your words on this day of American Independance seemed more than a little insenitive and obnoxious to me but I have to be a little strong and let the bad in with the good.,
England has stood beside us far more than other Eurpopean nations and they have some good beer.
So here’s a Pint raised to Peter and everyone else on the other side of the big pool known as the Atlantic.
Hoorah —-
I guess also the fact that I’ve been unemployed for almost two years now and the senate and congress playing ping pong with benefits pisses me off.
I would love to be able to find another IT job, it’s not for being lazy. I’m even applying at Walmart, Jackinthebox and taco bell and shudderrrrrrrrrrrr Mcdonalds.
To our American friends
Fly your flag proudly and be defiant to those that would seek to drag it down or, reduce it’s significance as a symbol of hope to the oppressed, its ability to rally the hearts and minds of Americans and focus on the good that can and will be done under that flag.
Be in peace with yourselves, sure of your purpose and rightly proud to fly the flag as often as you wish and in deference to no one, except you and your country and let no man tear it down!
Here in Australia, it is a curious mixed pride that is not well understood by outsiders or some of our newer inhabitants, nor by our aboriginals who were settlers themselves in this country (and that fact is little understood or publicized!) and wish to fly their own flag! and other immigrants who don’t quite understand how older Australians can revere a flag that has a Union Jack in pride of place and its representation of unity and strength in a common purpose as our ancestors fought and died for the freedom of the world and the united stance of the country.
We are no man’s lackey and proud of our heritage, but suffer sometimes with a cultural cringe, except in sport, where the boxing Kangaroo has become a defacto rallying symbol (embraced and accepted across the wider Australian Community) and the larrikan image and defiance to authority is recognised by the Southern Cross, central to the miner’s flag of defiance raised at the Eureka stockade.
We fly our flags more in our hearts than in public display and envy your united freedom and desire to personally recognise your own proud flag – fly it proudly and as often as you see fit.
Peter Miller wrote: “Just imagine what America would be like now if it had stayed within the British Empire.”
Yeah! We could throw tomatoes and other fruits & veggies at John Kerry & Joe Liebertard and not be thrown in jail!
We are having a July 4 washout in Colorado. Flash floods and cold.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WANTWvZWOxk]
Nearly froze shooting off fireworks in Wyoming last night. Must be due to global warming.
Anthony
It’s great to see Americans proudly revering their country and displaying their flag. Keep it up. We New Zealanders are reticent in showing such pride and emotion and as for our flag – all we ever do here is argue about changing it. Its as though we are suffering from an identity crisis.
BTW you site is brilliant – I read it every day – congratulations for your tireless work.
Doug
Anybody remember Emperor Norton?
I pledge obedience to the flag,
of the United States of America,
and to the Corporations for which it stands…
one nation, uninformed, in denial, with liberty and justice
forsaken, forbidden, and forgotten.”
Joshua A. Norton 1819-1880
Amazing how what goes around comes back around. Like Apathy
I’m still waiting for the return of demanding a responsible government.
Happy Birthday America.
Remember that at least some of the sour grapes from this side of the channel is due to the inescapable conclusion that you owe us 200+ years of back taxes!
Only joking.
As for the few voices lamenting the difficulty in flying the Union flag or the cross of St George, I have never read such utter toss. I regularly fly the flag of St George as do my neighbours – indeed, during the late lamented and abortive World Cup campaign half the cars in England carried little flags in support of our “tired” players. To be honest, I get quite annoyed with that sort of self pitying denial of reality, you have a perfect right to fly a national flag in any part of the UK, no ifs no buts.
Hah, channel indeed! Pond, of course.
Brad aka 1personofdifference:
#11: Every bathroom washbowl would have two spigots instead of one, forcing the use of a dirty bowl to get warm water.
Smokey: “I used to fly the American flag on holidays like today. But ever since the wake-up call that came on 9/11/01 I’ve flown it 24/7/365.”
Same here. I actually had one up that day and still have it stored away and labeled. Maybe someday my grandkids will find it, who knows. I shudder every time I think about how easily this could all be taken away if people don’t wake up. The road to serfdom is an easy one. The road to freedom is not.
“Government is not reason; it is not eloquence,” George Washington presciently warned. “It is force. And force, like fire, is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.”
The exporting of Democracy by the United States of America would be totally futile I agree.
Mainly because we are a Constitutional Republic but what’s a little government and historical accuracy amongst friends eh what?