Flag Waving and my beef with Pirates
This is the flag that would become the "Bonnie Blue Flag." It was originally the flag for the short-lived Republic of West Florida, which actually included portions of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. It existed independently (from Spain) for a little more than a month in 1810 before joining the United States. As secession spread some 51 years later, THIS was often initially the flag raised in place of the Union flag. And it was used popularly (though not officially) throughout the war by the Confederacy and may still be found incorporated in numerous states flags...including (of all places) "the republic of" California flag which still "bears a single star."
This is actually the flag known as the "Stars and Bars"...some people think that the name refers to the much better known confederate battle flag, but in reality it is this, the first official flag of the CSA. Later flags would have additional stars as more southern states seceded, and it's first public appearance would be in Bardstown, Kentucky where some mighty fine bourbon is made. The flag was deemed to be the cause of too much battlefield confusion (looking too much like the US flag) and was thus changed in 1863 to an all white flag (not like the French one) with the familiar St. Andrew's Cross bearing Confederate Battle Banner in one corner. The Stars and Bars are still found incorporated in numerous southern states' flags, including the very new "compromise" flag of Georgia...seemingly without perception related intellectual baggage.
Now, this here was the first official Confederate Navy Jack. Hardly anyone recognizes it and I suspect most people might think it is the NATO flag or the UN flag...both of which are offensive to many people. This flag would also eventually be changed as well in 1863 to the CSA battle standard. 
This is a pirate flag. Pirates were criminals known for hijacking, stealing, raping, enslaving, and all around pillaging. They were feared, hated, and hunted rightly so by the powers that be. The flag has in even the recent past been universally recognized as a sign of lawlessness, brutality, death, murder, and the aforementioned other heinous crimes. Nowadays, it is a faddish sign of relatively harmless rebellion and a powerful marketing symbol for a major motion picture series in which somehow pirates are protagonists and those seeking to uphold law, peace, and order are bumbling and idiotic antagonists. My, how perceptions change.
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We just seem to be in an age where law-breakers are held up as being cool in modern entertainment, and those who try to live honorable are, simply, not. Perhaps this dynamic has always been present, I don't know.
In this world we are all broken, in one way or another - and Christ calls us to Himself for healing. We have an enemy who tries his best to convince us that bad is good, and good is...not.
Of course flying the black flag and being overcome by a man-of-war resulted in a grim end for the pirates.
That our society idolizes criminals, rapists, murderers, and perversion is a sign of a deep cultural sickness.
I like canons, swords, and grog. I like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at D-Land as well.
Hey, at least they're fun-loving murderers and rapists...hey, and don't forget, they did not discriminate in their line of work!
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/ftcollect_1954_52286018
By some estimates, more than a million europeans were enslaved by North African pirates - more than the American colonies imported from Africa. Keep in mind the Barbary Pirates were not just freelancers like the Carribean brand, they operated as a ruffian navy of various political entities. The Barbary states of Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli made it clear: any Christian nation's shipping was fair game (they were...how shall I say....quite discriminating) as they considered themselves to be at war with any Christian nation UNLESS a peace treaty had been negotiated, which of course = tribute.
The UNited States certainly tried to negotiate a satisfactory tribute - though it rubbed them the wrong way (plenty of quotes to show that). It soon became evident that such appeasement was a complete waste of time.
Once American gained her independence, it became clear that American shpping in the Med. would be and indeed were targeted. Trying to reason with the ambassador of Tripoli, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams relayed this little tidbit back to the Washington: "The ambassador answered that [the right to pillage US ships] was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Musselman (Muslim) who should be slain in Battle was sure to go to Paradise."
George Washington said "Would to Heaven we had a navy to reform those enemies to mankind, or crush them into non-existence."
We'd ended up fighting the Pirates and Tripoli. We'd also engage in a daring plan of regime change. The story of these wars is fascinating and would make for a fantastic movie, frankly. The account of the USS Enterprise' battle with the 14 gun ship "Tripoli" couldn't have been better invented by POB himself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_(1799)
To a large degree the fledgling little US government shut down the Barbary Pirates, and himself called the raid “the most bold and daring act of the age,” and Pope Pius VII declared that the United States “had done more for the cause of Christianity than the most powerful nations of Christendom have done for ages.”
Well...I don't think we were trying to advance the cause of Christianity, as much as the cause of free trade and freedom for US citizens to travel freely.
So, aye, history is a messy affair, but if by that you mean to imply that history cannot endure a judgment of good or bad, well, then sir, I shall have to ask you to lower your colors and prepare to be boarded.
:)
Obviously, history is not the clear, oversimplified, good guys vs. bad guys that our primary and secondary schools often made it out to be. Of course you can make your judgments of good and bad, i just take mine with a measure of cautious cynicism.
Got a reference for the "million europeans enslaved." I am definitely interested in seeing how those estimates were arrived at.
Of course, but neither is it devoid of truth and reality by which we can make certain judgments. I think our schools go the other direction of absolute historical moral relativism.
There are in fact, bad people and there are in fact good people in the world. And in fact, I think sometimes it is very clear who is who...black and white. And, sometimes it is not.
http://www.amazon.ca/Christian-Slaves-Muslim-Masters-Mediterranean/dp/0333719662/ref=sr_1_16/702-4641371-6673645?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184264213&sr=1-16