Need alternative to Pirate flag

[double u]

Originally Posted by skipperpete

Does that flag have a particular meaning? The Southern cross is not like the one I know and I wonder what the significance is of the Tango flag (vessel trawling)?

wow! US of A...words fail me!

[Joh.Ghurt]

Originally Posted by jtsailjt

The meaning of symbols change over time and the skull and crossbones pirate flag is a classic example of this. I don’t think that this symbol has been used by anyone actually engaged in piracy for almost 300 years, but it has been widely used by fun loving boaters with a rebellious spirit, especially those in a partying mood. Since this is widely known, I think that anyone suggesting that flying the Jolly Roger is offensive to them must be trying VERY hard to find something, anything, to be offended by.

As in times past the pirate flag still says:

Unpleasant company, stay away

As to the rebel spirit, I don't find much to admire in so called rebels who need to show their rebellion by conforming to the most used-up clichés. They're so different that they look the same as as everyone else wanting to be different. Rebelsheep!

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by double u

wow! US of A...words fail me!

Without context it's impossible to distinguish the flag of France from the Tango flag. Perhaps you can enlighten the forum as to the meaning in this flag. I personally am not bothered by the inclusion of the numerous minor stars in Crux, but feel the handle on Ursa Minor bends the wrong way.

[boatman61]

Why do you need to fly a flag.. is it a subconscious need to be part of a tribe/herd.???
If so join a Yacht Club and fly their rag..

[double u]

Originally Posted by Lodesman

Without context it's impossible to distinguish the flag of France from the Tango flag. Perhaps you can enlighten the forum as to the meaning in this flag. I personally am not bothered by the inclusion of the numerous minor stars in Crux, but feel the handle on Ursa Minor bends the wrong way.

is it not obvious, that the flag has a "cosmopolitan" idea behind it? In this context to think of the inset tricoloured flag as anything else than the french flag (particularly as Bombigher was french...) - seems to point to a particularly US-american phenomenon: "99,9% of the world is covered by the USofA, the rest is not worth knowing about..:"
(but what did I expect of a nation who voted a man into their highest office, who thinks we here "live in the forest in forest cities")
& BTW: "USofA is copyright Sascha Baron Cohen - alias Borat" - portraits I find fitting...

[Ween]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

I like the two hemisphere flag with the two polar star constellations shown, minus the tango flag, but it would be a bear to make.

Ann

But then we'll have to hear from a new set of the outraged that this is a non-inclusive western hemisphere biased view of the globe, offensive to APAC cultures or something...

[longjonsilver]

[MicHughV]

what about tattoo's...most every sailor I know sports some or other artwork embellishment to the personage.....many have a skull and bones, dragon, devil, snake, evil eyes or other dastardly artistic motive spread across shoulders, arms, legs, etc, more often than not to proclaim "I'm a bad ass".......are we to be lumped in a non-desirable group ??

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

what about tattoo's...most every sailor I know sports some or other artwork embellishment to the personage.....many have a skull and bones, dragon, devil, snake, evil eyes or other dastardly artistic motive spread across shoulders, arms, legs, etc, more often than not to proclaim "I'm a bad ass".......are we to be lumped in a non-desirable group ??

Not everyone's into body graffiti.. some of us don't like to deface perfection..

[skipmac]

For what it's worth I have a pirate flag story. Many years ago I was stuck at the Dry Tortugas waiting out a particularly bad norther. Several fishing boats were also there waiting out the weather and we hung out with the crews for a few days. Got to be friendly with one captain who mentioned he just got back to fishing after a five year absence. I asked how come and he confessed he just got out of jail for catching square grouper instead of the usual kind.

After a few beers one night he gave me the whole story. Took his boat to Jamaica, loaded up and headed back to the keys. Coming through the Yucatan they were boarded by the USCG and busted.

Two things I found interesting in the trial. He had a skull and crossbones flag below in a drawer which was found in the search. At the trial the CG witnesses and the prosecutor made a really big deal about the possession of a pirate flag on board, like these guys were real pirates instead of a bunch of stoner fishermen. Tried to use that as a factor to give them a much longer sentence.

The other thing that was interesting, the CQ presented a verbatim transcript of everything the crew said on the fishing boat while the CG vessel was watching them from a couple of miles away. Apparently the crew was talking about the cargo and expressing concern about being boarded. So since this was all heard they were of course boarded.

So one conclusion, some authorities in some situations might take a dim view of a pirate flag.

[SV__Grace]

Thanks for your input guys, I appreciate those who took my concern seriously and despite the usual CF trolls and side trips this was a meaningful experience for me.

I was inspired by the flag featuring the blue earth and reminded me of how exciting and inspiring it was when I was a kid and I think it was an Apollo mission that took a fantastic color photo of earth from space. I got a poster of that and put it up in my room.

To me, an earth flag represents appreciation, respect, and care for the earth and it's inhabitants and I can't think of a better statement to make as a cruiser.

I visited Amazon.com and guess what? They got lots. Some cheap (5 bucks) and some well made enough to stand up to a storm.

Below are three flags that make statements I like- the blue earth, the interlocking rings, and the UN flag. I purchased the blue earth one and will fly it proudly.

Thanks for playing!

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by skipmac

For what it's worth I have a pirate flag story....

Interesting tale.

A pirate flag is at some level a desire to associate oneself with those who, in a very romanticized, whitewashed, Disneyfied way. were rogues, scoundrels, characters... but they were free, maaan, and they worked and played haaard, right?

There are other such markers, many discussed already: certain tattoos, the weekend motorcycle "outlaw" garb, big macho offroad trucks that never get dirty... There's also paramilitary garb, "tactical" clothes and accessories, camo etc. There's no arguing the practicality and durability of much of the military clothing, packs etc that are available surplus (I have a great army sweater, some USCG shorts, and a few surplus packs and bags etc)... but for some, it's also a marker - hey I'm a prepper, badass, "merc", whatever. Camo or fatigues downtown, or at the mall? Really?

The unauthorized wearing of camo and military clothing is actually illegal in many countries, btw. As per skipmac's story, the Jolly Roger isn't regarded by some authorities as completely benign either. Seems even the Pentagon is now being a wet blanket about it too.

[team karst]

Originally Posted by skipmac

For what it's worth I have a pirate flag story..,,
The other thing that was interesting, the CQ presented a verbatim transcript of everything the crew said on the fishing boat while the CG vessel was watching them from a couple of miles away. Apparently the crew was talking about the cargo and expressing concern about being boarded. So since this was all heard they were of course boarded.

...

Laser on glass trick?

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by team karst

Laser on glass trick?

If I recall (this happened almost 40 years ago) I was told that the conversation took place outside so I'm guessing a parabolic microphone. The boats were all open rear deck with a semi enclosed pilothouse and a small forward cabin so not a lot of inside areas to hang out.

I do know that the captain told me he was very surprised to see the transcript in court. I think shortly after that he went for a plea bargain.

I have seen what appear to be very large, stabilized binoculars on the CG cutters I have seen docked in Florida so assume they might have a similar system with a parabolic mike.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

The unauthorized wearing of camo and military clothing is actually illegal in many countries, btw.

I had read something about this before. Some places wearing camo is taken very seriously and the authorities immediately put you in with the local revolutionaries and militia groups. Not something I would want to deal with in a third world environment.