The Democrat party bragged about having a "green" convention, but they put 12,000 American flags in garbage! They didn't recycle them they put the flags in the TRASH. Some alert Colorado veterans saved them and brought them to today's McCain Victory rally in Colorado Springs. The veterans then handed them out to an eager crowd. The flags were waving and the songs of patriotism were playing load and clear!

Now the Democrat party claims that the flags were STOLEN! According to Fox News, Damon Jones, spokesman for the Democratic National Convention Committee, released a statement saying McCain should applaud the fact that thousands of American flags were “proudly waved” at their convention.

“But instead his supporters wrongfully took leftover bundles of our flags from the stadium to play out a cheap political stunt calling into question our patriotism,” he said.

Of course the great Obama would never do any thing to disgrace the American Flag. The problem with this lie is that some of the falgs could not be used because they were found soiled from the GARBAGE by American Veterans. The Boy scouts had to go through the bags of American flags separating them from the garbage. This kind of disrespect for our COUNTRY shows that the Obama campaign is an angry hate America and apologize to the world agenda that will cost him the election. Yes, I question Obama's patriotism and the Democrat party's agenda to destroy our freedom.

The Democrats will not stand for us, they already advocated retreat and defeat in Iraq. They said 'THE WAR IS LOST!" They to this day cannot say that the surge is a SUCCESS and VICTORY is at hand. They were wrong on Iraq and they are wrong about our country being, according to Michelle Obama, "A down right mean place."

These images of today's victory rally in Colorado Springs show that this country still cares about our flag and all that it stands for!

This morning, Republicans tell me that a worker at Invesco Field in Denver saved thousands of unused flags from the Democratic National Convention that were headed for the garbage. Guerrilla campaigning. They will use these flags at their own event today in Colorado Springs with John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Before McCain speaks today, veterans will haul these garbage bags filled with flags out onto the stage — with dramatic effect, no doubt — and tell the story.

I see that a response has been added since I read the article earlier:

“American flags were proudly waved by the 75,000 people who joined Barack Obama at the Democratic Convention. John McCain should applaud that, but instead his supporters wrongfully took leftover bundles of our flags from the stadium to play a cheap political stunt calling into question our patriotism. On the same day he agrees to join Barack Obama at Ground Zero on September 11, John McCain attacks the patriotism of Obama supporters who so proudly waved the American flag at our historic event in Denver just days ago.”
—Democratic National Committee Spokeswoman Karen Finney

And predictably, the story was false.  Someone stole the flags to pull a stunt.

Another statement from the Democratic National Convention Committee: "Stories circulating about flags at the Democratic National Convention are false. We distributed more than 125,000 American made flags at the Convention - the flags removed from Invesco field were intended for other events and taken without permission. It's disappointing that someone would take American flags without authorization and then falsely describe how they were being used. We have the utmost respect for the American flag, and it's sad to see them being used for a cheap political stunt."

I thought McCain said 'stand up and fight' not sink down and steal.  Oh, well.

Ed at HotAir links the US Flag Code that dictates the appropriate way to dispose of a flag.

The Republicans have hit a new low. Friday morning, the sanitation crew at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport discovered thousands of used, discarded American flag-colored condoms in the men’s room trash bins.

Reports indicate that moments after John McCain’s acceptance speech Thursday night, throngs of Republican men wearing thongs headed to the airport's facilities where they engaged numerous ‘wide stance’ activities, including a dance called the “Larry Craig Dropped Pants Shuffle”.

The condoms found are the known as ‘Teddy Rossevelts’, or ‘Rough and Ready’ by some.

For shame, Republicans, for shame.

.

This is a brand new low for the Obama camp.  In fact, it was so low that I did not even believe it at first, but it's true: the democrats have thrown away thousands of USA flags from the DNC.  See my sources below.  Can you believe it? That the democrats actually did this?  Personally, I think this is disgusting and I demand an answer.  Well, according to the Brake Blog (linked here), the dems claimed the McCain camp "stole" the flags.  How ridiculous.  See my 1st source below for a great opinion on this.

According to AmericanFlags.com, a flag should never be thrown in the trash.  You can read more about flag etiquette on their website.  I find it disgustingly unpatriotic for Obama (who has already proved he is unpatriotic by befriending terrorists and racists) to prove yet again he has no respect for our country..

Source 1: http://darkegop.blogspot.com/2008/09/dems-and-obama-throw-away-12000-us.html 
Source 2: http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/06/mccain-camp-to-chastise-dems-for-discarding-american-flags/

I love watching the angling, the maneuvering, the positioning and snarking that are such a huge part of the election process.  No matter your political beliefs and values, it is always a thrill to watch the process (OK maybe a thrill is too dramatic if you have a life outside of potty training anf laundry, but just roll with it for the sake of my narrative).  Every once in a while, one team makes a gaffe, and the other team gloms onto it, turning a passing political comment into one of the soundbites of the season.  Ok...so remember that old "clinging to guns and religion" fiasco that Obama's people worked so diligently to smooth over?

Let's just say that hillbillies with corncob pipes who cling to guns, religion,  and Waylon Jennings albums will love THIS story!  Like or Loathe McCain, but give credit where credit is due- the campaign staffer who came up with this gem deserves a prize (Might I suggest dinner for 2 at TGI Friday's- the middle ground restaurant of choice for everyone who is rich enough to eat at a restaurant that doesn't have a drive thru, yet is not sophisticated enough to avoid American chain dining- HA!  Brilliant!)

Footnote: the Obama camp claims the flags were stolen as part of a  nefarious plot by the McCain camp.  If this is the case, kudos to the McCain team for your sophisticated use of Veterans and Boy Scouts in your evil, evil scheme.  Muwa-ahaha-ahaha.

Oh... and what's up with Oprah.  I mean I know that it's a national understanding that her people will handle the gift bags and luxury suites at an Obama inaguration, but what's with the Palin snub?

She says she will not use her show as a political platform for either candidate, although Obama has been a guest on her show twice in the last two years.  To be fair he, has not been on since announcing his candidacy.  However, every idiot (including this one) knows that an Oprah endorsement of dog poop would make it the hardest commodity to find.  The Oprah seal of approval is as good as gold.  The idiot pundit knows that Oprah is aware of this.  She doesn't want to expose Palin to her entire demographic because she knows how many people tune in every day.

Hey Oprah- how about just saying- No thanks, Palin.  I have already decreed that Oprah watchers shall vote for Obama and no other.  Dissenters will be shot on site- love it!!

Can you imagine if Gayle King were a Rebub on the DL...HA!

Foxnews covers the story

They recycle everything but the American Flag. Couldn't they have been used again? Oh, wait, we're talking about liberals and democrats here. They have no use for the flag unless it's to score points.

This morning, Republicans tell me that a worker at Invesco Field in Denver saved thousands of unused flags from the Democratic National Convention that were headed for the garbage. Guerrilla campaigning. They will use these flags at their own event today in Colorado Springs with John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Before McCain speaks today, veterans will haul these garbage bags filled with flags out onto the stage — with dramatic effect, no doubt — and tell the story.

“What you see in the picture I sent you is less than half of total flags,” a Republican official emailed. “We estimate the total number to be around 12,000 small flags and one full size 3×5 flag.”

I’m not sure what the DNC was supposed to do with unused hand-flags, frankly. But the Republicans are obviously questioning someone’s patriotism here.

Not sure what to do with them? Obviously he's a liberal also.

Source

Flag Etiquette

Fox News has the breaking story today:

McCain Camp to Chastise Dems for Discarding American Flags

John McCain’s campaign prepared to accuse Democrats on Saturday of leaving behind 12,000 miniature American flags after Barack Obama’s nomination acceptance speech last Thursday in Denver.

Boy Scouts have arrived with 84 trash bags full of bundles of flags at the site of a McCain rally scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. local time in Colorado Springs.

The campaign says the flags were recovered from Invesco Field after the Democrats concluded their convention there, and they are going to be used as part of the warm-up ceremonies before McCain takes the stage for the rally.

Don't forget, he forgets to raise his right arm during the National Anthem.  It's all above his pay grade.

UPDATE:

Let's not forget these images and how they relate to McCain, Obama, and this great country:

- Photo of the discarded flags after "The One's" Invesco Field speech

- Obama's friend, fellow board member, neighbor, and host of his political 'coming out party', Bill Ayers, with flag under foot:

- Obama NOT putting his hand over his heart during the National Anthem:

And finally, a REAL AMERICAN HERO AND PATRIOT, Senator John S. McCain's remarks during the 1988 RNC:

As part of the change in treatment, the Vietnamese allowed some prisoners to receive packages from home. In some of these packages were handkerchiefs, scarves and other items of clothing. Mike got himself a piece of white cloth and a piece of red cloth and fashioned himself a bamboo needle. Over a period of a couple of months, he sewed the American flag on the inside of his shirt.

Every afternoon, before we had a bowl of soup, we would hang Mike's shirt on the wall of our cell, and say the Pledge of Allegiance. I know that saying the Pledge of Allegiance may not seem the most important or meaningful part of our day now. But I can assure you that -- for those men in that stark prison cell -- it was indeed the most important and meaningful event of our day.

One day, the Vietnamese searched our cell and discovered Mike's shirt with the flag sewn inside, and removed it. That evening they returned, opened the door of the cell, called for Mike Christian to come out, closed the door of the cell, and for the benefit of all of us, beat Mike Christian severely for the next couple of hours.

Then they opened the door of the cell and threw him back inside. He was not in good shape. We tried to comfort and take care of him as well as we could. The cell in which we lived had a concrete slab in the middle on which we slept. Four naked light bulbs hung in each corner of the room.

After things quieted down, I went to lie down to go to sleep. As I did, I happened to look in the corner of the room. Sitting there beneath that dim light bulb, with a piece of white cloth, a piece of red cloth, another shirt and his bamboo needle, was my friend mike Christian. Sitting there, with his eyes almost shut from his beating , making another American flag. He was not making that flag because it made Mike Christian feel better. He was making that flag because he knew how important it was for us to be able to pledge our allegiance to our flag and our country.

Duty, Honor, Country. We must never forget those thousands of Americans who, with their courage, with their sacrifice, and with their lives, made those words live for all of us.

Click here for the entire speech.

He's McSame all right- the same patriot and lover of his country in the Hanoi Hilton and today.

Any questions?

Obama in Indiana

• Obama on Palin today: She's been a champion of earmarks, and now she's trying to claim "anti-earmark" mantle.  Come on, you can't just make stuff up! Suggests Team Obama is going to attack her like they've attacked McCain, and previously went after Hillary -- on the issues.
• Triumph the insult comic dog takes on the RNC, including Pawlenty, Rove, Gingrich, Lieberman and many delegates.  Hilarious.
• Politico: Obama and McCain to appear together at ground zero on 9/11, and later at an event hosted by Time.
• FOX News apologizes for pushing false story that flags were tossed in garbage after DNC.  It claims the story was just a joke by the infamous Carl Cameron.
• Massive Government Bail-out of Fannie and Freddie. Bush Administration to orchestrate largest government bail-out in history by taking over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Management teams and boards of directors would be replaced and shareholders would have their interests virtually wiped out.  Huge potential liabilities of the companies could cost taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.  This is the second recent Bush bail-out, following its rescue of Bear Stearns earlier this year.
• Economy: Jobless rate rises above 6% - highest in 5 years.
• FDIC takes over 11th failed bank of this year, Silver State Bank. As a result, John McCain's son, Andrew McCain, resigned as a director of Silver State Bank.
• An 8/30 article worth revisting:  Alan Blinder argues history is siding with Obama's economic plan and policies.
• AP: State GOP leaders of Alaska confirm they were never contacted by McCain campaign before Palin was selected, raising more questions about the vetting process, and McCain's reckless decision-making.
• David Frum of the National Review criticizes Team McCain for hiding Sarah Palin from the press.  He argues it's the same arrogant approach of the Bush-Cheney administration, in which McCain communications manager Nicole Wallace had a key role.  Hiding doesn't persuade anyone, and voters will notice that you are indeed hiding.
• Mike Murphy, the former McCain aide who had his remarks inadvertently picked up on his hot mic along with Peggy Noonan last week while speaking critically of the Palin pick, stands by his criticism and explains why the politics of it don't make sense in a Democratic year.
• The Economist.  McCain's choice of Palin raises serious questions about his judgment.

• Newsweek: Team McCain and its allies move quickly to shut down the Alaska state investigator's TrooperGate abuse of power investigation.
• Request by Palin business associate to have his divorce records sealed contains no smoking gun, according to The Smoking Gun.

]]> http://michilines.wordpress.com/?p=1243 Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:21:54 +0000 michelle http://michilines.wordpress.com/?p=1243 Video from a Republican party competition.

I wonder if  the winner will point out that the American flag means a souvinier to get an autograph from the president, or an opportunity to make a buck by manufacturing doormats for the president to walk on, or does the flag mean business opportunity in paying Chinese slave wages to make clothing with flags on it.  Or perhaps just little flags to hang on the end of a 2x4 hanging out of the back of your pickup truck.

And of course they schedule the pledge for primetime -- instead of at the beginning of the ceremony.

While I was unable to design the flags completely out of M&Ms, the candy has and does make black and white candies; just on special occasions. I wanted to show the relationship between an internationally known candy and perhaps beloved candy in connection with an event that brings countries together... if only for two weeks. (This is perhaps a better advertising ploy more than anything.)

I figure, why wait until the holiday season to put up a Christmas tree and string lights up to be able to enjoy them. Put them on whatever is available. In my case, it was the bottom of a chair; the perfect place to be able to lay down and look up.

I took it as a challenge when we were told that toys have to be used well in a photo in order for them to work. I have always loved this fountain and have wanted to take a photo of it, but never knew how or to make it unique enough... I guess I figured it out. I like how I positioned them around a "bend" in the "stream" and the "waterfall" in the background is still visible.

At Skyline Promotions, we have provided businesses here in Florida and around the country with giant advertising balloons and inflatables since 1988.  Our customers include retail stores, car dealerships, restaurants, fitness centers, hotels, real estate developers, apartment complexes, banks...in short, any business who is trying to attract business traffic to their location.

We offer competitive pricing, attractive and clean balloons, and the best service...most service calls are handled within a few hours!  Some companies will guarantee the lowest price...but what good is that if they can't provide quality service?

For more information and a free consultation, please contact us at 800-992-2759 (locally 813-870-2780) or by email: airhead@skylinepromotions.com.

The name of our home on the Playa is Open Kitchen Camp. The plan is to make a lot of very excellent food, and share it with anyone who wants to stop by. This is a lot like what these two do at home, so they're natural at it. No one ever turns down Christine's cooking.

We've got extra french toast, so we bring it around to our neighbors. It's so easy to make friends here.

Shannon's actually in the final stages of (hopefully) becoming a BRC Ranger. The Rangers are here to keep the peace, so the police don't usually have to. He's the kind of guy they're looking for, big, smart and friendly.

Everyone here is ready for a perfect day, and today is perfect. I hear someone got good pictures yesterday of a huge dust devil with a tent stuck in it, way off the ground.

It's time to get on a bike and disappear into all of this.

Here's what Open Kitchen Camp looks like from the top pf a nearby structure (after the storm clean-up):

Burning man is different things to different people. I'm discovering what it is to me.

• A place where people can be as expressive as they want to, in any way. It's fun to watch, but talking to or joining them is better. Jump into the chicken-shaped car. Teach someone a new trampoline move. Ask about the flaming hula-hoop.
• A place where people fix things for each other, just because they notice something broken. And clean up random trash just because they see it. (You try to be careful, but sometimes the wind takes something.)
• ...but most of all, it's a place where you can do handstands several stories off the ground without anyone calling the police.

Many of the art structures can be climbed on. Most of them don't have handrails. Shannon and I spend the better part of the day out on the Playa, finding random fun everywhere.

Sometimes we wish we had brought a camera, and sometimes we're glad we didn't. Anyway, someone's usually got one.

Robotics is a funny thing. In order to make one work, you need to take into account everything you know about the environment it's going to be facing.

By the time we get back, we're ready for some shade-time, and I've got a full understanding of the environment in which this robot needs to survive.

It needs modification, or it won't work. First, some serious dust shielding.

Next, I add some extra electronics, pulled from a few small devices I thought to bring with me.

What are these for? Well, there's more to the environment than dust (though there is a whole lot of that). Everywhere you go, there's the "m-Ch-m-Ch-m-Ch" sound of dance clubs. Robots need a way to work with that too.

...so now it's ready. Just waiting for the sun to go down.

Besides running an open kitchen, Shannon and Christine have done an art project for the Playa. This year's theme is the American Dream. C&S have made a structure out of flags, and attached markers, so people can write what the American Dream is to them.

Cars aren't typically allowed on this part of the Playa, but we got permission to use one to transport the project.

Here's my contribution to the artwork:

Extra points if you recognize the image.

As soon as it's done, we head straight back to run the kitchen! Christine's made mushroom risotto, and she's got slaves (including me) cutting up fruit for the sangria.

Again, it's really easy to make friends. People we've never met before stop in to have dinner with us.

The smoke detector's been disabled again, of course.

Partway through dinner Christine commands me to do a handstand on a camp chair.
"I'm not your trained monkey!" I reply, and then do exactly as I'm told.

A strange thing about this crowd is that people are hungry for science. They like it. All these hobbies that made it impossible to get a date in high school have suddenly become valuable skills in the desert.

So another way I've been making friends is to have the telescope out when it's dark. Jupiter is showing off, and you can see moons all around it.

I've had this red telescope since I was eleven.

If you've got a telescope, a lot of sangria and a friendly audience, here's something useful to know: Nearly all of Jupiter's moons are named after his... well, conquests. It's a good thing he was so busy; it makes for excellent and lively conversation.

Tonight we also get to celebrate. Shannon's passed his training and tests with flying colors.

We never doubted he would.

Once the food is gone and the kitchen closed, the three of us head out to play. One of the highlights is the sculpture by the Flaming Lotus Girls. There are levers all over it which let you control the flame jets.

It's not all that safe, and I like it.

We head back around 11:30, and have some more tasty food, courtesy of Christine and my Muse. Then Shannon and I put the robot on the back of his bike and head out. Christine's the smartest one. She's going to sleep.

So it actually worked. The best thing about running the robot was just letting it wander off. People would cluster around it, and then jump back when it freaked out.

"Hey, and angry little ball!"
"He's not angry... look, he's lost."
"Aw, he just wants to find his home."

At one point, it rolls over and leans against a pair of legs in pink fishnets. Then it runs away, dodges the rest of us, and comes back to her.

"Hey, I think he's in love with me. Cool."
"I want one."

I got a tiny clip of low-quality video, but mostly left the camera off and just enjoyed.

We met some very fun people over the robot's antics.

When the robot gets sleepy, we put it back on the bike and start riding out into the desert. Just straight out, away from lights and sound.

If you ever want to be alone, it's really easy. And the stars are fantastic. That sand, however, can make for (WHAM! ow.) slow riding.

If you're wondering what all of this would looks like from far far above the ground, here you go:

Nothing's allowed to be taller than the Man, but we're really close at the moment.

Normally a huge flash of fire in the distance means paperwork for someone. Not here.

We get back after 3, and go to sleep. Outside the window there's a quiet-ish dance club and an excellent moon.

Random assertion: Food and Love are two of the universal languages. Sometimes, they're one.

Steganographic data: 1824/3.5/18.5

Days remaining in Secret Plan 158: 7
(Note: As I'm posting this, I'm already at the end of SP158, and about 30 minutes from heading back to work. Don't worry, I'll finish the other posts.)

First on the list of things I've noticed is a relatively new company's plans to make Napoleonic decals. The idea of making Napoleonic decals is something I've mused about here before but a couple of obstacles prevented me progressing any further. Now Alban Miniatures has dipped its toes in the water with some decals for Peninsular War British starting with the 95th Rifles. Each pack contains 51 back pack decals and 48 canteen decals. And, according to the announcement on TMP, they have plans to add further decals for more British regiments and French campaign dress. I wonder if these nice people can be convinced to produce some Prussian decals? It's always worth asking, the worst they can do is say no...

Next I've noticed that Crusader Miniatures has ventured into the increasing crowded market for 28mm French Napoleonics. At present, the first packs in the range look set to tackle the stalwart march/attack pose for French line infantry. So far, five packs have been announced:

• RFH021 - Napoleonic French - Centre Company (eight figures)
• RFH022 - Napoleonic French - Flank Company (eight figures)
• RFH023 - Napoleonic French - Grenadier Company in Bearskins (eight figures)
• RFH024 - Napoleonic French - Command in Shako (four figures)
• RFH025 - Napoleonic French - Command in Bicorne (four figures)

It'll be interesting to see how these figures turn out in the flesh. I know plenty of people like sculptor Mark Simms' Seven Years Wars range.

Moving on, I'm in the throes some three-cornered post-holiday e-mail correspondence with Peter F. at Calpe Towers and Grahame at GMB Flags. With the forthcoming Calpe Saxons in mind, Grahame has been working on flags to match and he's nearly finished the artwork. I'm hoping to persaude him to let me post some preview pictures of the flags here (but they'd obviously be fritzed in some way so naughty people can't download and use them).

And I'll leave you with a couple of great examples of the 28mm Napoleonic figure painters art from recent threads on Steven Dean's forum: check out this Perry French officer painted by Carl Robson (brother of Martin) and this is Sascha Herm's first ever complete painted Napoleonic unit (hard to believe, isn't it?). Enjoy the artistry.

It's crazy - everywhere, I mean EVERYwhere, Turkish flags are flying.  Flags down the side of buildings, in apartment windows, in the windows of Gucci, Prada, Zara stores, hanging above the streets, out of car windows, off of city buses.  It was a sight you could not miss.  Painting the town red took on a new definition for me on Saturday.  

See for yourself: Zafer Bayrami - flags everywhere

The Cyclone roller coaster. Lest it be gone...it will not be forgotten. 3 exposure HDR. Click image for larger view, click again to zoom for full detail.

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The following is a Happy Birthday Banner for young or old alike.

And lastly if your having a Garage Sale why not tell them to follow the signs and the Signal Flags to find your place.

The ‘Texas Star’ Ferris Wheel on the State Fair Grounds in Dallas.  It’s HUGE!!

Officially, according to regulations, regular Army units were authorized just three flags: two national flags and a state flag. The first U.S. flag was a huge 36-by-20-foot heavy-bunting flag intended to fly on a pole over camp or garrison. The Stars and Stripes that units carried into battle were 6-by-6 on a 19-foot staff.

According to Army regulations in 1861, "The second, or regimental color, to be blue, with the arms of the United States embroidered in silk on the center. The name of the regiment on a scroll, underneath the eagle."Because largely ethnic units, such as Irish, German or Italian, usually were state volunteers, they freely deviated from these federal rules. Some carried no blue flag. Some of the Irish carried the Stars and Stripes, the blue New York flag and a green regimental flag. Other flags might be used as guidons at the end of regimental lines.

Above:

Among the most recognizable regimental flags were the green silk flags of the Irish Brigade. At least three regiments of the Irish Brigade officially carried green flags: the 63rd Regiment, New York Volunteers; the 69th Regiment, New York Volunteers; and the 88th Regiment, New York Volunteers.A final 10th Regiment, New York Volunteers, was partially organized and then folded into the existing Irish units.As casualties among the Irish mounted in 1862, the 29th Massachusetts Regiment was added to the brigade, but this unit was not Irish. The 29th was replaced by the 28th Massachusetts, and then the 116th Pennsylvania joined the Irish Brigade. These units were almost entirely composed of Irishmen.

Confusion sometimes exists concerning the very names of these units, as accounts often refer to the 63rd Volunteer Infantry or the 69th Militia. As if that weren't enough, the first Irish unit formed, the 63rd, is called the 3rd Irish (Independent) Regiment.The 69th is called the 1st Irish Regiment, and the 37th New York Irish Rifles is called the 2nd Irish Regiment.To further add to the confusion, the 23rd Illinois Volunteers is sometimes referred to as the "Irish Brigade of the West."As flags were damaged beyond repair in battle or otherwise replaced, the lineage of the flags is denoted by a number, such as "the first Irish colors" for the first green flag carried by the unit.Most is known about the green flags of the 63rd, 69th and 88th New York Volunteers. The 28th Massachusetts apparently also carried a green flag, but the 116th Pennsylvania did not. The green regimental colors were rich in symbolism.

Most featured the Brian Boru harp, the symbol of the only king of a united Ireland, who died in battle in 1014. The sunburst often is above the harp, a symbol of hope and good times common among the American Fenians.

Shamrocks appear on several flags, in reference to the green hills of Ireland and its Catholic heritage. Many flags have patriotic Irish mottos such as "Riamh Nar Druid O Spairn Iann’" - "Who never retreated from the clash of lances."Many of the green flags were presented to the regiments by wealthy donors. The most costly and ornate green flags, meant for presentation and ceremonies but not battle, were made by Tiffany Co.

How important can these flags be?

During the war, their value was inestimable. Brevet Brig. Gen. Ezra Carman, 13th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, recalls this scene at Antietam: "The ranks of [Thomas] Meagher's [Irish] Brigade had been greatly thinned. The 69th New York had nearly melted away but a few [troopers] were left, huddling about its two colors, when one of the enemy shouted from the Sunken Road: 'Bring them colors in here,' upon which the two color bearers instantly advanced a few steps, shook their colors in the very face of the enemy and replied: 'Come and take them you damned rebels.'"Capt. D.P. Conyngham wrote about "the green flag" at Antietam. "[It] was completely riddled, and it appeared certain death to anyone to bear it, for eight color bearers had already fallen."The flags of the Irish Brigade, like other brigade banners, made the units recognizable and represented the bravery of the men who fought beneath them. At Fredericksburg, Confederate Gen. George Pickett marveled at the bravery of the Irish.

"The brilliant assault on Marye's Heights of their Irish Brigade was beyond description. ... We forgot they were fighting us, and cheer after cheer at their fearlessness went up all along our lines."After Fredericksburg, though, some of the Irish feared they had lost their colors and shamed the brigade.

2nd Irish Color, 69th NYSV

Conyngham wrote: "Next day the color-sergeant was found sitting up against a tree, dead, and his hands clasped upon his chest, as if protecting something. Near him was the staff of the missing flag. When removing the body, the men found the flag wrapped around it, with a bullet hole right through it and his heart."

Anyone with interest in the Irish Brigade will appreciate the historical memoirs and letters used, the carefully documented illustrations and the detailed endnotes and references in a recent book about the green flags: "Blue for the Union and Green for Ireland: The Civil War Flags of the 63rd New York Volunteers, Irish Brigade," written by Peter J. Lysy and published by the Archives of the University of Notre Dame.

John E. Carey is descended from members of the Irish Brigade. He is a writer in Arlington, Virginia.

I was left with an impression that to argue that Great Britain is a nation – which is not, by the way, what I believe – meets with incomprehension in serious political debate. This is despite the fact that 'the country' and the state as a whole are almost always referred to in national political discourse as 'Britain'; and the New Labour government has expended vast amounts of time, effort and money trying to invent and inculcate concepts such as 'British values', 'Britishness' and, indeed, British national identity that are supposed to unite all the peoples of the kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

And this is also despite the fact that Team GB – the 'Great Britain' Olympic team – returned home earlier this week to the rapturous acclaim of what was referred to by the media as 'the nation', Union Flags draped all over them; to be followed in subsequent days by patriotic receptions of their athletes from the peoples of Scotland and Wales with not a Union Flag in sight but only Saltires and Red Dragons. No proposals yet for a victory parade for the triumphant English athletes, although we have been promised a parade in London in October for all of Team GB. Understandably, this absence of an English parade, along with the handing out of Union Jacks to people attending receptions of English athletes in their local areas, has been greeted with howls of 'foul play'.

But it's clear that the Great Britain celebrations are meant to do double duty as the English celebrations. There's something rather unrealistic about demanding or hoping that we might be allowed to fête our triumphant English athletes as English when they're supposed to be representing Great Britain. This would be an 'unnecessary' duplication – precisely because Great Britain is already the double of England; and because the patriotic pride we take in Team GB is the publicly acceptable expression of English pride in her athletes. Look at the kit those athletes are wearing: it's the England football kit – white tops with red trim; blue trousers. (Or is England's football kit really in the British colours? But don't get me on to the subject of the football team GB again!)

How can we unpack all of this? The UK (the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is not a nation: to advocate this idea would meet with even more derision or incomprehension than to suggest that Great Britain as such is a nation. Depending on whether you regard Great Britain as a unitary nation, as a political union of two nations (England and Scotland), or indeed of three (England, Scotland and Wales), then the UK is a political union between – a state composed of – from one to three nations plus part of another (Ireland).

Hardly surprising, then, that 'the UK' is not used as the name for the Olympic team: it's not a nation and, therefore, cannot be a channel of national pride. 'Britain', on the other hand (as opposed to 'Great Britain'), is used informally as a synonym for the UK, while taking on the connotations of nationhood associated with 'Great Britain'. This is why it is also a synonym for what national politicians refer to as 'the country': a term which, in its very imprecision, also encompasses and binds together the concepts of the UK state and of nationhood but avoids officially using the term 'nation' for the UK. Similarly, 'Britain', informally, is described as 'the nation' even when it refers to the UK.

So why isn't 'Britain', rather than 'Great Britain', the name of the Olympic team, as this would at least imply the inclusion of athletes from Northern Ireland, as well as from other parts of the so-called 'British Isles' that are not formally part of the UK, such as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man? Well, I suppose it's because – formally – 'Britain' is the name neither of a state nor of a nation; whereas Great Britain appears to be a bit of both: literally a bit of – part of – the official name of the UK state, and (to judge from its name at least) an integral nation; that is, one of the two nations that joined together to form the UK.

But Great Britain is also, as I said above, the double of England. It's the place within which the 'subjective' national identity of the English (how they see themselves and what they call themselves as a 'great' nation), the 'objective' identity of the state (a Union of two to four nations greater than England, but of which England is the greater part) and the physical territory of the 'country' (Britain) converge. But that place, increasingly, exists only in the subjectivity – in the minds – of the English (or at least some of them), not in objective reality.

Great Britain is the name that England gave to itself when it took over Scotland in the 1707 Union: it's the name of the 'dominion' of England (its territory and power) expanded to encompass the whole of Britain – 'Great' because it is 'Greater England'; a Union that consolidated the greatness of England as Britain. In the popular imagination of the English, from 1707 till recent times, Great Britain was a nation – was the nation – because it was synonymous with the nation of England; the Union being imagined as an incorporation of Scotland into the English state, which is what it effectively was if you consider only aspects such as parliament, the executive and sovereignty – although Scotland retained many other aspects of separate civic nationhood, such as its own legal and education systems, and established church.

So, for England, Great Britain became the (English) nation: an imaginative fusion – union – of the English national identity, the political state, and the territory of Britain. But the point is the English did invest their sense of national identity into Great Britain to the extent that 'England' and 'Great Britain' became indistinguishable and interchangeable. For the Scots, this meant that 'Great Britain' always really meant just England, and its domination and subordination of Scotland through the apparatus of the 'British' state. However, for the English, this genuinely implied a blending of national identities – a pouring and offering out of Englishness into and for Britain – creating something new: a British nation and nationhood within which the Scots and the Welsh were also taken up; but which, subjectively, was of necessity the extension of Englishness to 'Britain as a whole' (Great Britain), because that imagined common Britishness was imagined through the minds of the English – the controllers of the narrative of British identity.

Nothing essentially changed in this dynamic when Ireland was added to the Union in 1801. The name of the state may have changed but it remained 'Great Britain' in its core identity: the national identity of the English as subjectively extended and merged into 'Britain as a whole', making Ireland, too (and now Northern Ireland), 'really' part of Great Britain: British; British Ireland. 'Really' in the sense that, insofar as it lived as a nation at all, this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (this union of Ireland with Great Britain, which was an incorporation of Ireland into the Union that was Great Britain) fully had the character of nationhood only in the minds of the English, for whom Great Britain was the objective reflection – the image, the double – of their own nation and the greatness of England.

The British 'project' – the realisation of Britain as a 'great nation' through Great Britain, the Empire and now the attempt to encapsulate the philosophical and political 'greatness' that is Britishness – has, therefore, always been essentially an English project. Not only in the objective sense that the English 'as a nation' somehow owned, drove and dominated the British adventure; but because the very Britishness of that project was a projection of the English: a creation of something, in their eyes, greater than themselves but of themselves, which in turn conferred greatness (the greatness of Britain) upon them.

And so now, too, our Olympians have gone out to the world and returned home in greatness, battles won. 'Our' Olympians, I say? Those of England or those of Great Britain?

For now, they are those of England and those of Great Britain; and our celebrations must do double duty for our athletes' Englishness and Britishness – including the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish among them in whom, as Great Britons, we English also take national pride.

But the objective political reality which, for 300 years, has sustained the Great British dream is rapidly unravelling. As those displays of Scottish and Welsh patriotic pride revealed, it's increasingly only the English who see themselves as British and their country as Great Britain. And then again, fewer and fewer of them. When that objective political union that binds England to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland fully dissolves, then maybe we can have our celebration of great English achievements. Or maybe, our celebrating English glories as English, not British, will be the thing that finally puts an end to the British project: the projection of our English ambitions and identity onto Great Britain.

It's the desire to be greater than ourselves that led to Great Britain. Maybe England's finest hour will be when we accept that true greatness is just to be ourselves. And to achieve all that we are capable of – for ourselves and our country – in a spirit of friendship to others and personal striving that has its meaning in itself.