A flag is an image, an icon for a nation to present to the world. It elicits unity, hope, conquest, peace, pride, pertinence, and inspiration. This symbol of honor represents the unalterable features of a certain people such as culture, language, politics, history, and region. Flags were used to identify communities and groups, but now they are used for nations, sports, religion, politics, and more.
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The Puerto Rican flag has quite a story to its creation. The modern flag is result of the naming of “Commonwealth” after the US invasion during the Spanish American War and the administration of the first elected governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Muños Marín. The similarity with the Cuban flag was meant to resemble the unison in escaping the totalitarian Spanish rule. The flag was constructed by exiled Puerto Ricans that retreated to New York due to the revolt “Grito de Lares”. The flag was an alternating three red and two white bands with a light blue triangle on the left and a five pointed white star centered in the triangle. The blue was later changed to a darker one to assimilate to the USA flag, which in turn caused turmoil and debate as can still be seen today. The white star is the commonwealth, the triangle is the three branches of government, the red stripe is the blood that drives the people, and the white stripe is the rights and freedom for everyone. This is only the objective point of view stripped of emotion for an emblem that has a greater meaning than what can simply be observed.
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The Puerto Rican flag is not a flag and not just a symbol. This knit emblem in the sunlit bright blue sky is the heart of a nation. The heart of the farmer, the slave, the Spanish conqueror, the foreigner, the brother, sister, cousin, aunt, uncle, grandfather, and grandmother that lives and breathes for the 100 x 35 miles of paradise.
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The burning passion that runs through the veins and tears when seeing the red and white stripes combined with the single white star above the blue triangle being tumbled and ruffled by the wind of the coast. The love for an identity like no other that is alarmingly loud with the “pandereta, conga, maracas, bongo, congo, guitarra, cuatro, güiro” and “trompetas”. The rhythm and tempo that forces one to walk to the beat of any song. The salsa, merengue, and bachata that fills the dancefloor or living room with a single tap of percussion. “La isla del encanto” (the island of enchantment) that is hidden from the world, but yet the face and gem of the well-known Caribbean Sea. The pride and responsibility one carries to make that single star shine across the world wither be with music, art, faith, honor, disposition, professional excellence, voice, or silence. For what is internationally called a flag is the home, origin, and heart of a unique culture and people that is unmistakably paralleled by no other.
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References:
1) "Importance of a Flag." Importance of a Flag. N.p., n.d. 2016. http://www.artic.edu/~hkang2/importanceofflag.htm
2) "Flags and Their Importance." Flags and Their Importance. N.p., n.d. 2016. http://www.united-states-flag.com/flags-and-their-importance.html
3) "Puerto Rico's Flag." Puerto Rican Flag. N.p., n.d. 2016. http://www.topuertorico.org/reference/flag.shtml
1) "Importance of a Flag." Importance of a Flag. N.p., n.d. 2016. http://www.artic.edu/~hkang2/importanceofflag.htm
2) "Flags and Their Importance." Flags and Their Importance. N.p., n.d. 2016. http://www.united-states-flag.com/flags-and-their-importance.html
3) "Puerto Rico's Flag." Puerto Rican Flag. N.p., n.d. 2016. http://www.topuertorico.org/reference/flag.shtml