This is a shot looking south down Guadalupe and shows four flags on the Plaza Lofts. I think their idea was to show the six flags that have flown over Texas (the Texas and U.S. flag are in front). These four flags (as every school kid and amusement park aficionado knows) are those of Spain, France, the Confederate States of America and Mexico. Adding our affiliation with the United States before and after the Civil War and our time as the Republic of Texas (nine short years from 1836 to 1845) you get to the 'six flags'. If native America peoples carried a banner into battle with the interlopers that is lost in this type of display and their dominion is not recognized. In case you are peering at this looking for the (controversy-inducing) Stars and Bars of the Confederacy: the flag is this one which was the original flag of the rebel states. (The Stars and Bars was apparently adopted from the Confederate Battle Flag later to look less like the U.S. flag.) I have no idea why this property (one of Austin's original new wave of downtown condos) decorated with all these flags but I have a pretty good idea why people who decide to display the flags use the one almost no one recognizes as the Confederate Flag.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Four Flags Over Downtown Austin
This is a shot looking south down Guadalupe and shows four flags on the Plaza Lofts. I think their idea was to show the six flags that have flown over Texas (the Texas and U.S. flag are in front). These four flags (as every school kid and amusement park aficionado knows) are those of Spain, France, the Confederate States of America and Mexico. Adding our affiliation with the United States before and after the Civil War and our time as the Republic of Texas (nine short years from 1836 to 1845) you get to the 'six flags'. If native America peoples carried a banner into battle with the interlopers that is lost in this type of display and their dominion is not recognized. In case you are peering at this looking for the (controversy-inducing) Stars and Bars of the Confederacy: the flag is this one which was the original flag of the rebel states. (The Stars and Bars was apparently adopted from the Confederate Battle Flag later to look less like the U.S. flag.) I have no idea why this property (one of Austin's original new wave of downtown condos) decorated with all these flags but I have a pretty good idea why people who decide to display the flags use the one almost no one recognizes as the Confederate Flag.
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Wow, I didn't remember the specific 6 flags of Texas from my Texas history. Certainly wouldn't have been able to identify the alternative confederate flag.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to visit Austin every morning through your wonderful blog. I grew upin Austin but left after UT and have lived in Los Angeles for the last 20 years. (CHeck out my daily photo blog if you are so inclined.) Thanks for all the great daily photos.
Cheers,
Laurie
I always have to look up this type of info to verify it before I write anything! Looked at your blog and bookmarked it. Great one.
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