Cover
Front Matter
Whatever Happened to the Great 1989-90 American Flag Desecration Uproar?
Robert Justin Goldstein, professor of political science at Oakdale University and author of several books and articles on censorship, political repression, and flag desecration—Rochester, Michigan
In June 1989 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional the Texas law against flag-burning, triggering an effort to amend the U.S. constitution. This article traces the history of that amendment to its defeat a year later, and subsequent events in the controversy through 1995. A previous version won the Driver Award in 1994.
The Use of Flags on Coastal Whaling Stations
Henry W. Moeller, a professor of oceanography, marine archaeology, and botany at Dowling Collage and author of “Shattering an American Myth: Unfurling the History of the American Flag”—Hampton Bay, New York
The signal flags used from the 1600s in America’s coastal whale fishery echoed those employed by the English, Dutch, and Basques on the other side of the Atlantic. Using signal towers on land helped alert communities to the presence of whales. This paper traces their use into the 1900s.
Symbolism in the Israel Defense Forces: A Brief Overview
Zvi Ruder, an Israeli national working in the U.S. and author of “The National Colors of the People of Israel”—Lexington, Massachusetts
The IDF utilizes three types of symbols on its flags and related devices: biblical, Zionist, and new symbols. This article describes the breadth of these symbols, and explains why the two most likely Israeli symbols—the Star of David and the menorah—are seldom employed.
The National Flag of Turkmenistan of 1992
Jiří Tenora, director of the Flag Cabinet Berlin and prominent European vexillologist—Berlin, Germany
In 1992 the former Soviet republic of Turkmenistan adopted a completely new flag, using as primary charges five “guls” or carpet medallions. The article explains the complex geometry and symbolism of the flag, including why the crescent points toward the hoist, unlike most other Islamic flags.
The Flags of Recreational Boating: A Preliminary Survey
Peter Edwards, director of Burgee Data Archive and past president of the Heraldry Society of Canada—Toronto, Ontario
During the past 275 years the thousands of yacht clubs in the world have shared a common symbol—a burgee. Individuals, club officers, and events all used flags. This article provides an overview of the subject and suggests a classification system.
End Matter
- Scot M. Guenter, Ph.D., Editor
- Jon T. Radel, Managing Editor
Editorial Board:
- Grace Rogers Cooper, Smithsonian Institution (emerita)
- Scot M. Guenter, San José State University
- Alistair B. Fraser, Pennsylvania State University
- John M. Purcell, Cleveland State University
Raven is a benefit of membership in NAVA.