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The word "vexillology" combines the Latin word for flag, vexillum and the suffix –ology meaning "study of". During the Classical Era of the Roman Empire, Romans used a flag-like object called a vexillum. The vexillum resembles the modern flag; however, the cloth drapes vertically from a horizontal edge, unlike the horizontally-flown flags most used today. As vexillology demonstrates the study of flags, the study of the American War Machine logo warrants explanation. |
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The main portion of the logo takes it's shape directly from the US flag. Recognized the world over, the American flag represents the modern day symbol of democracy. When anyone sees this symbol they can immediately make the connection to something American. The stars that represent the 50 states have been replaced with two other symbols that are explained next. |
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Finding a single symbol for war proved challenging. Why not use a gun, bullet or sword? A gun, while the most obvious choice to represent war, can also be used to hunt. This line of thought also applies to the bullet. Make no mistake, guns and bullets rule the battlefield but they are also used to hunt. So these two symbols are too ambiguous. |
A sword on the other hand only lends itself to killing people. No one hunts with a sword. A sword would prove to be a good symbol to represent 'War'. Although, today's modern military has all but removerd the sword, save ceremonies. So what do we use? The bomb answers this question. A bomb's sole purpose is to kill people in mass. It goes without saying, but no one hunts with a bomb, unless your prey is man. |
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The modern era marks man with the advent of the machine. Americans know too well the grinding of gears, the clunking of metal and the smell of grease that lubricates 'the machine'. To best represent 'the machine' a cog does the job, but not just any cog. Looking closely at this symbol reveals 13 teeth on the cog. These 13 teeth represent the 13 stars on the original 'Betsy Ross' flag. If there every was a flag that represented the best in America, it would have to be the 'Betsy Ross', 13 stars and stripes. |
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Bringing all three of these symbols together, 'American', 'War' and 'Machine' sheds light on present day policies. America once stood for a democracy people the world over would flock to. As of late, that democracy hides a greedy face. Today, the face of capitalism outweights any democracy, the 'Founding Father's' and verterans from every American conflict, ever fought for. American policy makers have the audacity to sing to the world an out-streached arm of freedom only to show it the cold iron fist of capitalism planting this flag on foreign soils. It is this flag that represents the America of this generation. Democrasize through capitalism.... 'Democracy via Imposition' stands as the American War Machine motto. |
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©2007 John W. Fanok, americanwarmachine.com |
