My Buddy hart Williams Writes:
Monday, July 04, 2005
A LITTLE STORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
or HAPPY FOURTH OF JULYBehind Mr. Bush on the podium Tuesday night was a strange insignia: it wasn’t the flag of the United States Army, which is blue on a white field, with the number “1775” below. No: it is the “new” seal of the Army, which has been altered recently. It used to have “1778” in roman numerals at the bottom.
The original War Office seal was authorized by the Continental Congress on May 8, 1779. The Army flag was given to the Secretary of the Army by Vice President Nixon on June 13, 1956.
But you probably didn’t notice on that Seal a sword upraised in the center, on top of which is something that looks like a red stocking cap or a red Smurf cap.What, you might ask, the heck is THAT thing?
So glad you asked: This is a very ancient symbol of Freedom. It is called the “Phrygian Cap” or a “Liberty Cap.” You might recognize it from the French Revolution.
But, for the United States, it is very special part of our heritage. Originally, it was worn by the Goddess of Liberty, and she wears the Liberty Cap on our first national coin, the “Liberty Cap Penny.”
The Sons of Liberty in Boston popularized the Liberty Cap: It was a symbol of Freedom that a “Classical” culture could understand. The metaphor, and the importation of the Roman Goddess of Liberty were important symbols during the Revolution. Why? The Phrygian cap was worn during Roman Empire by former slaves who had been emancipated by their master and whose descendants were therefore considered citizens of the Empire.
Libertas was a goddess whose image was on the denarius coin — which was a day’s wages for a laborer. She was symbolized by a broken jug — to show she shattered confinement — with an independent cat at her feet, and she wore the Phrygian Cap. It is a very old association.
By 1855, combined with several parallel images, the Goddess Libertas would morph into “Lady Freedom” whose statue would top the U.S. Capital dome — but not before her Liberty Cap was removed and replaced by a helmet at the demand of Secretary of War (and future President of the Confederacy) Jefferson Davis.
Until that day, and until the Statue of Liberty was erected, Lady Liberty always wore the Phrygian cap. For some reason, we have forgotten it — the French Revolution was so impressed that they borrowed it from OURs!* So maybe this is a good Fourth of July to remember the Liberty Cap and the Goddess of Liberty, and what they actually mean.
Or, you could just drink a lot of beer.
Courage.
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* NOTE: Virtually all French websites have conveniently forgotten the American connection of the Liberty Cap to the French Revolution, a salutary example of the manner in which history is rewritten according to the emotional needs of the audience. France, as the last “classical” culture in Europe is very proud of their connection to Rome. The American connection is, in this case, a national inconvenience. Still, it is NOT worth boycotting French goods or eating “liberty fries.” The land of Phrygia, by the by, lies on the northern, Black Sea coast of modern Turkey, and from it we derive the story of the “Gordian Knot” and the tale of an early king of Phrygia, King Midas. There is an implication that the Phrygian cap was created to hide Midas’ donkey ears (from the last part of the legend).
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Proving Wankus Hasn’t Lost His Sense of Humor, He Responds:C’mon man, at least give me a link. I talked about you (positively) the other day and gave you a link for cryin’ out loud. Let’s review:
1. Wankus has a job at KSEX……Suitcase pimps go on the road with their girls….uuum wait.
–>Yes, has KSEX and has been going on the road for adult events well before Tyler, including with features. It’s a win-win with me. Spend time with my girl and have more interesting content for the radio show.
2. Suitcase pimps all used to be musicians, Wankus was never….ummmm….
–>Yes, and still is. Your point?
3. Suitcase pimps start blogs and yak about going on the road with their girl Wankus doesn’t have a blo……ummm
–>Poor Monstar, Gram Ponante and scattered others who didn’t realize they were suitcase pimps until they read your site.
4. Suitcase pimps all insist on taking the microphone and introducing their girl Wankus would never….ummmm
–>Never took the microphone once when Tyler was on the road. Made her custom intros but that’s just because 85% of club DJs suck ass, talk to fast, call her TAYLOR and scattered other horrible misrepresentations. I have also done countless intros for many other girls including Ashton Moore, Rebecca Love and Leanne Reihavay
5. Suitcase Pimps all end up wanting to be porn directors, Wankus don’t…ummm
.–>Wrong again. Was directing well before I even met Tyler. Check the datebase my friend.
Never Mind
Mikey…you gotta do better then that. All good. You’re like a night at porn star karaoke. I love ya even when I hate ya!
Wankus
