Tag: Spain

The Origin of the Ku Klux Klan Uniform

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Surprisingly, it was not the Ku Klux Klan that created the insignia of the ghostly white hooded robe as the uniform of the Ku Klux Klan as Hollywood was the first to portray this ensemble in the 1915 film The Birth of a Nation. The film was directed by David Wark Griffith, who wanted to portray the infamous Ku Klux Klan as modern Knights of the Round Table, directing his costume department to invent a rather frightening, single piece outfit with knight insignia (e.g. the Knights Templar crucifix etc.). These costumes were based upon the Christian flagellant society of Spain, who donned the capirote (pronounced “kah-pee-row-tay”), a pointed hooded headware worn during Easter processions as a means of penance. The costume became immensely popular and could be ordered from a catalog which Griffith setup to sell within. Shortly afterward, the Ku Klux Klan adopted these textiles as their official uniform

The Chinese Political Practice of Panda Diplomacy

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The Chinese government have a practice referred to as “panda diplomacy” which is designed to provide other nations with pandas, which are impossible to ascertain outside of China. China offers the gift of a panda or pandas to nations which it wishes to have strong diplomatic or economic ties with and is considered a high honor amongst world leaders as not many have received this gift and gesture of good will. Ownership is not permanent as China only leases pandas, it does not relinquish them outright. As of 2019, 27 zoos in 22 countries or territories currently feature pandas on loan from China including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Hong Kong, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, the U.K., and the U.S.. The concept of panda diplomacy is not a new one as evidence of the practice dates back to the Tang Dynasty, when Empress Wu Zetian sent a pair of pandas to Emperor Tenmu of Japan in 685 A.D.

The Typical Habits of North Korean Defectors

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30,000 people have managed to escape North Korea, most of them ending up in Seoul, South Korea because it acts as the closest analog to home in terms of culture, cuisine, and tradition. Many who have escaped refuse to provide an account to authorities or investigators for fear of retribution towards their families who are still living in North Korea. Seoul is approximately 75 kilometers from the North Korean border so most people fleeing North Korea make Seoul their target even if their final destination is somewhere further abroad (eg. the U.K., Singapore, Spain etc.)

Pablo Picasso’s Politically Charged Guernica Painting

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On April 26, 1937, Guernica, Spain was severely bombed due to civil conflict brought on by World War II. The Basque town of Guernica was openly hostile towards General Francisco Franco’s ideologies, and because of this, Franco unleashed a 3.5 hour bombing raid upon this defenseless city, with help from German allies. In total, 1650 people were killed, 900 injured, and most of the township was destroyed, an event which sparked international outrage. Pablo Picasso created a piece of artwork as sentiment towards anti-war and anti-violence entitled “Guernica”. Picasso understood that artwork and politics rarely go together hand in hand and so he created not a piece of aircraft and bombs but rather of horses and swords, as he was determined not to create artwork which could be used as propaganda in the future. The bull depicted within the painting is designed to represent Franco and his military powers and the suffering horses and weeping woman symbolize the people of Spain. Picasso’s Guernica work became a timeless masterpiece and a copy of it is on display at the United Nations world headquarters in New York City, United States of America. The Guernica painting was covered briefly with a veil during 2003 when U.S. General Colin Powell announced the United States’ decision to invade Iraq. The Guernica image was seen as incendiary commentary and therefore intolerable during this chaotic period. The Guernica painting has become a symbol of protest to violence, war, and military regimes, not just for every country in the world, but of the 20th century and beyond

The Peculiarity of Spanish King Philip II

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King Philip II of Spain was referred to as the “bureaucrat king” because he loved nothing more than to sit in a plain room with documents which he needed to read and sign. Philip II didn’t like human contact or interaction and made his court submit their requests to him via a written document even if they were in the next room. Philip II spoke very quietly and stared at those who spoke to him, often cited as making others feel uncomfortable. Philip II cared only of his empire and his religion of Catholicism and had no interest in building or maintaining relationships with others

Whale vs Human Being Underwater Time Frames

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Sperm whales make some of the longest dives achieved by mammals, lasting up to 90 minutes in length, whilst dolphins (which are technically whales as well) and other various types of whale can stay underwater for approximately 20 minutes. The current record for the longest time a human being has held their breath under water is 24 minutes and 3.45 seconds, achieved by Aleix Segura Vendrell of Spain in 2016

The Ancient Roman River of Memory Loss

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The Limia River in Galicia, Spain which is in the Ourense province was claimed to be cursed by the Ancient Celt’s and crossing this river was believed to cause the loss of one’s memory. In the year 135 B.C., the Roman forces led by General Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus reached the banks of the River Lethes, or as it is referred to in Spain, the river “Limia”, and proceeded no further with their invasion of Spain because the soldiers were afraid of losing their memories. Callaicus, single handedly dismantled this myth by crossing to the other side and then listing the names of all his soldiers one by one