For many of us who reside in the Northern Hemisphere, the month of March, annually, often qualifies itself as the “the month of chaos and confusion!” Why? Rarely, if ever, do the days follow any natural pattern or sequence. The entire month is notorious for being breezy or windy or whatever choice word one prefers to use to describe the air velocity. It can be calm one day and then chaotic the next – all accompanied by temperature extremes: cold, hot, moderate, warm and or freezing.
Definite chaos. Confirmed confusion. Variable levels of comfort that collectively satisfy very few – if any at all! Inconsistency and instability dominate each day. Precipitation can range from rain to sleet to snow to ice and sometimes all during the same day – then arrogantly repeating itself the following day – although not necessarily in the identical order! Bottom line (basic thought): March is unpredictable!
The jogger featured here today caught my attention after I had already selected the theme for this post entry here on ReNude Pride as March Mayhem. My reasoning for choosing his images is simple: opposites attract one another.
Jogging bare practitioner!
Obviously, he’s a bare practitioner with both confidence and pride! He is also comfortable posing for a video sharing his daily routine and his full body (wearing only shoes on his feet). Absolutely oblivious as to what else is happening in the rural world around him.
No guilt or shame over any aspect of his nudity. No attempt to conceal any part of his anatomy. No embarrassment on having his nakedness broadcast to social media worldwide. A bold bare practitioner encouraging others, by setting the example, to just do the same! A man being himself: reality with no excuses or qualm!
My original title for today’s title was “March Madness.” My spouse, Aaron, upon reading the draft reminded me that this was the former name of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) university basketball tournament. He suggested the change and I’m grateful for his recommendation! He also liked the jogger’s .gif pictures.
Earlier this year (January), I published here New Year’s Resolutions. (Click the title to link to the post). I endorsed the idea of creating resolutions on the first day of spring every year as opposed to the tradition of New Year’s Day. Spring begins on March 20, 2022. Aaron joins with me in urging all of us to resolve now to become better, bolder and braver bare practitioners for at least the remainder of 2022!
“To profit from good advice requires more wisdom than to give it.” ~ John Churton Collins ~
All the while, our jogging friend continues on his task of being true to himself: a committed bare practitioner! Dedicated, dynamic and energetic! Loyally enjoying and pursuing his belief in the ideals of both body and clothes freedoms!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, March 11, 2022, and the proposed topic is: The Naked and The Nude!”
“When attending a clothes free social event and you meet someone you’re unfamiliar with, rather than assessing their “negative” aspects or habits, focus instead on their similarities to yourself. We’re both same gender loving. We both enjoy social nudity. We both enjoy basketball. We both despise cats as pets, etc. The similarities can build a casual acquaintance. The negatives can create a mortal enemy.”
March is now here and the season of Spring, 2022, begins in just a few weeks. Now is the perfect time to implement the suggestion offered in my January post. New Year’s Resolutions. Click the title to visit the post entry. The subtle moral message addressed here today is: “avoid being judgmental!”
Angelic joy!
“Personally, I consider the First Day of Spring every year as the beginning of my ‘nude year!’ It represents the renewal of the joy and pleasures of being natural in nature! An end to the confinement of winter!”
Bare practitioners and flowers bloom in the Springtime!
“Judgment” has somehow become a recurring theme recently – or, at least, it appears to me. I realize that the difference in humanity – political, economic, social, etc. – create mistrust and tension. Intentional or not, that happens throughout history. However, the intensity of these reactions has magnified. It seems that unless “passion” is attached, a difference in opinion or outlook is no longer possible.
Aaron, my spouse, needed to shop at a local bookseller while we were out shopping this past weekend. I accompanied him inside the business and browsed the current magazine offerings as he sought his merchandise. As I paged through a current popular edition, an article caught my attention. It featured pictures of a minor royal family member in amateur scenes completely clothes free.
Familiar with the decades-old images, I began glancing over the text. Heavy in harshness and judgment, the author decorated the content with the words (labels) of naked, nude, nudity, etc. An overuse of terminology that clearly implied indecency, immorality and quite a bit more while totally ignoring the fact that the photographs and the incident itself were years old and the royal subject himself years younger and inexperienced.
Dis this particular author forget to forgive?
The prince who forgot his clothes!
Realistically, the likelihood of this prince ever assuming a crown is almost nonexistent. He’s too far down the line of succession to get close to the throne. In actuality, he also has accomplished a number of positive and productive achievements since the notoriety that far outweigh the body exposure. He may no longer warrant the attention but likewise he no longer deserves the labelling.
The following morning, recalling the moment, I was discomforted by the fact that the words naked, nude, and nudity could be used with such frequency, harshness, judgment and negativity. Whatever became of the concept of the terms being synonymous with implying “a natural state?” Aren’t we all born naked?
The prince without clothes and in uniform!
The prince himself has progressed along the maturity level that far exceeds any made by the author. I wasn’t aware of any severe shortage of current news articles worthy of publication. The prince now is happily married and the father of two children himself.
The prince, his wife and son with the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu!
The fact that this prince’s grandmother, a reigning Queen, is now marking her 70th anniversary of ascending to the throne far surpasses the prince’s mistakes of almost two decades past. Her Majesty wears the crown and her milestone is worthy of honour. Let’s all celebrate royal longevity and forget the misplaced garments!
Congratulations Your Majesty!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry for here is planned for Monday, March 7, 2022, and the proposed topic is: “March Mayhem”
A delay because of my overload at work due to my flu infection, but I’ve added a new post to my new page here, A Guy Without Boxers, 2022! Click the page title to visit and scroll down the page to the entry for February, 2022.
Take care and stay bare!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry is planned for Friday, March 4, 2022, and the proposed topic is: “Judgments!”
It was exactly one year ago today, February 20, 2021, that one of my all-time favorite adult actors, Ta’Leon Goffney (performance name: Teyon Goffney) – may he rest in peace – dies after being briefly diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic colon cancer. He would be 40 years old if he had lived until this year.
The Goffney Twins: Teyon (left) and Keyon (right)!
The Goffney Twins, pictured above an arms-length apart were rarely filmed with that distance between them. Ta’Leon and Keyontyli Goffney (stage name Keyon or Kyle) were born in Camden, New Jersey on April 8, 1982. They were raised by their mother as their father disappeared just before their birth.
They both began appearing in gay pornography in the late teen years. As youth full twins, it didn’t take long for them to gain national attention and fame. In their third year of gay porn-star success, they appeared with muscular gay film icon, Marc Williams, in a full-length feature. The film (on VHS) was an instant bestseller and was soon re-released to the public repeatedly.
The Goffney twins admiring Marc William’s chest!
Shortly after the twin’s astronomical rise to their status as film stars, gossip and rumours alleging an incestuous relationship between the twin duo soon began appearing in the national press. Both Ta’Leon and Keyontyli vehemently denied the allegations and the result was the collapse of their gay porn careers. Keyontyli always openly acknowledged his gay orientation whereas Ta’Leon always claimed to be “straight” (heterosexual).
Ta’Leon (left) and Keyontyli (right)!
In 2002, Ta’leon was caught, arrested and charged with breaking and entering a commercial business in Pennsylvania. In a plea deal, he admitted guilt and was sentenced to confinement. He was released early on “good behaviour” status. After his release, he publicly admitted to a bisexual orientation.
In 2014, under the pen name, Kent T. Jackson, he published his autobiography, “On My Search For A Better Life, This Is How I Became…Infamous!” In 2017, he authored, “Life After Infamy: The Sequel.”
Ta’Leon is survived by his two sons, Elias Paul Goffney and Noah Prince Goffney as well as his twin, Keyontyli, his mother and two younger brothers. His funeral and burial took place on March 1, 2021.
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I had the good fortune of personally meeting Ta’Leon Goffney at a promotional event of his autobiography in November, 2019. My spouse, Aaron, interpreted for our conversation. He was able to share with me a few memories of his experiences working with film legend Marc Williams. Aaron and I both laugh over this reality even today.
Rest in peace, Ta’Leon!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next posting entry here is planned for Monday, February 21, 2022, and the proposed topic is: “S’Naked Virgin.”
Today represents a look back in time in order to gain a sense of the bare practices of African-American men from available images. The above image depicts our subject alone leaning against a tree. Judging from his hair style, this was probably around the middle to late 1960’s timeframe.
Another natural man in a natural setting!
Again based solely on the hairstyle, the image directly above is just a little earlier than the first one. Perhaps the late 1950’s to early 1960’s.
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Freedom and the Access to Cameras:
The official demise of slavery upon the end of the US civil war (1860’s) introduced the policy of segregation (separation of the races – aparthied ) throughout the USA. The adoption of “Jim Crow laws” (second class citizenship) ensured an even greater divide between the African-American, Caucasian and Indigenous (Native-American) people. This practice prevailed until Dr. King’s era and the civil rights movement gained acceptance during the late 1950’s to the assassinations of Malcolm X in the 1960’s and Dr. King in 1968.
This reality fueled the popular myth (untruth) of African-American disinterest in and indifference to the growing emergence of the naturist/nudist community within the Caucasian culture. The three racial groups were denied social interaction and restricted to totally different locations. Therefore, their naked/nudist attractions and practices were nonexistent (invisible) to one another. This lack of contact and common occurrence perpetuates this myth even today. Unfortunately, it is common in all the racial cultures.
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A segregated public shower!
Once again, relying only on hair characteristics, the communal shower picture above could be middle to late 1940’s or early 1950’s. Segregation remained in practice in almost the entire country.
The same holds true for the above!
The communal shower scene and the participants are the match for the previous image. The timeframe will be identical.
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Racial and social inaccessibility are the major factors for the prevalence of this fiction within the body freedom and clothes freedom communities. Economics and “Jim Crow legalities” are strong secondary reasons for the continuance of these false delusions. The widespread oppression of the Black communities in this country and the practice of assigning to them the status of second-class – or lower/worse – citizenship ensured their economic depravity and financial insecurity. The growing fascination with the “camera” phenomenon and the obsession with the cult of photography made these novel “toys” financially inaccessible to the overwhelming majority of African-Americans. Segregation was so ingrained in society that photographers of one race couldn’t justify taking pictures of people of a different racial classification.
Black-focused logo!
Bare trio: comfortable and up-close and interpersonal!
Twentieth Century, the Great War, the Modern Era :
The arrival of the 20th Century witnessed an extraordinary and remarkable first on the American social scene. Following generations of subjugation, Blacks were abandoning rural isolation and intimidation – and worst – and migrating to the rapidly growing industrial cities of northern and western USA and beginning to earn money! Not necessarily large fortunes but enough to support themselves and to send some to less fortunate extended family members. The Great War (1914 – 1918) saw African-Americans enter the armed forces in record numbers and see action and meet people in western Europe. New societies, new practices, less restrictive! The 1920’s brought the USA into a period of prosperity and popular culture introduced a large number of Caucasian Americans (and their incomes) to the uniqueness and the pleasures of Black life and living.
Segregation remained, enforceable and legal, but the new decade’s outlook brought a relaxation of some restrictions and African-Americans entered an age of some limited accomplishment and cautious respect. Black homosexuality (same gender loving) earned some lukewarm acceptance and segregated color-oriented body and clothes freedom facilities began to appear and to prosper.
Simple message!
Gradual development of a Black-oriented financial infrastructure followed. Soon, items that were formerly considered unattainable luxuries became common and affordable. Cameras, photography and other modern conveniences began to evolve from dreams into reality. The twentieth century finally discovered Black America!
The 1920’s progress in financial resources and social gains was halted by the Great Depression that reached this country’s shores in the early 1930’s. The stoppage, though devastating, was only temporary as the election of Franklin Roosevelt as president, his wife, Eleanor, as first-lady and the New Deal as political fuel eventually brought the depression mindset to an end. The delayed entry of this country into World War II with the attack on Pearl Harbor rapidly converted the nation into an industrialized super-power.
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Bare practitioners: no doubt about it!
The vintage picture posted above leaves us with no question: they’re early bare practitioners! Arm-in-arm, they prepare to exchange a kiss. Their hairstyles are from the late 1940’s to early 1950’s.
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World War II ended in 1945 and an unsettling peace encompassed the globe. The “Cold War” era between the communist countries and the western allies was about to erupt. The economy continued to grow although no longer on a wartime frenzy. Segregation and the Jim Crow laws still managed to hinder and prevent equality. However, the need for a change was an attitude that fast covered the land.
A few years following the surrender of Italy, Germany and Japan – in 1947 – President Harry Truman signed a presidential executive order that ended the official policy of segregation throughout the U.S. air force, military and navy only. Enlisting (joining) the armed forces no longer guaranteed a single-race encounter. At least in theory, discrimination was now banned in all combat services. One positive “big step” forward on the journey towards equal rights.
In military life, discipline is the “rule of the day.” No argument, no discussion, no voting. If ordered to do something, it simply must be done. Truman’s executive order didn’t erase all military overnight, but it did represent a new direction in official policies and procedures.
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Open arms, open legs, no shame!
The couple published above hair dates from the middle 1950’s. Their open arms and legs indicate comfort with being photographed bare together publicly.
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Soon, another historical change rose on the horizon. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the segregation inspired Jim Crow law of mandating “separate-but-equal” public school (education) systems throughout the country unconstitutional. The only legal quality this law contained was “separate.” The best, newest equipment and facilities were assigned to Caucasian students. The older, used and dilapidated (poorer quality) equipment was assigned to the African-American or Indigenous (native) American students or to Hispanic students. Separate? Yes! Equal? Unlikely!
This landmark judicial decision led to integration (coming together or mixing together) replacing segregation as the standard quality of the U.S. public school systems. The court ruling didn’t automatically end segregation overnight but it did lead towards a more accountable and equitable type of public school that continues to be sought today.
An integrated men’s changing room!
Following the Brown vs. Board of Education verdict by the Supreme Court, the civil (equal) rights movement gained momentum with the arrival “on the scene” (forefront) of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Their leadership strategy was nonviolence (first and foremost) and involvement (engagement). This tactic quickly brought both national and international attention to the equality protest movement and highlighted the inequality and unfairness of life in the USA (the supposed symbol of freedom).
The growth of Black financial resources and services now gave the community to now have absolute proof (documentation) of existence. Cameras and photography provided evidence that justifies the reality of bare practitioners (same gender loving and naked/nude) in the African-American world. We can all admire and salute the bravery and commitment to a freer life for all Americans. We are grateful for their dreams and their efforts!
The reluctant acceptance and welcome offered to bare practitioners of one racial heritage when visiting the traditional site of a different racial group has caused problems within the same gender loving and body and clothes freedom communities. Both sides of the conflict have received negative reactions from all sides of the spectrum. The resolution of these concerns remains an unsolved issue within the larger bare practitioner community.
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The basic bare truth!
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As dedicated bare practitioners, my spouse, Aaron, and I know from our shared experience that we encounter both judgment and ridicule based on our sexual orientation, marital status and our racial category (interracial). Our clothes freedom preference is another source of discomfort for many outside our community. We understand that any difference we can create today offers hope for a better tomorrow for us all!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, February 21, 2022, and the proposed topic is: “S’Naked Virgin!”
In January, 2018, ReNude Pride observed a one year anniversary. It began as a “labor of love.” I enjoy composing thoughts, expressing opinions and sharing ideas. Aaron, my legal spouse, my soul-mate – and self-styled “better-half” – enjoys the same. He agreed to wholeheartedly support my efforts here as long as I promised to obey his one rule: not to abdicate my responsibility to him! Thus far, we’re both cool and ReNude Pride continues to evolve and to grow.
Thank you!
A “lip-reading” thank you in gratuitous appreciation for your friendship and support during the publication of ReNude Pride. Hopefully, we can maintain this relationship into the future!
RENUDE PRIDE AT 5!
A Visual Summary!
Basic rule!
Bare is a welcome state of undress and is strongly encouraged and enthusiastically endorsed! Clothing is nothing more than a man-made guilt attempt to convey modesty and shame!
Confidence in being bare!
Pride is our ammunition to combat concealment, deceit, denial and falsehood! Confidence in our nakedness and our same gender love is the protective armour of body positivity! Take care and stay bare!
Aaron and Roger graphic symbol!
Acceptance, love and tolerance are the roots of prosperity and success. It is not the who that we love but the fact that we love that enables us to thrive!
ReNude Pride avatar!
The colorful diversity of the gay, lesbian bisexual, transgender and queer plus (GLBTQ+) community and our nude buttocks combine to make us all one! The Bottoms-Up! series on the last day of the month is inspired by ReNude Pride’s avatar image here!
Skinny-dipping!
Clothes free fun that can be enjoyed by everyone! Be bare, be comfortable and relax natural as often as possible! No shirt, no clothes, no problem!
Stripping off his clothing!
Our continuance to renew (word-play: renude) our preference of being proud bare practitioners. Hence the title of this publication: ReNude Pride!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, January 10, 2022, and the proposed topic is: “A Guy Without Boxers Debut!”
Sleeping while totally clothes free is often viewed by bare practitioners as the ultimate resting technique. My spouse, Aaron, and I couldn’t agree wholeheartedly more! Lying in bed together, without the restrictive burden of any type of clothing is the perfect way to end a busy and long day!
The last day of autumn classes has already occurred and the semester examinations concluded this past Friday. All of my work for this season has finished, reports and grades submitted and the university holiday luncheon is this Wednesday. My work schedule goes into “holiday mode” once I cross our doorway after lunch is over and the subway delivers me back to Arlington.
Aaron is taking time off from his hospital job starting Monday, December 20. We’re both looking forward to our well-earned winter respite! Hopefully, the bitterly freezing temperatures will stay away a little bit longer! If not, then we have a plan B: bed together!
A respite smile together!
Realistically, Aaron and I lack the luxury of spending endless days in bed. The both of us have commitments and obligations that determine otherwise. We’ll drive the four-hour trip to Roanoke, Virginia, to spend the western Christmas with his family (my in-laws) We also have several bare practitioner holiday socials to attend throughout the period – once we return from Roanoke. Then, we’re hosting a Holy Christmas (eastern) social for our same gender loving family members on Thursday, January 6, 2022.
Suddenly, lounging lazily looks even more appealing! Perhaps we should arrange for a relaxation period from the Winter holidays!
Take care and stay bare!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, December 17, 2021, and the proposed topic is: “Seasons Greetings!”
One of the many reasons for my inadvertent disaster with my keys this past Thursday, December 2, was the emergency meeting of my department at my university. Completely unaware of the agenda of the unscheduled conference, upon my arrival, I discovered the primary topic was: me! The justification? The subject of the earlier post entry, “Professional Integrity.”
As examined in my ReNude Pride posting, I was disappointed and upset concerning the obvious “double standard” of guidelines and rules that have become ever more apparent at my jobsite. There seems to be the widespread belief that there exists a specific set of practices for the university administration and another set of practices for the academic faculty. The two appear to be incompatible and totally unrelated.
Dancing in celebration #2!
As I entered my departmental conference room for our meeting, I immediately laid eyes on the presence of one of our university’s vice-chancellors – the one who supposedly presided over the investigation of my “questionable” conduct. The two of us aren’t particularly fond of one another and we have personalities that are quite the opposite. Once I recognized him, dread overcame me and the others in the room.
Upon the arrival of everyone, my department head convened the meeting and introduced the vice-chancellor – after three years in his current position, he still needed to be introduced to all of us as well as reminding us of his official capacity. A very personable and commendable influence!
He rose and then openly passed to me a sealed envelop as he announced to everyone present that despite the gossip and rumors regarding both the investigation and myself, he was publicly exonerating me of any blame or guilt. He then added that his presence for this was specifically ordered by the university chancellor himself.
He never offered to shake my hand or even acknowledge me.
My colleagues did follow the lead of my department chairman and wave their hands in a gesture of support and symbolic congratulations. Our chairman then dismissed the meeting – all of fifteen minutes of official business!
Upon leaving my office to return to the subway, I noticed a memorandum to all faculty and staff at the university. It contained the announcement of the immediate resignation of this very unremarkable vice-chancellor.
No wonder I left my keys and memory device at work!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry planned for here is Friday, December 10, 2021, and the proposed topic is “Sharing: A Bare View!”
Commando is a colloquial term in USA English used to describe a situation where textile (clothes wearing) men are attired without the benefit of underwear – bikini, boxer, brief, jock-strap or thong. In other words, they are clothed (either casually, semi-formal or formally) but no covering for their buttocks or penis. For those of us who are loyal bare practitioners, this is of little or no concern. Our philosophy is simply: Why bother with any type of covering whatsoever?
Montgomery removes his shirt and is now proudly bare!
For the clothes enthusiasts, this presents a major dilemma! The majority are appalled and shocked by this blatant breach of decency and practice. Not only are they appearing in public half-dressed, they also have no concern regarding their hygiene. This is thought of as their first step in becoming nudists!
Caution! Reading further may induce fainting or heart palpitations!
The commando style is also referred to occasionally as freeballing. Basically this implies that a man is comfortable in allowing his genitalia to hang freely unperturbed or contained/restricted by underwear. The two terminologies are essentially identical and both are popular for similar reasons. The labelling choice is simply a matter of personal preference.
Obviously freeballing while having tea!
I am uncertain to the origin of the term commando. I honestly don’t know if any of the military or naval forces permit their persons freedom of being in active service without wearing undergarments!
Removing his boxers for clothes freedom!
The textilists (those who wear clothing – if such a term even exists) possibly may have one valid idea. Wearing pants or shorts without under garments may be the initial stage in the process of conversion to bare practitioner. This claim isn’t supported by any proven research or studies. Additional investigation is highly recommended!
The clothing proponents should be careful in their accusations against the sanitary practices of naturists/nudists as well as the equally clad commando enthusiasts. None of these two populations are guilty of wearing dirty underclothes. Neither of them are fans of “undies,” anyway. Remember the adage: People who live in glass houses (folks who wear garments) should think twice before they throw stones (criticize others)?
The clothes crew should be grateful they aren’t being profusely inundated by countless pairs of soiled underwear! Either that or they could be forced to hand-wash every item of filthy undergarment available. Those two options, alone or combined, would reinforce the valuable lessons of patience, tolerance and understanding.
Bare practitioner!
Stepping into his jeans!
Jeans on, commando style!
There is nothing distasteful or wrong about dressing in the commando style. Essentially, it is a lifestyle choice that everyone is free to determine for themselves. For some it is comfortable and for others, it isn’t. That’s the reason bare practitioners don’t wear clothing and the textile people do.
For a countless number of active bare practitioners, the ability and freedom to dress commando or freeballing may have enabled and encouraged them in their quest of clothes freedom. Successful “first steps” often empower our life journeys to completion.
Undoubtedly, many persons curious and exploring the aspects and benefits of nudity may find commando living both enlightening and inspirational. The comfort and familiarity of discarding underwear is considered by some an essential and vital element towards nakedness. For those who are textile, under garments are the first layer of clothing adorned and the last layer of clothing removed. Being commando makes perfect sense!
My spouse, Aaron, and I are committed bare practitioner loyalists! Yet, living in today’s world, there are times when the wearing of clothing is no longer an option and is totally necessary. When that is reality, usually when wearing a pair of jeans, we often choose to “go commando” (no underwear)! One less hassle we have to endure!
Go commando or freeballing if unable to be bare!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, November 19, 2021, and the proposed topic is: “Haulover Beach!”
Thursday, March 25, 2021, is the anniversary of the beginning of the fight for the freedom of Greece from the oppression of the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey). The clergy of the Greek Orthodox Church encouraged the faithful to engage in the struggle to attain their freedom and restore self-determination of their homeland from the subservience of the Ottoman Turks.
The Ottoman Empire, for over two centuries, had periodically focused on the eventual absorption and subjugation of the Byzantine (Greek) Empire. The fall of Constantinople (the imperial Greek capital) through a siege that lasted from April 6, 1453 until May 29, 1453, rewarded the Ottomans as the Middle and Near Eastern superior power, economically, militarily and naval.
The political dominance of the Turkish government provided a grave and serious threat to the Greek Orthodox Church. The religious and spiritual head of all Orthodox believers , the patriarch (pope) of Orthodoxy resided in Constantinople and his official title is: Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church and Archbishop of Constantinople. This situation fostered the unsubstantiated belief and rumors in the Western churches (Roman Catholic, Anglican and protestant) that the Eastern churches (Bulgarian, Greek, Roumanian, Russian, Serbian and Syrian) were under the manipulation of the Turkish occupiers.
Multiple Greek warriors!
On this date, March 25, in 1821, the Greeks rose up against the oppression of Ottoman Turkey in a protracted civil war that ultimately involved France, the Russian Empire and the United Kingdom joining with the Greeks in their quest for independence. March 25 is also the date of the feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos (Virgin Many, Mother of God) in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The organizers of the uprising selected this feast day to initiate the insurrection. Bishop Germanus hoisted the flag of revolt over the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the Pelopannese with the cry, “Freedom or Death” which was adopted as the motto of the for Greek liberation.
The government of the newly liberated Haiti was the very first country in the world to recognize the revolution – and therefore, Greek independence. This diplomatic recognition happened is 1821, barely 6 months after the struggle began and long before the war was actually over.
The Ottoman Turks were supported during the Greek rebellion by the North African Turkish dependent states of Algeria, Egypt, Tripolitania and Tunis. These auxiliary troops were frequently defeated by the Greek locals who were often armed with only their inferior personal weapons, primarily rifles.
Greek warrior artistic image.
After seven years of fighting, the Ottoman Turks grew weary of the Greek uprising. At an international conference held in London, a document called the London Protocol was signed by representatives from Greece, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the Ottoman Empire that recognized the independent sovereign Kingdom of Greece in 1830. The rebellion was over. In 1832, the Treaty of Constantinople was enforced between the Greeks and the Turks which defined the borders of Greece and established Prince Otto of Bavaria as the first King of Greece.
Above is the image of the original Greek flag that was recognized when independence was achieved. The double-headed eagle in the upper left corner was the emblem of the Byzantine Empire.
The .gif below is the current flag of Greece shown billowing in the breeze. The cross of St. George is in the upper left corner. The Greek Orthodox Church is the state religion of Greece.
The above explains the symbolism of the modern Greek flag.
The modern Greek flag was adopted during the 20th Century as the current state matured. Based on the current design, it is now universally accepted and recognized everywhere. During the last decade of the 20th Century, there were some grumblings that the two colors of the flag represented the “haves” and the “have nots” although there was never any agreement over what those two categories entailed.
Outline map of Greece (flag design).
Above is the image of a map of modern Greece, in the same design of the current Greek flag. Greece is located in south-eastern Europe at the bottom of the Balkan peninsula. The capital city is Athens.
Both of my parents and my oldest brother were born in Greece. They emigrated to this country just before the birth of my second oldest brother. Neither of my parents nor my oldest brother were ever naturalized here (became citizens). After our births, my father had all of our births enrolled at the Greek consulate, which made the remainder of my brothers and myself Greek subjects (we have dual citizenship).
Avoiding any implications of inaccuracy, before closing todays post, I want to remind everyone that the ancient Greeks most definitely did not engage in war while bare. Men were aware that any type of action involving swords and other forms of weapons could inflict major, if not debilitating, damage to themselves. Even the simplest girding of protection was valued above nudity in this case.
Wishing everyone the happiest of Patriot Day!
Bare hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/Renude Pride
Author’s Note: The next posting entry planned for here is for Wednesday, March 31, 2021, and the proposed topic is : “Bottoms-Up! March, 2021”
The unusually long delay is due to an educational conference.
ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! 