Human Interest

unit 1

With 94% of Zealandia lying under water, most average people around the world will not care if National Geographic prints maps with an eighth continent. As cynical as that may be, geography should not be settled by human emotions and cultural expectations. Geography is a discipline that aims for understanding and precision. If continents are to be decided by continental shelves, rather than human cultural and ethnic patterns, then Eurasia is a continent and so is Zealandia. This latter outlook of focusing on physical geography is far more neutral and scientific. I would argue that is also more 'progressive'. Humans originate from one place (Africa) and are all one species. We have far more similarities than differences. Orienting our worldview to see that cultural geography is not the final arbiter of truth would ultimately bring people together. The logic follows that by acknowledging Zealandia, there is precedent for greater accuracy based on science, allowing geographers to teach about Eurasia. This is significant because it would alter the perception that Asians and Europeans are extremely distinct and separate groups due to a distorted notion that they lived on separate continents. The truth is that both groups existed on the same continent and were often brought into contact with each other throughout history. This idea, however, would further shatter the notion of a "pure, homogeneous Europe." Europe is only a "continent" because white Europeans were the first to possess the right combination of "guns, germs, and steel" to conquer other societies and elevate their own group's cultural status. Despite nature's evidence, Europeans awarded themselves an entire continent. In reality, Europe is a large peninsula of Asia. Just as Zealandia is an eighth continent sleeping underneath the waves. 

This is interesting to think about. What decides what separates continents, is it geological barriers, is it culture, is it ethnic origin, or maybe even plate tectonics? Either way you look at it New Zealand makes a great case for why they could become to be considered the eighth continent. I could argue either way, to keep it simple and go by culture and geological commonalities (Oceania Islands) I would prefer it does not form its own continent. These geologist would argue otherwise.

We might think a flag choice is not that important. However, think about it for one second. Think of the feeling you get when you see a certian flag or a certain symbol. If your a Red Sox fan and see a Yankees symbol think of what that means to you or if your a Red Sox fan and your in a foreign area and see a Red Sox hat and that feeling that you get knowing someone is like you in that area. Symbols are important and how we feel about these symbols are important. New Zealand was looking to unviel a new flag and much of the reaction was negative. Most thought they were uncreative and unorginal and overall just not a fan of the final four choices. I thought a good quote from the article was " This reeks of design by committee. Get enough people in a room and soon something that is good to average is now not." I agree we try to get together to "make everyone happy" and well we end up making no one happy. This is a cruical decsion for these people to vote on and they should be proud of their new symbol of their country.

A flag is intended to represent a people and a government while also portraying a common heritage and a sense of timelessness. The symbols on the flags can be incredibly potent politically and culturally, which the Kiwi's aren't enthusiastic about.The four flags below are the final four flags they can choose from.

'The remains of a New Zealand soldier killed in World War I have been identified more than a century after his death.'