Thousands of tourists flock to the ancient Mayan City of Copan in the Honduras to witness the ruins of one of the wealthiest city in the past. Tourism somehow has propped up the revenues of Honduras, but it still continues to be a poor country that depends mostly on the exports of bananas and coffee to drive the wheels of its economy.
As part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became independent in 1821 and for almost three decades of military rule, free and honest election was conducted in 1982, thus democracy prevailed. During the 80's, Honduras was the haven for the Contras fighting the Sandinista’s in the government of Marxist Nicaragua and an ally to the Salvadoran Government in its fight against the leftist guerillas.
Having been a part of the Federal Republic of Central America (El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala) it adopted the color of the flag, though it was amended in 1866 as five blue stars were placed at the center to represent the five-nation union.
The
National Flag of Honduras consists of three equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) and white in between. The two blue bands represent the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, and the central white band is the land between the ocean and the sea, while also a symbol for peace and prosperity of its people. The five blue five pointed stars obviously represent the five nations of the former Federal Republic of Central America, and the hope of re-uniting the countries in the future.
The creation of the U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement of which Honduras is a member, brings in the awaited economic miracle.
by:
The Flagman
