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Minnesota has a new state flag after weeks of design-by-committee process gripped the state. Whether or not you like the new flag (love it? hate it? love to hate it?), we wanted to have some fun with local West St. Paul versions of the new Minnesota flag.
Why the new flag: The change came after decades of complaints about the previous flag, which failed basic vexillology standards (slapping the state seal on a flag is just lazy flag design). The North American Vexillological Association ranked the previous flag 67th out of 72 U.S. state and Canadian province flags. Oh, and then there’s the complaints the old flag was racist. Here’s a thorough explanation of both reasons why the flag needed to change.
Memes: With the new flag has come a flood of memes, a series of fun tributes, and unique versions.
West St. Paul Version
So on to the local fun. Here are some West St. Paul takes on the new flag.
This kind of local fun happens thanks to the support of our members.
4 Responses
The new flag is ugly – I will fly the old one. But then I also still refer to Sibley High School.
The new flag was not my first choice. But I’m glad it replaces the old one that was cluttered and had racist overtones. It’s progress and that’s a very good thing.
There is NO RACIST overtones! It clearly shows a white farmer and native American co-existing on the land . You race baiting individuals need to get a grip , and learn to stop feeling the need to change everything because you feel it may offend someone.
Former GOP state Rep. Jeremy Munson talked about the former state seal (which was featured on the old flag) on Twitter, pointing to a poem written by the wife of the seal’s creator about the seal. It’s clearly not about coexisting:
Give way, give way young warrior,
Thou and thy steed give way—
Rest not, though lingers on the hills,
The red sun’s parting ray.
The rocky bluff and prairie land
The white man claims them now
https://twitter.com/jeremymunson/status/1737673932050743614
There’s no race baiting or manufactured crisis here. The racist imagery and historic intent are well documented and the complaints from those impacted are decades old.