Rating the 10 finalists for Illinois' state flag.

UPDATE (2/4/25): The video that I had embedded was made private but here is that same segment via Illinois Public Radio that you can listen to.

[VIDEO] This video was published to YouTube last month before voting started for a new IL state flag. And the guest on this segment - Ted Kaye of the North American Vexillological Association takes a look at the designs for a future state flag.

He notes that the states of Utah, Minnesota, and Mississippi most recently had adopted new state flags and all of those flags were discussed by Kaye on this segment. Mississippi broke the rule of not having words on a flag though allowed this was more or less a political or historic compromise.

I think his views on the state flags designs are semi-similar to mine and I slept on (the wild-card) that I think could make a great flag. The one you see in the screen cap the very top left corner - almost a true tricolor with the white space that is shaped as the letter I - the letter I is for Illinois :P. And I feel as if this could be the most American design possible.

Proposed designs for the Illinois state flag

 

[VIDEO] I have my own favorites, but what are yours? Some of these designs catch my eye, I'm sorry it's too late for me to submit my own design.

I think simplicity is key but in keeping with my idea for an Illinois Republic, the new state flag should be something of a Tri-Color like the French flag although not necessarily the same colors and not a mere replication.

Visit this site: www.ilsos.gov/stateflag

I wish I could see the other proposed designs that didn't make the top ten you will see at the link above.

The White House 1600 Sessions: Making the Presidential Seal

 

[VIDEO] Fascinating to see the White House Historical Association visit with the Institute of Heraldry to look at all the symbols of the presidency. From the seal, coat of arms, and the medals the President can issue to military personnel and deserving civilians.

Illinois was admitted to the Union on this day in 1818

 I almost missed out on marking this most important day for this state and the Governor's post on IG helped to remind me.

Civic symbols

Flag of Chicago, IL

I have to give this blog some type of a hook because I want to inform or entertain. However, I'm a fan of civic or political symbols. 

In the sidebar of this blog is the city of Chicago's flag. You know over a white field there are two sky blue bars and in between those bars are four six-point stars. Do you know what the symbolism of them are?

And there is the city of Chicago seal. You know the symbolism of that?

What symbols does the state of Illinois uses? Have you seen the state's flag? And would you know the state's seal?

And then lets go further the many symbols of the federal gov't. Have you see the Great Seal of the United States? Do you know what the stars and stripes represents? And no we're not going in anyway "SJW" when we talk about the symbols that represents the federal gov't or at the very least our great nation the United States of America.

In the new year I've giving myself a project. Perhaps if you've never thought about these things or even just didn't know, hopefully I can both inform and entertain you all! 

Mr. Beat gets reactions to the Confederate battle flag

 

[VIDEO] Mr. Beat does a man on the street style video getting reactions from people in Lawrence, Kansas regarding the Confederate battle flag. I'm referring to this flag by it's most common reference although we mostly know it as the Confederate flag. As you will see in this video Confederate forces carried the battle flag in engagements against the Union Army during the Civil War.

The Confederacy had used different flags to represent their nation and the battle flag itself as we're most familiar wasn't used as such. The history as far as how the flag itself became less of a symbol of Southern heritage vs a symbol of hate and white supremacy is very interesting. It's also interesting how this flag became so mainstream as opposed to only being seen in the south - or the former Confederacy is another story in and of itself.

Also, I see a great lesson to be learned by teachers as Mr. Beat talks with David Muhammad who taught in a Kansas high school and hosted an open dialogue with students at his school over the Confederate flag in 2015. Mr. Muhammad terms this debate as very reasonable and civil. Many people shoot from the hip on this issue, however, they did their research before speaking utilizing laptops, cell phones or tablets. And people instead of getting very passionate left that dialogue in a civil fashion.

That being said those who believed the Confederate flag was a symbol of heritage lost ground to those who argued it was a symbol of hate or racism.

I'm curious about your thoughts on this.

Chicago flag 100 years

Today the Chicago flag that you see in the sidebar celebrates 100 years. You can read more about the flag and it's history over at Curbed Chicago.

Happy 100th birthday of the Chicago city flag! pic.twitter.com/oOYvc1XABj

— Dennis Rodkin (@Dennis_Rodkin) April 4, 2017