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As Long as We're Discussing Flags, What About Minnesota's? (It's Racist)
Minnesota Star Tribune ^ | JULY 2, 2015 | Judith Harrington

Posted on 07/04/2015 10:56:17 PM PDT by nickcarraway

It, too, may fail to reflect current sensibilities.

The current interest in the removal of the Confederate battle flag from public displays and store shelves provides an excellent opportunity to examine what the Minnesota state flag represents. The images on the flag are interpreted by state documents as innocuous symbols of the state’s history. A critical examination of what the flag is saying, however, should make Minnesotans reconsider what their state flag projects about their state.

The state flag of Minnesota is often something that is taken for granted. Thousands of people see the flag flying without giving it a second thought. First unfurled in 1893 (a date found on the flag), it has the state seal featured prominently in its center. The seal was based on a painting by Seth Eastman and was promoted by Gov. Henry Sibley; it did engender criticism when first used in 1858, but was not changed.

The “great symbolism” of the figures on the seal, as described by the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, include an American “Indian on horseback … riding due south and [representing] the Indian heritage of Minnesota. The Indian’s horse and spear and pioneer’s ax, rifle, and plow represent tools that were used for hunting and labor” (Minnesota Legislative Manual).

A close examination shows the central figure to be a white pioneer dressed in work clothes, wearing a wide-brim hat and pushing a plow. He is an iconic image of a hardworking, rugged individualist who works alone to chop the trees, plow the land and protect his home. He is looking over his shoulder at the Indian, who is riding a horse and holding a spear.

The contrast in the images of the figures is interesting: The image of the his

(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: flag; henrysibley; minnesota; minnesotaflag; setheastman
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The Minnesota state flag depicts a white man as a hardworking, rugged individualist, and an Indian riding a horse and holding a spear.

1 posted on 07/04/2015 10:56:17 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

That’s way too cluttered.


2 posted on 07/04/2015 11:12:56 PM PDT by Mmogamer (I refudiate the lamestream media, leftists and their prevaricutions.)
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To: MplsSteve

Ping


3 posted on 07/04/2015 11:13:29 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

A guess a new flag for Minnesota would have the Hammer and Sickle, with Democratic Farm-Labor Party Uber Alles on it.


4 posted on 07/04/2015 11:29:56 PM PDT by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper (madmax)
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To: nickcarraway

Looks like it was drawn a kindergartner.


5 posted on 07/04/2015 11:33:33 PM PDT by Eagles6 ( Valley Forge Redux. If not now, when? If not here, where? If not us then who?)
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To: nickcarraway
More problematic, however, is the depiction of a racist, stereotyped Indian, who wears only a loin cloth and a feather.

How does she know tge indian was racist? And what should he be wearing, a tux?

6 posted on 07/04/2015 11:38:08 PM PDT by Trailerpark Badass (There should be a whole lot more going on than throwing bleach, said one woman.)
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To: nickcarraway

These people are idiots...seriously. I grew up very near the Minnesota border (in Iowa). This scene could have actually been taken directly from my family’s farm.

On one side was a smallish lake. My GG Grandparents farmed the ground on one side; the Indians lived on the other. They became very friendly...my Great Grandmother (who was a girl at the time) told me that they traded back and forth. My family would buy things for them in town...in return they would get meat, furs, etc. She had a spectacular collection of stone bowls, axe heads, arrowheads...all kinds of things that they were gifted.

But hey, by all means...lets just assume the worst, shall we?


7 posted on 07/04/2015 11:39:45 PM PDT by garandgal
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To: Trailerpark Badass

Because he’s an Indian, of course. And sexist too, else it would depict a female Indian.


8 posted on 07/04/2015 11:42:04 PM PDT by Shimmer1 ("Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice."Thomas Paine)
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To: Mmogamer

It could give one a headache.


9 posted on 07/04/2015 11:49:20 PM PDT by SaveFerris (Be a blessing to a stranger today for some have entertained angels unaware)
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To: MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
A guess a new flag for Minnesota would have the Hammer and Sickle, with Democratic Farm-Labor Party Uber Alles on it.

Superimposed on a rainbow background...with a mosquito!

Cheers!

10 posted on 07/04/2015 11:49:20 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Trailerpark Badass

LOL! After looking at the depiction of the Indian, he looks like he’s wearing a feather, but nothing else. He looks naked. Where’s the loincloth?


11 posted on 07/04/2015 11:58:39 PM PDT by boop (Hey, stoop, that's got gears. It ain't no Ford.)
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To: boop

“...he looks like he’s wearing a feather, but nothing else.”

Minnesota has always been ahead of it’s time. Just add a rainbow border (or maybe a rainbow by the waterfall!) and it will be up to code.


12 posted on 07/05/2015 12:05:18 AM PDT by 21twelve (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2185147/posts It is happening again.)
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To: Shimmer1
Indian? Indian?

Native American, you Neanderthal.

Well, maybe first come, first serve.

13 posted on 07/05/2015 12:08:19 AM PDT by going hot (Happiness is a momma deuce)
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To: boop

That looks like a dildo on his head and a horsewhip in his hand. Problem solved.


14 posted on 07/05/2015 12:10:23 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: boop

That looks like a dildo on his head and a horsewhip in his hand. Problem solved.


15 posted on 07/05/2015 12:10:25 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: boop

That looks like a dildo on his head and a horsewhip in his hand. Problem solved.


16 posted on 07/05/2015 12:10:26 AM PDT by Jet Jaguar
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To: nickcarraway
The Minnesota state flag depicts a white man as a hardworking, rugged individualist

Not exactly. It depicts him as an idiot trying to plow a field by pushing a plow thru the earth.

It's also really, really ugly.

17 posted on 07/05/2015 12:13:17 AM PDT by Sherman Logan
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To: Eagles6

Motto - “L’etoille du Nord” - the Star of the North, likely from the French trappers many years ago.


18 posted on 07/05/2015 12:53:36 AM PDT by jamaksin
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To: nickcarraway

When these Leftists finish cleansing history, the Indians will all be erased.


19 posted on 07/05/2015 1:11:15 AM PDT by UnwashedPeasant (A slave is one who waits for someone to come and free him.)
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To: nickcarraway

designed by a committee


20 posted on 07/05/2015 1:15:14 AM PDT by kvanbrunt2 (civil law: commanding what is right and prohibiting what is wrong Blackstone Commentaries I p44)
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