Minnesota’s legislature recently asked the State Emblems Redesign Commission to come up with a new design to replace its old flag and seal, which depicts a Native American riding away while a white settler plows a field. So, they opened it up to the people, who could submit their own designs.
The new designs "must accurately and respectfully reflect Minnesota's shared history, resources, and diverse cultural communities," according to the state’s House of Representatives, but "symbols, emblems, or likenesses that represent only a single community or person, regardless of whether real or stylized” are not allowed.
"Public input is vital to the work of the commission and will be sought out both now – at the start of our process—and later—as we narrow down the submissions to five which will receive final consideration,” Democratic Secretary of State Steve Simon, a voting member of the commission, said in a statement. “I look forward to seeing the creativity and passion of Minnesotans shine.”
Several states have redesigned their flags recently, including Utah and Mississippi, which now have new flags, and Illinois and Michigan, which are exploring their own new flag bills.
But Minnesota should be careful what it wishes for, because it just might get another “I Voted” meme out of this — last year, the sticker handed out at polls in Ulster County, New York featured a redesign contest submission by a 14-year-old with a pack of crayons and a vision of a demented spider creature.
People submitted thousands of designs, and more than 2,000 of them are now available to peruse online. A lot of them went the loon route—the common loon is Minnesota’s state bird—but a few stand out as especially unhinged. Here are the ones I’m rooting for, personally:
This breaks every rule of good vexillography and yet, I need it to win.
(Jeff Mangum voice) Two headed loon.
Does anyone know what’s going on with the laser eyed loons? Minnesotans sound off in the comments.
Simple. Powerful. A weird color. A+
Close the polls. I’ve seen enough. This is the winner.
You can check out all of the submissions yourself on the redesign commission’s website.
