Celebrating Flag Day by celebrating the ambition of a new Utah state flag design

Let us rejoice Flag Working day on June 14 by looking at a state flag layout that states one thing unique about who we are as Utahns in the 21st century.

The conversation that’s been prompted by the state’s Additional Than A Flag initiative has been bold. Any structure method is sophisticated, as it starts by brainstorming tips and aspirations in advance of going to far more unique choices. By imagining what we will need we possible will find what we want: A flag that speaks to us the two immediately and symbolically.

I like the ambition of a course of action centered on inquiring Utahns statewide what they want on a new flag, and what colors or symbols ideal characterize this distinctive point out. That is why I agreed to serve as a volunteer on the Style Critique Subcommittee. I was amazed with how the initiative sought representation from throughout the state — from cultural teams, educational institutions, Tribes, and municipal officers.

In 4 months, this bipartisan initiative gained extra than 5,000 electronic flag layout submissions, as nicely as scores a lot more delivered through the mail. Those types arrived from all 29 of the state’s counties, including from our good friends and neighbors in this article in Washington County.

In the future phase of the method, volunteers on the Style Overview Subcommittee will appear by way of the submissions and pick out a handful of leading candidates. These types will be posted on the Flag.Utah.gov internet site in August and we’ll request people to weigh in.  We want to know what Utahns consider. At the same time, we comprehend no 1 flag style will at any time be the prime decision of anyone.

The subcommittee will ship three finalists to the Utah Point out Flag Activity Pressure, who will pick out one closing flag layout to be considered by the Utah Legislature and by Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox.

I am delighted we are working collectively to structure a flag for the 21st century. I like the problem of imagining what will signify Utah in 2022, much more than a century soon after the state adopted the recent flag structure.

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As I consider about a new condition flag layout, I’m inspired by exclusive examples this kind of as the Texas flag. The design’s basic red, white and blue stripes, with a single well known white star captures the identity of the Lone Star Condition. I also am struck by the simplicity of New Mexico’s flag, which speaks to the shared journeys of indigenous persons and newcomers. Equally flags are iconic, unforgettable, and open to interpretation. In the two instances, a lot less is much more.

At the finish of our flag selection course of action listed here in Utah, we may well embrace a flag that is a lot more abstractly representational of the values of Utah, like the Texas and New Mexico flags. Or we could locate a flag that resembles what we have now more to our liking.

I don’t know what will materialize, but my position on the Style Overview Subcommittee is to raise queries about what we’re striving to execute in this course of action. The Subcommittee will grapple with acquainted tensions concerning summary vs. concrete, the earlier vs. the present,  and dominant cultural or historic teams vs. newcomers to the state.

As with most vital choices, there are quite a few issues, opinions and hopes we need to weigh. That is what excites me about the Additional Than A Flag discussion.

I hope all people will keep engaged by going to Flag.Utah.gov. The formal submission course of action has ended, but the discussion carries on. There will be much more options for us to come together and share our ideas about our new flag.

Dr. Stephen Lee has been dean of the College or university of Humanities and Social Sciences at Utah Tech University, formerly Dixie State College, due to the fact 2019. Lee, who analyzed economics right before earning master’s and doctoral levels in conversation, researches the movie and tunes industries and has also developed, directed, and edited documentaries and academic systems. He serves as a volunteer on the Style Evaluate Subcommittee of Utah’s More Than A Flag initiative.

This posting originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Every day Information: Your Convert: Celebrating Flag Working day by celebrating the ambition of a new Utah state flag style and design