The State of Minnesota is getting a new flag and it bears a striking resemblance to another flag across the ocean.
Following a now-familiar script, the deep blue state determined that its existing flag was “offensive” to Native Americans and established a 13-member State Emblems Redesign Commission to come up with a suitable replacement. This effort has resulted in a proposed new flag featuring an abstract shape of the state with an eight-pointed white North Star on its hoist.
The current flag depicts a Native American on horseback along with a farmer plowing his field — critics suggest the Native American is “riding away.” It also has a banner that reads, “L’Étoile du Nord,” which is a French phrase meaning “The Star of the North.”
“The next generation will be raised with a new flag. It’s going to happen,” commission chair Luis Fitch said, according to the Star Tribune. “We’re not going to be able to make everybody happy. The whole idea since day one was to make sure we can [create] a flag that unites us instead of separates us.”
But the new offering looks remarkably similar to a Somalia state flag, as noted on social media — for the record (and the fact-checkers), the Somali national flag is entirely different:
New Minnesota flag vs Jubaland state of Somalia flag.
Realize where we are. pic.twitter.com/dhNnvjrKRE
— Oilfield Rando (@Oilfield_Rando) December 17, 2023
Minnesota is unveiling a new flag design to replace its existing one, inspired by the colors of Somalian territories. The designer is just as you can imagine. pic.twitter.com/UmG6t2RKrU
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) December 18, 2023
For what it’s worth, Minnesota is home to U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-M N), a Somalia refugee and one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress. The state has the largest population of Somali Americans in the country — of the 86,610 Somali Americans residing in the state, an estimated 37,048 were born in Somalia, according to 2021 U.S. Census American Community Survey data.
Additional alterations are possible, as the committee will meet again soon “to consider variations on colors and shapes in their final design as they try to meet a Jan. 1 deadline to come up with a new flag,” the Star Tribune reported.
Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story, as seen on X:
Today I learned that Minnesota’s new state flag is an interpretation of a Somali flag and that you’re a bigot if you call them out.
All throughout our nation areas want to remove monuments that are hundreds of years old.
And this is our borderpic.twitter.com/icpjXTyXao
— MiddleMaga.com (@StucknDaMid) December 19, 2023
This was inevitable. Demographics are destiny. You change the population, you change the culture.
The flag is a display of dominance.
— Henry B. (Forsaken Musings) (@forsakenhenry) December 18, 2023
They literally turned twin cities into the slums of Somalia. Disgraceful
— Tbag (@tbag_eth) December 17, 2023
Ilhan finally feels at home
— Stephen Lloyd (@apparentlysteve) December 17, 2023
The not-so-great replacement.
— Jeremy Carl (@jeremycarl4) December 17, 2023
Yall are conquered https://t.co/lUzpdgVTc5
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) December 17, 2023
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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