Massachusetts State Flag (we need a better state flag)

Utah has done a super job changing their flag from seal-on-blue-sheet to a real logo (compare new flag, top, to current flag, bottom)
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Final Flag Designs | Flag

flag.utah.gov flag.utah.gov
 
An (obviously joking) idea from tumblr:

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" Reminded by flag discourse about my proposal for a new Massachusetts state flag. The looming black triangle represents the creeping dread one experiences in Massachusetts, the white represents the horrible weather, the blue represents microplastics, and the slogan represents I saw it on a pack of cigs and thought it sounded sick "

www.tumblr.com

frog k, from online

Reminded by flag discourse about my proposal for a new Massachusetts state flag. The looming black triangle represents the creeping dread one experiences in Massachusetts, the white represents the ho…
www.tumblr.com www.tumblr.com
 
Some more cool ideas for the flag that Ive come across.

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And for historical purposes theres the first massachusetts bay colony flag
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And the second massachusetts bay colony flag.
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An update! https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/why-we-need-a-new-state-seal-and-motto/

Work resumes next month, apparently.

Second, Massachusetts should incorporate symbols and terms in a new seal and motto that are aspirational and inclusive of the diverse perspectives, histories, and experiences of Massachusetts residents. We presented a list of appropriate symbols in the categories of flora (examples: eastern white pine, elm tree, cranberries), fauna (chickadee, cod, feather, turkey), and geographic features (ocean, hills, coastline, state shape). We recommended terms including “Commonwealth,” “For the common good,” “equality,” “hope,” “liberty,” “peace,” “reciprocity,” and the names of tribal nations.
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I think I'm a no on the turkey or the state shape (one of the big no nos of flag design).

They also note that a survey is coming later this year and that they'd need to change State Law to make the flag anything other than a seal-on-a-bedsheet, which they hope to propose to do.
 
I don't like any flag that has a person on it - that's why I hate the current Mass and Maine flags.

I like broad symbols of the state: Colors to represent the sea, land, ocean and the cities. Maybe a symbol that represents unity of the people and our educational institutions. A number of the above flags give us a good starting point.
 
I have to say now that some time has passed the one Ive kept going back to is the one based on the sons of liberty flag. It is by far my favorite proposal that has been proposed.

First and foremost it has the 3 essential elements that all good flags have. Its instantly recognizable, its simple so as a kid could easily draw it from memory, and it has important meaning.

It takes the flag of the sons of liberty (responsible for carrying out the tea party) and adds the pine tree from the new england flag into the top left corner. Thats basically it. Simple, effective. Instant icon imo. With flags less is more most of the time. Most flags are just some variation of 3 different colored stripes and it works great. According to the site it was also ranked #1 out of all proposals as well.

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https://briancham1994.com/2022/02/07/proposed-flag-of-massachusetts-2/


Its just a badass flag imo.
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It’s probably a non-starter because the vertical stripes will generate jokes about prison bars.
 
RandomWalk said:
It’s probably a non-starter because the vertical stripes will generate jokes about prison bars.
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More likely, the issue with that flag is what other similar flags currently symbolise; namely, the Coast Guard ensign and the CBP flag - While the CG is politically uncontroversial, CBP... Not so much. (the only difference between the two flags is that the CG flag adds the CG crest.) It's not spectacularly common, but by law it's supposed to be flown at every border crossing.

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Frankly, I prefer we reach into the bag of existing flags and grab one of the following: MA Maritime ensign, previous reverse of the existing flag, or Flag of new England.
 

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I've always thought we should incorporate Cranberry (the color) into our flag. Blue, Yellow, White, and Cranberry, maybe something with the Sacred Cod. I know we have a lot of modern industry in our state's history, but highlighting our iconic industrial history (Maritime, Fishing, Cranberry bogs) would be a cool look!
 
I guess I’d vote for the flag in Trumbull’s Bunker Hill painting. The painting depicts one of the most stirring moments in local history, and it represents something that was “our moment”.
www.americanrevolution.org

All About the Battle of Bunker's Hill Painting by John Trumbull

Learn about the The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's Hill, an oil painting by John Trumbull, finished in 1786.
www.americanrevolution.org www.americanrevolution.org
 
tobyjug said:
I guess I’d vote for the flag in Trumbull’s Bunker Hill painting. The painting depicts one of the most stirring moments in local history, and it represents something that was “our moment”.
www.americanrevolution.org

All About the Battle of Bunker's Hill Painting by John Trumbull

Learn about the The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker's Hill, an oil painting by John Trumbull, finished in 1786.
www.americanrevolution.org www.americanrevolution.org
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Thats already used as the new england flag, the one in my avatar.

There is a historical massachusetts flag which is very similar. Its the same flag just without the pine tree, the massachusetts bay colony flag. I wouldnt be against using that due to the history. Also it would be pretty cool for the MA state flag to be one of the parts that make up the new england flag. It would be like how the union jack is made up of the different flags of the constituent countries of the uk combined together.

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https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Bay_Colony
 
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Bananarama said:
The way the tree seems to float half way off the edge of that stripe gives me anxiety.

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Agree -- a flag that combines a clean field with stripes should not have any of the stripes be the same color as the field. In this case, we would want to leave the white and red stripes, and make the square some other color. Or at least outline it in a contrasting color, maybe the same green used in the tree.
 
stick n move said:
So the coast guard ensign and cbp flags are wrong then.
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Aesthetics are not necessarily objective, so I wouldn't say they are wrong, so much as that they don't appeal to my personal sense of design. Seems to be true for a few other people, too. But most of us will rarely see either of those flags. The state flag should be a bit more prominent in our lives. If we are discussing new ideas for it, I'd like to not see the stripes bleed in to the corner field.
 
I wish we could use update the An Appeal to Heaven flag from Maritime to state flag, but it seems that the white nationalists have been using it as well.


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