As I mentioned in my OP, things like bears or beavers or sunflowers are perfectly good symbols. You just have to render them simply and clearly with no detail.
Yes we can. The human mind can easily recognize hundred and hundreds of simple patterns and symbols.
Remember the effective size of a flag flying in a pole is one square inch on a piece of paper in front of you. And moving and flapping.
I’m not sure I would argue that DC’s flag is distinctive, at least not in the same way as New Mexico’s. DC’s flag could be the flag of any polity, but New Mexico’s couldn’t be anyone else’s. It’s still pretty good on the other points, though.
It’s a good design. I don’t find it attractive but it works.
I agree, as a fellow Ohioan, I think our flag is trying to hard. It wouldn’t be as bad if it were actually flag shape. As is, it takes 2 people and 17 steps just to fold it:
Also on the subject of Hateable Flags: Our Governors shouldn’t get their own flags. It’s so incredibly embarrassing. They don’t deserve their own personal flags. They’re just citizens, just like the rest of us!
As a voter in that poll I was quite happy with the lineup of the top 10.
And to be fair, that was Georgia’s short-lived “placemat” flag that got the thumbs down (was that ever a mistake)
Myself I tend to bend the guidelines when it comes to arms/seals just as long as they are straightforward and easily recognizable. Which the state seals in most those blue-bedsheet flags are not.
No, I’m saying that Florida and Alabama’s saltires which were adopted intentionally with reference to the Confederacy, should be scrapped.
I believe that no official of any democratic government should have any personal symbols of any kind, so I would get rid of our presidential flag, seal, and “Hail to the Chief” too.
I think this pretty much accords with what I’m saying.
Did I forget to say I’m an Ohioan? I think it’s a good flag. I think the unusual shape is a plus, not s negative. As I said, the only improvement I would make is to ditch the stars. They’re just clutter.
Yeah, “republic” as an official term for a subnational entity is very Soviet.
Plus, the victor is holding a large bong!
or is that a giant dildo?
Florida sez it was in reference to the Spanish Empire.
Wikipedia says otherwise - the Florida saltire refers to the Spanish Burgundian saltire. The governor who added it thought that the previous flag - the state seal on a white field - looked like a flag of surrender when hanging limp.
Alabama’s was actually inspired by flag carried by an Alabama regiment in the Civil War. Okay, that is Confederate-inspired, but how many people know that? I’ve certainly never associated either flag with the Confederacy before. Given that the Alabama and Florida flags fulfills your other aesthetic of being a simple, easy-to-recognize design, I’d give them a pass.
ETA: Ninja’d by DrDeth! Dammit.
I lived in Michigan for 11 years, and I still had no idea what the state flag looked like. If pressed, I would have said “block yellow M on a blue background?” Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I lived in Ann Arbor. 
It didn’t take me nearly that long to learn the Washington state flag when I moved here. I do like the green background - appropriate for the Evergreen State. If I were to redesign it, maybe copy Washington’s coat of arms from the D.C. flag, but make it white on green?
I am afraid my PA flag sucks, just the state seal on a blue field.
I’m thinking you could still go with Washington’s bust, maybe in silhouette form?
I rather like Oregon’s flag. And it is unique, being the only state flag with different designs on the opposite sides.
I also like the unique pennant style of Ohio’s flag. Flag of Ohio - Wikipedia
Back when President Obama was running for his first term I thought it was hilarious to see a comment in an online article about him. It showed Obama at a rally/appearance in Ohio. One ignorant comment maker was frothing at the mouth about how he had desecrated the US flag, changing it into an emblem to promote his candidacy. They didn’t stop to learn that what they were talking about was the Ohio flag.
Oregon could keep their two-sided flag: Move the beaver to the front, and put a donkey on the reverse.
I love flags!
Actually, this is what bothers me about all the knee-jerk reactions to “confederate symbolism in state flags!” Everyone thinks they see something that may or may not be there.
Florida is a perfect example. That flag has its roots in the Spanish Empire in North America. Yes, it has a red cross, but that is more a coincidence than a backdoor way to salute the confederacy. The CSA never had a red cross anyway. The most popular confederate flag, as has been discussed ad nauseum over the past 2 weeks, was the battle flag of the army of Northern Virginia. And THAT flag was a square, with a blue St. Andrew’s cross. This is the flag which has been incorporated into Mississippi’s flag. If people want to complain about Mississippi’s flag, fine… But Florida and Alabama? Florida’s flag was basically a red cross on a white field in 1513. So no, I don’t like the idea of getting rid of all state flags that have a much deeper history than the CSA. The Saint Andrew’s Cross is incorporated in many flags, including the UK’s.
Likewise, any state that was part of the Confederacy that had red white and blue as part of their colors (with some white stars tossed in) should not have to give up their flag just because it “reminds” someone of the CSA flag.
Hell, Tennessee’s flag has red, white, and blue, and a few white stars. Does THAT one have to go, also?
As for me, I HATE any flag that has the name of the state. Idaho is particularly bad, with the name on the flag twice, and probably only inches away from each other. It’s bizarre.
Flush most of the original 13 colonies, and any flag that has a state seal.
I have always liked the SC FLAG, but the flag in the link shows a palmetto tree much more detailed than I’ve ever seen before. Don’t like that one. And why does SC get a pass? That flag flies over the first state to leave the union. Their flag was adopted on Jan 28, 1861… That is right BEFORE they fired on Ft. Sumter.
I agree with whoever said Wyoming was close… But that seal ruins it.
I also like New Mexico’s design, but I am not a big fan of those colors.
My favorite state flag is Texas. That is one classic design, and incorporates the red, white and blue very nicely. And I don’t think of the confederacy when I see it. I think Texas. Adopted in 1839, its roots are established long before the confederate battle flag was even thought about. So they get to keep theirs (IMO).
I wonder… Would anyone have an objection to a southern state, like Mississippi adopting the Bonnie Blue flag (an all blue flag with a single white star in the center)? That is a beautiful, simple flag, and was an unofficial flag of the confederacy.
What about if a northern state, like Pennsylvania adopted the blue flag with a single white star? That would be great! Ditch those mirrored horses! I like simple, clean design elements for flags, and the Bonnie Blue Flag would be a great design change. Just use a slightly different shade of blue, and we have a winner!
No, the idea is to preserve what is a good design, while removing what makes it connected to the Confederacy. You know, a deliberate attempt to remove the negative symbolism. Characterizing it as trying to “hide the connection” is showing extreme bad faith, and would be fairly characterized as looking to be offended.
The only purpose it to make it where no one who sees the flag would think it honors the Confederacy. If you admit it would be okay otherwise, then it’s okay.