# What should the Libyan flag be? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 22, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710 "2011-08-22T22:41:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/1 "2011-08-22T22:41:16Z")
There are two current Libyan flags: 1. Libyan Republic (National Transitional Council): used by rebels, who decide to revive the flag previously used between 1951 and 1969 [File:Flag of Libya (1951–1969).svg - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Libya_(1951).svg) Description: Horizontal stripes red (top), black (middle), green (bottom); white crescent and star on the black stripe 2. Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya: Gaddafi government flag, adopted in 1977 [Flag of Libya - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Libya) Description: Green Optional write-in votes: any of [Libya’s historical flags](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Libya) My vote: stick with the all-green flag. It’s easy to draw, and it’s unique, no other country has a flag that’s just one colour with no design on it. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/2 "2011-08-22T22:44:14Z")
And if a moderator could remove the extra “r” in the thread title, that would be great. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Bri2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/48db29/32.png) [@Bri2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bri2k)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/3 "2011-08-22T23:11:33Z")
Sorry had to vote for the tricolor. Not only is it visually more appealing, but realistically, there’s no way they’d keep the Gaddafi flag. Bri2k ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/4 "2011-08-22T23:18:08Z")
I went for the tricolor for aesthetic reasons. An all-green flag looks dumb IMO. Mind you, I also think the flag of Cyprus looks like someone peed on it so perhaps my views on flags are not the most relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/5 "2011-08-22T23:21:14Z")
Come on, no way they’re going to keep Gaddafi’s flag. They’re going to fly the one the revolution fought under. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/6 "2011-08-22T23:23:25Z")
One one hand we have a flag with baggage and is quite plain, but at least it’s original. On the other hand we have a flag that looks like every other flag in the Middle East and North Africa. Ideally, find a new one. If they must use the Pan-Arab colors, use something more original than Crescent and star/Star/A Couple Stars/Religious slogan. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/7 "2011-08-22T23:27:46Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > And if a moderator could remove the extra “r” in the thread title, that would be great. ☹ Even better would be to change it to Librarian, for extra confusion. 🙂 I voted tricolor flag. Break with past and all that. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/8 "2011-08-22T23:32:19Z")
I can understand the Pan-Arab colors, but they should replace the star and crescents with scimitars or some other cool Barbary pirate imagery. It would definitely send a “Don’t fuck with us!” vibe. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2011, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/9 "2011-08-22T23:35:56Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > One one hand we have a flag with baggage and is quite plain, but at least it’s original. On the other hand we have a flag that looks like every other flag in the Middle East and North Africa. I’d say the big black stripe makes it pretty distinctive, actually. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/10 "2011-08-23T00:00:20Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > One one hand we have a flag with baggage and is quite plain, but at least it’s original. On the other hand we have a flag that looks like every other flag in the Middle East and North Africa. Could be worse, could have gone for the UAR Red over White over Black with a hard-to-distinguish emblem in the middle, like they did in the early 70s. At the time at least the green flag meant you could tell them apart. The black band with crescent is the colors of the old Idrissite royal dynasty (the Cyrenaican emirs) so that was why it was originally dumped by the '69 revolution. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/11 "2011-08-23T00:05:06Z")
They all suck. Make a new one. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/12 "2011-08-23T00:13:15Z")
They should have the flag \*they \*want. It would be hard to imagine them wanting one other than the one they fought for and won their freedom under, though. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/13 "2011-08-23T00:14:46Z")
No, they should have the flag _I_ want, because I know what’s best for them. I do agree however that there is small chance that they will keep the all-green flag. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/14 "2011-08-23T00:37:43Z")
I’ve always been a fan of the solid green flag. Distinctive, simple, and unique. There is however no way in hell it won’t go the way of Qadaffi (I hereby pledge not to spell Khadaffy the same way twice until he is captured) when this is wrapped up. The tricolour isn’t horrible, but I think **MsRobyn** is onto something. I vote for a skull and crossbones on the black stripe in place of the star and crescent. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/15 "2011-08-23T01:16:16Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > They should have the flag \*they \*want. It would be hard to imagine them wanting one other than the one they fought for and won their freedom under, though. No, the nation of “Pepsi Presents: The New Libyan Republic” will take whatever flag and logo we give them and be happy with it! Apologies to the Simpsons ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/16 "2011-08-23T01:50:39Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > And if a moderator could remove the extra “r” in the thread title, that would be great. ☹ Is done. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/17 "2011-08-23T05:22:52Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > I’ve always been a fan of the solid green flag. Distinctive, simple, and unique. There is however no way in hell it won’t go the way of Qadaffi […] when this is wrapped up. I feel the same way. My only hope is that they keep the one color motif, but pick a different color. How about red, for the blood spilled in obtaining freedom? Or something like purple or orange, which seem so rare in flag colors? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/18 "2011-08-23T15:26:45Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Is done. Thank you Czarcasm. Since it’s supposed to be the flag of the revolution, how about the plain green flag with a raised fist on it? Power to the people? ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2011, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-should-the-libyan-flag-be/593710/19 "2011-08-23T16:09:49Z")
How about Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi (NY Times spelling)'s head (in distinctive hat and sunglasses) on a spike? Too few countries have impaled heads on flags.