Commonwealth of Virginia
For this discussion, I present the flag I was born under. I had a sticker of this state flag in a "playroom" attached to my bedroom. (This room actually was part of the attic over the garage in my home.) I think the sticker is still there, actually.
I will wait for the first comment before I enter my own thoughts. But, along with the flag, I present the actual code that stipulates the flag's characteristics as well as the code describing the "seal."
§ 7.1-32. Flag of the Commonwealth.
The flag of the Commonwealth shall hereafter be made of bunting or merino. It shall be a deep blue field, with a circular white centre of the same material. Upon this circle shall be painted or embroidered, to show on both sides alike, the coat of arms of the Commonwealth, as described in § 7.1-26 for the obverse of the great seal of the Commonwealth; and there shall be a white silk fringe on the outer edge, furthest from the flagstaff. This shall be known and respected as the flag of Virginia. (Virginia Code 1950, § 7-32; 1966, c. 102.)
§ 7.1-26. The great seal.
The great seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall consist of two metallic discs, two and one-fourth inches in diameter, with an ornamental border one fourth of an inch wide, with such words and figures engraved thereon as will, when used, produce impressions to be described as follows: On the obverse, Virtus, the genius of the Commonwealth, dressed as an Amazon, resting on a spear in her right hand, point downward, touching the earth; and holding in her left hand, a sheathed sword, or parazonium, pointing upward; her head erect and face upturned; her left foot on the form of Tyranny represented by the prostrate body of a man, with his head to her left, his fallen crown nearby, a broken chain in his left hand, and a scourge in his right. Above the group and within the border conforming therewith, shall be the word "Virginia," and, in the space below, on a curved line, shall be the motto, "Sic Semper Tyrannis." On the reverse, [deleted]...
(Code 1950, § 7-26; 1966, c. 102.)
--gh
I will wait for the first comment before I enter my own thoughts. But, along with the flag, I present the actual code that stipulates the flag's characteristics as well as the code describing the "seal."
§ 7.1-32. Flag of the Commonwealth.
The flag of the Commonwealth shall hereafter be made of bunting or merino. It shall be a deep blue field, with a circular white centre of the same material. Upon this circle shall be painted or embroidered, to show on both sides alike, the coat of arms of the Commonwealth, as described in § 7.1-26 for the obverse of the great seal of the Commonwealth; and there shall be a white silk fringe on the outer edge, furthest from the flagstaff. This shall be known and respected as the flag of Virginia. (Virginia Code 1950, § 7-32; 1966, c. 102.)
§ 7.1-26. The great seal.
The great seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall consist of two metallic discs, two and one-fourth inches in diameter, with an ornamental border one fourth of an inch wide, with such words and figures engraved thereon as will, when used, produce impressions to be described as follows: On the obverse, Virtus, the genius of the Commonwealth, dressed as an Amazon, resting on a spear in her right hand, point downward, touching the earth; and holding in her left hand, a sheathed sword, or parazonium, pointing upward; her head erect and face upturned; her left foot on the form of Tyranny represented by the prostrate body of a man, with his head to her left, his fallen crown nearby, a broken chain in his left hand, and a scourge in his right. Above the group and within the border conforming therewith, shall be the word "Virginia," and, in the space below, on a curved line, shall be the motto, "Sic Semper Tyrannis." On the reverse, [deleted]...
(Code 1950, § 7-26; 1966, c. 102.)
--gh
6 Comments:
OK. Obviously, an immediate (and large) deduction because it falls into the CLSOBB (Crappy Little Seal On Blue Background) category.
Again, minus for including the name of the state on the flag. But, a plus because there is no yellow (esp. yellow text) on the flag. Far too many states have a navy blue/yellow theme going on.
More latin. I guess that means 'always down with tyrrany' or something. Maybe it's my historical knowledge deficiency, but that doesn't say "Virginia" to me. Plus a few because there is a breast, and this is a flag from a southern state, and there has been no move yet to put a modesty robe over the breast.
OK. Overall, I give this a 3.65. Key points it has over Kansas: historical symbolism, lack of yellow, relative symplicity, and a breast.
-m
By
m, at 2:36 PM
I must say I'm impressed with the female/male thing going on here. Apparently, The Man is being kept down by the wo-man. I guess that should make the women's lib people happy. But then maybe the wardrobe malfunction could be interpretted as The Man's exploitation of women. That somehow makes me happy. He's down for the count, has a spear pointed at him, and yet he still gets the last laugh. Long live The Man!
By
girl, at 5:18 PM
Oh yeah, points for the Burger King crown too.
By
girl, at 5:19 PM
Yes, major points off for the stupid seal on a boring flag. As seals go, it is a strange one.
Okay, a little history is in order here (and not Virginia history). I think the wardrobe malfunction (thanks, Girl, that cheered me up) is slightly exaggerated. You see, if she is to be an Amazonian warrior, then she wouldn't even have a breast there. Amazons lopped off the left breast to aid in their archery skills. Perhaps what we are seeing is actually a metallic medalion, like Janet wore (or is that "Ms. Jackson if we're nasty?") The etymology of the word, from a+mazos, means without breast.
Okay, now for some Virginia history. It is odd that all of the original land grants, that created the Tidewater Cavalier an almost aristocracy, was actually given from the British crown. "Thus always to Tyrants?" that depends on who represents tyranny. Just remember that American slavery pretty much started on these plantations, and then spread to the rest of the South later on.
Virginia gets points for not flaunting its antiquated "Commonwealth" status on the flag.
Points are also added because that dude can see up her dress.
This flag only gets a 3.2, though. This commonweath needs to start over (look how well Puerto Rico did!).
--gh
By
BlackLineFish, at 2:29 AM
Any flag definitely loses points for Latin. In fact, any sort of classical Roman or Greek references are just uppity for a country that's not yet 250 years old.
By
DrSchnell, at 1:12 PM
I was born under this flag too. This is actually the very first flag to use the "State Seal on Blue Background". Unfortunate in the influence it had. It is one of the better ones of the type, but is in desperate need of a re-design. I've actually come up with a few pretty good ideas.
By
Voron X, at 12:30 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home