The whole point of free speech is not to make ideas exempt from criticism but to expose them to it.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Flag bill annoys Newland

HB 1235 (read it here) proposes to ditch the current state flag design and replace it with one by Spearfish artist Dick Termes. (Rapid City Journal story here)

Based on Bob Mercer's blog, it appears that Bernie Hunhoff came into the capitol a few days ago and got co-sponsors to sign the flag bill. And he appears to have cut a wide swath through both chambers in acquiring them.
Introduced by: Representatives Hunhoff (Bernie), Abdallah, Blake, Brunner, Conzet, Cronin, Deelstra, Dennert, Dryden, Elliott, Fargen, Feickert, Feinstein, Gibson, Greenfield, Hansen (Jon), Hawley, Hickey, Hoffman, Iron Cloud III, Jones, Killer, Kirkeby, Kirschman, Kloucek, Kopp, Liss, Lucas, Lust, Magstadt, Miller, Moser, Munsterman, Novstrup (David), Olson (Betty), Perry, Rausch, Romkema, Rozum, Schaefer, Schrempp, Scott, Sigdestad, Sly, Solum, Street, Stricherz, Tornow, Tulson, Turbiville, Van Gerpen, Verchio, White, Wick, Willadsen, and Wismer and Senators Holien, Bradford, Brown, Buhl, Cutler, Frerichs, Fryslie, Gray, Hansen (Tom), Hundstad, Johnston, Juhnke, Kraus, Krebs, Lederman, Maher, Nelson (Tom), Novstrup (Al), Peters, Putnam, Rampelberg, Rave, Schlekeway, Sutton, and Tidemann
This is what annoys me. Hunhoff is known and knows people statewide. He knows there are many talented graphic artists in South Dakota. He is well-acquainted with the common custom of submitting a proposed change to a public icon to a call-for-artists, then submitting the entries to a committee chosen by, say, the governor, and letting the best design win.

I don't think Dick Termes would object to a competition. It could be that his design would win in the end. I think it's worthy, but I haven't seen any other suggestions (except mine, a few posts below).

I just don't get why Bernie would go about trying to change the state flag design the way he did.

House State Affairs will hear testimony on the bill in a couple of days. As of this moment, it has not yet been scheduled.

6 comments:

larry kurtz said...

I'm avoiding your point but: what if, instead of the cross in the middle, replace it with the shield?

Bob Newland said...

The "cross" is actually part of a stylized medicine wheel, which is what your "shield" is.

Douglas said...

When I saw the proposed flag in the previous post here, I thought it was all a joke just to get the other joke images into a post.

It looks like the logo for a dog food bag or hog feed.

Bob Newland said...

After all this time, Douglas, you should know that the Decorum Forum is not a place for "jokes."

Douglas said...

Sorry Bob. For just a moment I forget the overwhelming, mind-numbing seriousness of this blog.

Incidentally, Bill Fleming is promising to embarrass me with his knowledge of flags and symbols and my apparent ignorance in the face of expert opinion at Mt. Blogmore.

I have got to get another cup of coffee to prepare for the onslaught.

Bob Newland said...

I saw that, Doug. It'll take more'n coffee. I recommend valium and tequila.