There’s a resolution to the continuing controversy over changing the state’s historic seal, flag and motto that critics have deemed racist.
That is the seal that’s composed of a Native American holding a bow in a single hand and an arrow within the different. He’s wearing native garb and has feathers on the again of his head.
Above him is an arm holding a sword that could possibly be interpreted as threatening,
Draped across the picture is the Latin motto that interprets into, “By the sword we seek peace, but peace under liberty.”
A particular revamped fee just lately proposed a number of insipid design replacements that may eradicate the Native American and his bow and arrow, together with the sword-wielding arm.
The stirring motto would additionally get replaced with one thing like “We rejoice in the public good.”
The fee will maintain a collection of public hearings to collect enter after which make suggestions to the governor.
Gov. Maura Healey can have the choice of constructing suggestions for modifications to the Legislature or to simply go away nicely sufficient alone.
Given the governor’s wokeness, it’s anticipated she is going to go together with no matter milk toast modifications the fee recommends.
Though a local of New Hampshire, Healey isn’t any reside free or die warrior.
In addition to, the matter has develop into a political challenge and since each Republican candidates for governor are for holding issues the identical, Healey might advocate modifications.
As GOP candidate Brian Shortsleeve, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, put it, “We have a great flag. It’s a flag I love. It’s a flag that represents our heritage.”
Shortsleeve and fellow GOP candidate Mike Kennealy made their remarks in response to a Herald ballot that confirmed that 82% of readers polled need no change.
Whereas not an ex-Marine, Kennealy appeared like one. He stated, “Our state flag represents freedom from tyranny and is a symbol of Massachusetts.”
The seal, flag and motto return to 1786. The seal is printed on all state paperwork and the flag information at or over all state buildings.
The proposal to switch the “racist” seal stemmed from the riots following the killing of George Floyd in 2020, when rioters demanding change tore down Accomplice statues and altered names, amongst different issues.
Therefore, the creation of the fee that known as for the controversial elimination of the historic and established state seal, flag and motto.
One resolution (mine) is, that if modifications are to be made, they need to be made to attraction to each side of the controversy — the anti-seal progressives and the pro-seal conservatives.
The Native American on the seal is supposedly primarily based on one in all two (or each) Native Individuals who have been among the many first to greet the Pilgrims in Plymouth in 1620. They have been Samoset of the Jap Abenaki tribe, and Squanto, a Wampanoag.
That Native American on the seal could possibly be changed, for example, by one of many Pilgrims — say William Bradford, the Pilgrim chief, or Miles Standish, the group’s army commander.
As an alternative of the bow and arrow, the Bradford or Standish alternative, wearing worn-out Pilgrim garb, can be sporting a helmet and holding a matchlock musket.
The arm above the seal can be wielding a tomahawk as an alternative of a sword.
And the Latin motto would learn, “By the tomahawk we seek peace, it’s too bad you didn’t.”
Veteran political reporter Peter Lucas might be reached at: [email protected]
