Jim Nielson’s op-ed, (“Proposed designs of Utah flag guided by comic-book vision”) published in The Salt Lake Tribune on Sept. 27 states his wish to keep the existing state flag with its “beautiful emblem” and “vivid details.”
Nielson warns the advocates of redesign: “don’t tell me to do away with our flag and all that it means.” Should I challenge his schoolyard taunt, Nielson says he’s willing to tear my house down.
Nielson’s irrelevant arguments and insults do not give reason to his defense of the current flag. He doesn’t tell us “all that it means.” Still, he suggests the state seal, designed to adorn official documents and stationery, should continue to do double duty on Utah’s state flag.
He proudly reminds the reader that he once rescued and refined the flag’s seal because it needed fixing and, “We fixed it.”
I challenge Neilson to identify his “fixed” version in a side-by-side display of similar state flags from Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire and South Dakota, all of which have placed their state seal in the middle of a blue field.
Then, I challenge Neilson the architect to explain why the flags of Colorado and Texas (for example) could be called comic-book versions of a flag, or how the flag of the United States might be considered the work of a kindergartner.
Woody Rainey, New York City, New York
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