From The Editor’s Desk: Illinois Missed Out Not Changing Its Flag

In January and February, vexillological Illinoisans engaged in a process led by the state to select a new state flag. Disappointingly, citizens who participated in the process overwhelmingly voted to retain the current flag, which some have lovingly dubbed a “Seal on a Bedsheet” — or SOB.

Voters were presented 13 potential designs, with 10 picked from hundreds of submissions and the other options being the 1918 centennial flag, the 1968 sesquicentennial flag and, of course, the SOB. In the end, the SOB won out, receiving 43% of the nearly 385,000 votes cast — more than the next six finalists combined, The Associated Press reported.

The SOB is just fine — and there’s certainly some upside to the state not needing to replace hundreds of flags — but I’m disappointed in Illinois’ unwillingness to delve into the unknown and take a risk. 

Although the state legislature will have final say over whether a new flag is adopted, it seems very unlikely they’ll buck the voters and chart a new path. 

The vast white expanse featured on the Illinois flag sticks out like a sore thumb when it’s flown next to arguably two of the greatest of all flags — the Chicago municipal and the stars and stripes. Competing with such stellar insignias is a battle the SOB will never win, and now voters have all but designated our white flag as one of surrender.

The majority of American state flags simply display the state’s seal against a white or blue background — they’re nearly indistinguishable from each other, and the details on the seals are often hard to make out from below. 

Recent flag changes in Minnesota and Utah have been criticized for evoking corporate art stylings, and others argue removing state seals from flags can strip a historical element from their design. Love them or hate them, though, at least these states have been willing to try something different. 

While not every new design will be a winner, it’s just as easy to replace the replacement with a new design if it really ends up being that much of a stinker. You can’t make an omelet without trying out a few flags.

Illinois could’ve led the way in ushering in a new era of unique and creative state flag designs. Instead by resigning ourselves to playing it safe for the foreseeable future we’re stuck with the same old SOB.