South Carolina’s Proposed State Flag Design Draws Comparisons To ‘Toilet Brush’
Image via Shutterstock
South Carolinians are chopping down the state’s proposed palmetto design for an official flag.
The suggested design, which depicts a palmetto tree, South Carolina’s state tree; and a crescent on an indigo background, has been likened to a tree damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, the Christmas tree from A Charlie Brown Christmas, and, most infamously, a toilet bowl brush.
The artwork was introduced by the South Carolina Flag Study Committee in March 2020 in an attempt to create a flag for official government use, but recently made its rounds after local publication The Post & Courier ran a Twitter poll to find out what locals thought of it. Only 21.8 percent agreed it was “good.”
South Carolina hasn’t had a standardized flag since 1940, though most variations since the 1800s would include a crescent, palmetto tree, and the color blue.
Eric Emerson, the state’s director of archives and history, told TODAY that the new version’s indigo and crescent are inspired by the state’s oldest surviving regimental flag from the Revolutionary War, and while the goal was to spotlight the palmetto, the committee found designing one to be the most “tricky” task.
Emerson described, “There are innumerable examples of historic palmettos… No two are alike.”
The team eventually settled on the 1910 illustration from amateur artist Ellen Heyward Jervey as the basis of the star tree.
In spite of the backlash, the committee isn’t scrapping the proposed design just yet. South Carolina’s general assembly is asking to view at least one other illustration before it makes a decision.
Emerson believes that it will take “a historic palmetto that looks closer to what [people have] seen before” to give locals what they want. “People just want to see something that’s not too different, too dramatic of a change from what they’ve seen,” he added.
Just saw someone describe the palmetto tree on the potential new state flag of South Carolina as a toilet bowl brush. I think I died from laughter. pic.twitter.com/s11fY6zqNs
— Ciara Jade Dove Lee (@SCarolinaCiara) December 30, 2020
Toilet brush is applicable and relevant. Excellent idea.
— Richard Saunders (@BoycottUtah) January 3, 2021
How can you screw up one of the greatest state flags in American history? Well, this South Carolina "historical commission" somehow found a way to do it. https://t.co/EroMNjXGlf
— Jeff B., who on earth is this guy?? (@EsotericCD) January 3, 2021
If that's what your toilet brush looks like then I'd get a new one.
— The Lone Apple🍎 (@The_Lone_Apple) January 3, 2021
[via TODAY, images via various sources]
Also check out these recent news
