California's flag - made me think a little bit

[Hawkeye-X]

Please understand - I love California and try to frequent there as often as I can (Trip is planned for '09).

How many do Californians stare at that flag and think - are they California Republicans and eventually go the likes of Arnold Schwartzeneggar

Are there such idiots like that? Do other state flags have "Republic" on it?

What do _you_ think?

Hawkeye-X

[LSparkle]

1. I think California was a republic the same way Texas was at one time

I've lived in California since I was 3 and I've never thought anything political about the fact our flag has the word "republic" on it. And despite having produced Nixxxxxon, Ray-Gun and now Ah-node (WE ARE SOOOO SORRY!), I still think of California as a liberal state (meaning the word on the flag hasn't affected our political leanings).

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Well, that's an interesting thought...

But ...no.

I do not think that anyone here turns into a Republican just because our state flag has the word republic on it...

I don't know if other state flags have that word on them...

There are lots of idiots here, but I can't see our state flag influencing them this way...

:shrug:

[Hawkeye-X]

5. It was just the way I was thinking it.

:hugs:

[fenriswolf]

11. actually a republic is a lot more citizen friendly

then a democracy. for one thing republics usually work on the run off ballot system. Private citizens can bring forth issues to parliment. Its actually a very nice system (think greek republic) of course back then it was only rich white males but things can change.

[defendandprotect]

20. Didn't California give women the vote long time before the amendment --- ???

[XemaSab]

3. When I look at our state's flag I think

"Hell yeah, we totally should secede!" :D

[Cooley Hurd]

4. I don't like the goddamn bear on it!

[LWolf]

6. Do other states fly an animal that has been eradicated from the state?

The California Grizzly has been extinct for almost a century.

I love my former state. California has a rich history, and the first bear flag is part of that. The California Republic only lasted a few weeks, but it opened the revolt against Mexico that led to California eventually becoming part of the United States: another republic.

[immoderate]

7. Texas, Vermont, and California are all former Republics...

Each was, in some sense, an independent country before it joined the Union.

--IMM

[stimbox]

8. I tend to focus on the Red Star.

I also like to think of it as the California Democratic Republic.
We should change it to The Democratic People's Republic of California, or DPRC for short.
We should just secede and become a republic again.

[Kadie]

9. California; 43% Dem, 33% Rep

Feb 1, 2008 3:42 pm US/Pacific
Voter Reg. High For Early Presidential Primary

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ― Voter registration for Tuesday's election is about 700,000 higher than during the last California presidential primary four years ago.

snip...
About 43 percent of California voters are registered as Democrats, who added 150,000 voters. The Republican Party added 40,000 voters and accounts for 33 percent of the electorate.

more...
http://cbs13.com/local/california.voters.presidental.2.643954.html

[Mountainman]

10. It has nothing to do with a political party

Historic Bear Flag raised at Sonoma on June 14, 1846, by a group of American settlers in revolt against Mexican rule. The flag was designed by William Todd on a piece of new unbleached cotton. The star imitated the lone star of Texas. A grizzly bear represented the many bears seen in the state. The word, "California Republic" was placed beneath the star and bear. It was adopted by the 1911 State Legislature as the State Flag.

[fenriswolf]

12. not so much the flag

California, its really something I can't descirbe. Well it's home for one thing, I know the cities of the bay area like the back of my hand. We as a state have a huge GNP with hollywood and silicon valley. It seems we as a state are more progressive and keep moving forward dragging the rest of the country behind. We as a state are more open and friendly to people of different types. Oh of course california has its downfalls but after living in kentucky, tennesee, visiting texas, michigan, and stopping for a couple days in some other states, I love california and the people that inhabit it.

[Raine]

13. I'm proud of my state calling itself a republic

makes it more like a nation onto itself. I never think of in regard to the reTHUGlicans and I doubt hardly any Californian does.

[rug]

14. That flag was designed by Mary Todd Lincoln's nephew.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Republic

[allalone]

15. when I saw it flying the other day

I started to think if there was a way to work it to escape what America is becoming.

[allalone]

16. not that kind of republic.

[Garbo 2004]

17. Flag based on history: Bear Flag Republic (1846) as others have noted. n/t

[Donk Yore]

18. flag shmag

I am a member of the universe without the need to salute or shed a tear for any flag.

[kineneb]

19. Bring back the Bear Flag Republic!

Tell the George and Dick Police State to do rude things to itsself.

2nd generation Native Californian. Celebrating my family's 100th year in the Golden State.

[Der Blaue Engel]

21. Here's a little ditty you may or may not have heard before

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all."

(And yes, I left out that God nonsense that they threw in during the McCarthy era.)

[Two Americas]

22. Michigan

Michigan's motto is "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look around you" and I'll be damned if everyone in the state hasn't turned into a seeker because of that. Of course, with the collapse of the economy in Michigan, they are leaving and seeking work.

And speaking of the collapsing economy, isn't that a little more important than mottos on flags?

Actually I think it was a Republican adminstration in Michigan that caused the economy to collapse and forced people to seek work elsewhere, rather than the flag.

[NutmegYankee]

24. Look at Connecticut's flag:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Flag_of_Connecticut.svg

"He who transplants sustains us"

No offense, but the migrants who have transplanted up here get sustained by the rest of us. :shrug:

[NutmegYankee]

23. US Consitution - Article IV, section 4:

Section 4 - Republican government

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.



As a note:

The Republican party of course didn't even exist when this was written. It's just a way of saying each state much be a republic, so that for instance, Xtian Fundamentalists cannot turn South Carolina into a Theocracratic State. Legally...

Republic
republic n 1 : a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and is usually a president; also : a nation or other political unit having such a government 2 : a government in which supreme power is held by the citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives governing according to law; also : a nation or other political unit having such a form of government


http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Article4

[blindpig]

25. The bear is extinct, what's that say? n/t

[Orsino]

26. I think it's bigoted of California to honor her bears...

...while neglecting her leather guys.