{"id":6314,"date":"2019-03-30T11:11:18","date_gmt":"2019-03-30T16:11:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/?p=6314"},"modified":"2019-03-31T09:29:06","modified_gmt":"2019-03-31T14:29:06","slug":"truth-in-arkansas-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/2019\/03\/truth-in-arkansas-stars\/","title":{"rendered":"Truth in the Stars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Four<\/a>
The symbolism of the four blue stars on Arkansas flag is explained.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been embarrassing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The state flag of Arkansas includes an explicit reference to the Confederacy. The overall design<\/a> can be seen as having similarities to the Confederate battle flag of the American Civil War. The early 20th-century legislation establishing the banner sets four large blue stars within a diamond to refer to the nations to which Arkansas has belonged: a triangle indicating Spain, France and the United States, and separately and uppermost the Confederacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the 2019 General Session of the Arkansas Legislature, a Democratic Little Rock representative proposed dropping the Confederate reference and making a star symbolize the indigenous tribes that dwelled here before the European conquests. It was twice defeated<\/a> in committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why take the state\u2019s word on such a matter? Why not as citizens proclaim the four blue stars be both inclusive and accurate? This detail might not make a sanctioned state history textbook, but a nongovernmental group could promote an alternative symbolism in defiance of accepted and prejudicial dogma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local 965 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees approved such a resolution March 28, 2019. I wrote the text, being a union member, sitting on the board as recording secretary and communications director. [A <\/em>similar post<\/em><\/a> is on the 965 website.]<\/em> The rationale is that nearly all Local members are directly and indirectly workers in education. A modern flag is a teaching device, presenting facts and concepts. Educators have a vested interest in symbols that we use to impart knowledge and values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Star Crossed: A Symbolic Act of Civil Disobedience<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

That Local 965, AFSCME, promote a fair and historically accurate representation of the official Arkansas State Flag.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 1923, the Arkansas Legislature has held that its fourth, separate blue star signifies the state\u2019s membership in the Confederacy, the other three blue stars in place from 1913 representing the nations having held the territory from which Arkansas was carved \u2014 Spain, France and since 1803 the United States. (<\/em>Reference<\/em><\/a>)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four-year Confederacy being considered a sovereign state comparable to the Republic, not to mention European nations, pales in comparison to how indigenous tribes dwelled in the region for centuries before, primarily the Quapaw, Osage and Caddo. (Reference<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

In 2019, the honorable state Rep. Charles Blake, D-Little Rock, lost several legislative moves to repurpose that fourth star to represent Native Americans. The top star would mean the U.S. and the lower three the previous sovereignties. We endorse that representation.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We workers, standing for the people of Arkansas, proclaim that our state Legislature has limited authority to embarrass us. If anyone asks, and even if they don\u2019t, we will loudly and proudly state our heritage from the dawn of recorded history as represented in the central four blue stars within the diamond of the banner. If state authorities beg to differ, well tough.<\/em>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s been embarrassing. The state flag of Arkansas includes an explicit reference to the Confederacy. The overall design can be seen as having similarities to the Confederate battle flag of the American Civil War. The early 20th-century legislation establishing the banner sets four large blue stars within a diamond to refer to the nations to which Arkansas […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news-spin"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":253,"url":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/2006\/12\/half-staff-is-half-mast\/","url_meta":{"origin":6314,"position":0},"title":"Half staff is half mast","author":"Ben S. Pollock","date":"December 10, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"(... unless the old sailor or old soldier gets insulted then you never forget that here in landlocked Arkansas it's always half staff) Several American flags in the town of Lowell, home of the headquarters of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, have been flying half staff the last few days. Of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Brick Bats Reportage"","block_context":{"text":"Brick Bats Reportage","link":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/category\/brick-bats-reportage\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6600,"url":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/2020\/07\/subtotal-recall\/","url_meta":{"origin":6314,"position":1},"title":"Subtotal Recall","author":"Ben S. Pollock","date":"July 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Of all the things I might remember about fifth grade \u2014 that would be age 11 plus-minus \u2014 why does the state-mandated Arkansas history semester stay in my noggin? 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Kim\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News, Spin"","block_context":{"text":"News, Spin","link":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/category\/news-spin\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6064,"url":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/2018\/05\/2020-vision-in-2018\/","url_meta":{"origin":6314,"position":3},"title":"2020 Vision in 2018","author":"Ben S. Pollock","date":"May 21, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Remember Conner Eldridge? He was the Democratic opponent to Republican Sen. John Boozman in the 2016 general election. Because Republicans are hot stuff these days and it\u2019s tough to tackle an incumbent he lost. He\u2019s back to lawyering. There\u2019s any number of good people like Eldridge who at least for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Body, Home, Street"","block_context":{"text":"Body, Home, Street","link":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/category\/body-home-street\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Arkansas flag","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/benpollock.com\/brick\/wp-content\/uploads\/68E60AA6-8967-4CE1-BED4-D7B3EF7BBCE2.gif?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":135,"url":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/2005\/07\/cant-see-the-lights\/","url_meta":{"origin":6314,"position":4},"title":"Can’t see the lights","author":"Ben S. Pollock","date":"July 5, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"Copyright 2005 Ben S. Pollock Tuesday, July 5, 2005: For a few weeks, newspaper house ads and broadcast public service announcements have proclaimed that the city of Fayetteville would host a Fourth of July celebration at Baum Stadium of the University of Arkansas. It would succeed the ones held for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Body, Home, Street"","block_context":{"text":"Body, Home, Street","link":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/category\/body-home-street\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8189,"url":"https:\/\/benpollock.com\/brick\/2025\/10\/top-ten-list-top-ten-commandments\/","url_meta":{"origin":6314,"position":5},"title":"Top Ten List of Top Ten Commandments","author":"Ben S. 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