Texas eller Chile?

Den ena flaggan representerar Texas, den andra Chile. Vilken är vilken?

Till saken hör att exempelvis Twitter har många nationsflaggor inlagda som "emojis", färdiga symboler som kan plockas fram när någon vill visa sin tillhörighet. Delstatsflaggor är desto sällsyntare. Men eftersom dessa två flaggor är så lika varandra så händer det titt som tätt att glada texaner dekorerar sina meddelanden och profiler med den chilenska flaggan. Och det händer nästan lika ofta att felfinnare uttrycker sin irritation över sakernas tillstånd.

Det är desto ovanligare att politiker försöker att lagstifta mot felaktigt användande av emojis. Men det är just vad som gjordes i Texas House of representatives häromveckan.

Propositionen är så vacker läsning att jag inte kan låta bli att ta med den i sin helhet.

WHEREAS, Most major electronic messaging applications provide a number of flag emojis, including that of the Republic of Chile, but the official flag of Texas, also known as the Lone Star Flag, is not included in the selection; and

WHEREAS, All too often, the Chilean flag emoji is used as a substitute for the Lone Star Flag in text messaging and on social media platforms; the Chilean flag proudly represents its country but, despite its similarity to the Texas flag, it does not represent the State of Texas;

WHEREAS, The colors of the Chilean flag depict sky, snow, and blood spilled while fighting for freedom, but the blue, white, and red of the Lone Star Flag stand for the Texan values of loyalty, purity, and bravery; and

WHEREAS, The single star of the Chilean flag, positioned in a blue canton, has been seen by some as a guide to progress and honor, while others have interpreted it to symbolize the powers of Chile's government; and

WHEREAS, The independent Lone Star of Texas, situated in a blue left panel, represents all of Texas and stands for our unity as one for God, State, and Country, according to Section 3100.152(d), Government Code; additionally, the five points of the Lone Star have been said to represent the characteristics of a good Texas citizen: fortitude, loyalty, righteousness, prudence, and broadmindedness; and

WHEREAS, The Lone Star Flag has a grand history, starting with its adoption as the third flag of the Republic of Texas by President Mirabeau B. Lamar and the Texas Congress in 1839, and just as our flag could never fully embody the country of Chile, neither can the Chilean flag inspire feelings of pride and passion in the heart of a true Texan; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby reject the notion that the Chilean flag, although it is a nice flag, can in any way compare to or be substituted for the official state flag of Texas and urge all Texans not to use the Republic of Chile flag emoji in digital forums when referring to the Lone Star Flag of the great State of Texas.

- Tom Oliverson (R): proposition HCR 75, 16 februari 2017