As state flags go, Nebraska's ranks 50th

Here is some vexing news about the Nebraska State Flag. The guy who wrote the book "Good Flag, Bad Flag," says Nebraska's ranks 50th out of the 50 states.

We're talking about the big blue flag with the gold and silver state seal on it, not the red flag with the big white N on it. And yes, there is a group -- The North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) -- that studies such things. In fact, by their own definition, they are dedicated to vexillology, the study of flag history and symbolism.

Not since Dr. Sheldon Cooper (actor Jim Parsons) introduced us to "Fun With Flags" on the popular TV series "Big Bang Theory," has anyone paid much attention to those banners that fly over public buildings. Well, there is the ongoing controversy over the rebellious Confederate Flag. But author Ted Kaye's book was the topic of a CNN piece in May that may have been largely overlooked.

I was made aware of the situation by friends in Montana who pointed out that their flag only ranked 49th, one better than Nebraska. I didn't know there was a competition. So, the bottom five, according to Kaye, were Nebraska, Montana, Kansas, South Dakota and Minnesota. Each flag features the state seal on a plain background. Montana apparently fared better because the state added the name to their flag in big bold letters back in 1981. Kansas' name is boldly included as well.

Kaye says that you can't identify the Nebraska flag up on a flagpole and flapping. "A great state deserves a great flag, and this isn't it," he wrote. That's got to be worth some brownie points, right?

So, just what makes a great flag? Kaye and his friends at NAVA suggest five basic principles of flag design: 1) It should be so simple that a child can draw it from memory; 2) The images, colors, or patterns should relate to what it symbolizes; 3) No more than three colors, which contrast well; 4) Never use writing of any kind or an organization's seal; 5) Avoid duplicating other flags, but use similarities to show connections.

The bottom five flags, 46-50, all use the state seal. So just what does the Nebraska State Seal look like and why? When Nebraska became a state in 1867, a bill was introduced to specifically describe the circle of the seal. The eastern part of the state is represented by a steamboat ascending the Mississippi River. The mechanic arts are represented by a blacksmith with hammer and anvil. Agriculture is represented by a settler's cabin, sheaves of wheat and stalks of corn. A train of cars heads to the Rocky Mountains in the west. The state motto "Equality Before the Law" is in the top center and the entire circle is surrounded with the words "Great Seal of the State of Nebraska." Do all this in gold and silver and display it on a field of "national blue" fabric and you have a flag.

The seal is interesting when you can look at it closely and study it. The flag, not so much.

So, who has the best state flag according to Kaye? New Mexico, with its bright yellow color and a simple yet attractive red sun inspired by the Zia Indians' sun symbol. Kaye says the flag represents the state's Spanish heritage as well. It would obviously be easily drawn from memory by a child. For that matter, an old guy just might give it a shot.

Ranking as second best is the Texas state flag with its familiar lone star. Kaye says this is the best selling flag in the country. Third place goes to Maryland for its lively interpretation of the coat of arms of Lord Baltimore. Fourth is Alaska's flag with stars forming the Big Dipper and the North Star. It was drawn by a 13-year-old native in 1927 and is still relevant today, Kaye said. Fifth is Arizona's yellow and red sunburst flag, which also represents a Spanish heritage.

Flags have been around for thousands of years. They were first used for military purposes on land and for identifying and signaling ships at sea. They evolved to represent royal houses, countries and other levels of government, business, military ranks and units, sport teams and political parties.

Should we change our state flag? It doesn't hurt to think about what a new design, representative of what Nebraska has become, might look like. Splashier colors, new symbols. You get the idea. But, given our divisive history of trying to approve new license plate designs every few years, I'd have to say such a change won't likely happen in our lifetime.