Talk:Flag of Oklahoma

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Heraldry and vexillology

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Oklahoma C‑class High‑importance

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Illegal to fly first state flag?[edit]

The article currently states "It is now arguably a crime to fly the original state flag in Oklahoma, since state law makes it a felony to fly a red flag in the state." The statement is sourced to the pertinent section of the Oklahoma code, which reads:

Any person in this state, who shall carry or cause to be carried, or publicly display any red flag or other emblem or banner, indicating disloyalty to the Government of the United States or a belief in anarchy or other political doctrines or beliefs, whose objects are either the disruption or destruction of organized government, or the defiance of the laws of the United States or of the State of Oklahoma, shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment in the Penitentiary of the State of Oklahoma for a term not exceeding ten (10) years, or by a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or by both such imprisonment and fine.

Ignoring the unlikelihood of this law withstanding a first amendment challenge, there is no way that the display of this historical flag would indicate "disloyalty to the Government of the United States or a belief in anarchy or other political doctrines or beliefs, whose objects are either the disruption or destruction of organized government, or the defiance of the laws of the United States or of the State of Oklahoma". It is important to note that this law was first adopted in 1919, when the flag in question was the official flag of the state. This sentence should go. Dsmdgold 15:43, 10 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Good catch! The current claim appears unwarranted. I think the article would be improved by replacing that sentence with a section on the red flag law, which is at most ironic considering the original state flag. --ScottMainwaring 17:54, 10 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I'm not so sure. The article is about the Flag of Oklahoma. The section on the historic flag certainly belongs there. But, given that the Red Flag Law was pased in 1919 when the first flag was still the official flag, it is obvious that the law was not intended to outlaw the first flag. It seems to me that the red flag law has nothing to do with this article at all. Dsmdgold 00:28, 11 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Seems like the red flag ban and the switch to a non-red state flag are both symptoms of the same disease — rabid early 20th-century anti-communism. I.e., there's a link, though not a direct causal one. In my judgement, it's enough of a link to warrant documentation within this article, but that's just my opinion. Can you suggest a better article in which to document the Oklahoma flag law? --ScottMainwaring 04:54, 11 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

The assumed motivation for the switch is already in the article. The red flag law is documented in Red Flag already. Should we also document other measures Oklahoma took during the "red scare" here, as they would be symptoms of the same disease? Dsmdgold 14:16, 11 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

No, just flag-related ones. I guess I'm suggesting it's OK for content on the page to expand beyond "the state flag of Oklahoma" to other topics within the intersection of the ideas "flag" and "Oklahoma". --ScottMainwaring 19:50, 11 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I guess I would disagree. There is probably enough material for a "Flags of Oklahoma" or "Flag usage in Oklahoma" article that could include red flag law. Other example of material might include the fourteen flags at the state capitol building that represent that have "flown" over Oklahoma, The minor battle over the Confederate Battle flag being flown at the capitol, and the flags used by the many Indian tribes found in the state. This article however, in my opinion should be about the official state flag and its predeccessor only. That said, if a short (one sentence) statement were integrated into the paragraph about the change in flag design, I would not object. Dsmdgold 21:23, 11 April 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I concur with the opinion of User:Dsmgold above. For what it's worth, the Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture article, "State Flag of Oklahoma", states that the original state flag "... had often been dubbed the 'red rag of sedition' and with Oklahoma taking the lead in the financial as well as the intellectual world, it was not to our best interest to go marching to the front waving a 'red flag.'" Communism may have been in the author's mind, but it's not what she said. I don't think the words are synonyms. Bruin2 (talk) 15:12, 5 August 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Designer's name[edit]

It seems that the designer of the Oklahoma flag was a married woman in an age when married women were known formally by their husband's name. Most sources name her only as "Mrs. George Fluke, Jr.". I recently came across the article in the Chronicles of Oklahoma listed as a reference in the article which identifies her as "Mrs. George Fluke, Jr., who before her marriage was Miss Louise Funk of Shawnee". I have therefore named in the article as Louise Fluke, which would be what she would be know as today. However this is not the historically acurate form. Opinions? Dsmdgold 01:56, 4 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Article reclassification review[edit]

This article seems to meet the requirements of at least quality Class C quality, if not Class B. It has not been changed by edits in a few years. Bruin2 (talk) 16:31, 14 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]