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Some of us are still recovering from last week's Four Questions, but our readers have an insatiable thirst for answers. One recently posed an interesting question to us concerning Chicago's Olympic bid and the city's flag.
As all Chicagoans no doubt know, the city's flag includes three white bars, two blue bars and four six-sided stars. The three white bars signify the North, West and South sides of the city, while the blue bars represent Lake Michigan and the North Branch of the Chicago River, and the South Branch of the Chicago River and the Great Canal.
Each of the four stars represents a major event in the city's history: the Fort Dearborn Massacre, the Great Chicago Fire, the Columbian Exposition of 1893, and 1933's Century of Progress.
Additionally, each of the stars' six sides also symbolize something. The first represents virtues: religion, education, aesthetics, justice, beneficence, and civic pride. The second represents the flags that have flown over the area: France, Great Britain, Virginia, the Northwest Territory, Indiana Territory, and Illinois. The third, bragging rights: World's Third Largest City, Chicago's Latin Motto (Urbs in horto — City in a garden), Chicago's "I Will" Motto, Great Central Marketplace, Wonder City, and Convention City. The fourth: transportation, labor, commerce, finance, populousness, and salubrity. Yeah, we're not sure what salubrity is either....
With the possibility that Chicago might host the 2016 Olympics, the question was posed as to whether Chicago would add a fifth star to the flag to commemorate such an occasion? While we haven't had the time to hound City Hall yet to try for a definitive answer, we don't think we'd be going out on a limb to think that such an event would be at least on par with the Columbian Expo or the Century of Progress, thus deserving of its own star.
Twice before, the flag had seen its number of stars grow, so the city's flag is a living flag. When first unveiled in 1917, the city's flag included just two stars — the ones representing the Century of Progress and the Fort Dearborn Massacre were added in 1933 and 1939 respectively.
Would that forever alter the flag as we know it? The one ranked the second most popular flag, according to the North American Vexillological Association? Adding a fifth star wouldn't really change the overall design that we've all come to know and love any more than adding the last two stars to the Stars and Stripes for Hawaii and Alaska.
We would also have fun choosing what the six points on the newest star would represent. Since the star's already sports-related, we'd suggest: White Sox, Cubs, Bulls, Blackhawks, Bears and ... well, how about Ditka?
Of most real consideration, however, would be the new flag's roll out. Countless flags across the city, from flagpoles, to police car decals, to letterhead and brochures would need to change. Would they do it all at once, or gradually? This would all be at taxpayers' expense, of course — but at what cost? And don't forget our friends at Gapers Block, who would need to update their logo, too!
Of course, all of this becomes moot if Chicago doesn't win the 2016 games anyway. When we're awarded the games, we promise to walk the corridors of City Hall until we find out just who is in charge of the flag.
Photo by Ursus Maritimus.
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That should read the South Branch of the river along with the great canal, rather than repeating the North Branch. Just a point of clarification.
They never added a stripe for the East Side, why should they add a star for the Olympics? (brought to you by Pepsi(R))
"Since the star's already sports-related, we'd suggest: White Sox, Cubs, Bulls, Blackhawks, Bears and ... well, how about Ditka?"
I like the Sports Theme as the Olympics would be another "City Defining Event".
May I submit... Rather than Ditka, who has a place in all of our hearts, how about the 6th Point on the 5th Star representing all of the Amateur Sports Clubs that operate in the City. Yacht, Rowing, Softball, Volleyball, Rugby and more. Deeper meaning to the "Olympic" Star as Amateur Sports are what the Olympics represent.
Here's to hoping our lives will be turned upside down in 2016!
The six points should represent:
Ditka, Ditka, Ditka, Ditka, Ditka... and Ditka.
While some commenters clearly like the idea of forever commemorating Ditka on the flag, clearly my suggestion was tongue in cheek. As a serious suggestion, I'd thought to include the Chicago Marathon but maybe amateur athletics in general is a more inclusive option. Or we could just lump the Blackhawks into the amateur category and keep Ditka:)
As the reader who posed this question, I'm impressed with all the details Chicagoist considered!
As a Chicago Fire season ticket holder, I'm also reminding folks to not forget the Fire when listing the White Sox, Cubs, Bulls, Blackhawks, and Bears. That's six points for the new star right there, and you won't have to bother with Ditka.
DAMMIT!
I thought I had this totally original idea and I wanted to write City Hall myself to propose it. (five minute kicking self session)
At any rate, I seem to be a rare Olympics supporter (and fan of flags in general) so this is a great idea.
Also, even if we don't get the games, I still second Theo's idea.
They never added a stripe for the East Side
There is no such thing as the east side of Chicago - that's Lake Michigan.
The Chicago Fire play in the suburbs, automatically disqualifying them from inclusion on the city flag.
If Bridgeview needs a flag update though, by all means include them. Maybe a picture of Beckham or something.
Great post by the way. I upped my knowledge of the flag at least tenfold!
I had the same thought. Let's hope it happens! (in 9 years)
To Joseph J. Finn
Uggh. Buy a map.
re: the east side.
sometimes i wonder if it should be called the east side more often. people who live there actually call it the east or southeast side of chicago.
I've been fascinated with the Chicago flag since I moved here, and was all over this idea about a month ago - including a twenty-star extrapolation for a thousand years from now, and mention of the fact that half the stars are for tragedies of a sort - so we can be half thankful that we haven't added any stars lately.
I agree that there is no east side, or at least, an east side worthy of a stripe. I've always considered the "side" to be the larger number of the grid coordinate. The only area where the East coordinate is larger than the North or South is around the Illinois Center. And in fact, there are signs up there procaiming it to be the new "Eastside". But a 12 block (if that)area is hardly worthy of a flag stripe. On the southeast side, the east goes to about 4100, but you're down to 10500 South. That's the south side.
By Jeremy's logic, then there is no west side. How can a heaven exist without a hell. How can a west exist without an east?
There certainly is a west side by my logic, and I live in it. Roughly 1900N 2700W. West larger than north, its the westside. Represent.
The main reason the East side was not considered important enough for a stripe on the map in 1917 was because it was considered a vast bad land back then, not because it didn't exist. It just wasn't developed yet.
No, keep it to four stars. Otherwise, I'll have to get my tattoo of the chicago flag fixed!
For whatever it is worth, Mayor Daley has been privately telling people (advisors, consultants, investors, Olympic officials) for months that another star would be added to the flag. So this isn't really a new idea at all. If the city gets the games, it would be entirely appropriate to modify the flag. I think that the center star should be slightly larger than the other four, but that's just aesthetics.
If there is another star for added I think they should substitute a star for the the Buick insignia, it is after all, the official car of the Olympics.
OLD NEWS! I blogged about adding a star on March 14 AND I think my flag rendition is more symbolic:
http://www.unlikelymoose.com/blog/comments/687_0_1_0_C/
Great post, Benjy!
I think if we get the nod for the Olympics it is worthy of a fifth star. Though, I think if the Cubs were to ever win a world series that would be worth it too 8-)
I'd like to read a history about how America handled flag changes whenever they added a new star. Back in the day, it was probably just normal. Kinda like how nowadays stamps raise in price. It's just expected. Then again, people nowadays complain about that. Maybe newspapers have a record of people complaining about adding new stars to the flag. Which sounds very petty. "Screw you Alaska! We don't want to buy all new flags!"
Ummm...third largest city in the US, not in the world.
lemon, it IS the world's third largest in land area, not population.
I was worried that Macy's would co-opt the flag, turning the six-pointed stars in to five-pointed stars and adding a sixth star for Macy's as if they own Chicago.
How about the last point of the star represent the Chicago American Giants of Negro League fame?
They may be defunct (obviously), but are still important to Chicago's history.
Perhaps the six championships of the Jordan Era Bulls?
I've always thought the full symbolism of the Chicago flag would make for the most hilarious Kindergarten Pageant ever; with a slew of cute little moppets dressed as points of stars. "I am salubrity, I promote good health, particularly in regards to clean potable drinking water!"
BTW- The first star is for Fort Dearborn itself, not the actual massacre.
Cletus, you are a freaking genius. I wish I were a school teacher so I could do that! It'd be almost as cool as The Mediocre Presidents on the Simpsons. Also, like that stupid fifty states song, they'd remember the symbolism of the flag for the rest of their lives!
If you include the Chicago Fire, of Naperville you would have to include the Chicago Wolves, of Rosemont. Perhaps a nod to the Chicago Sting to go with the American Giant's of old. Then we will have 4 6 pointed stars and one 10 pointer.
Nah, Lets stick with the Old Established Major League sports, not a knock to those two teams but it is the City of Chicago Flag. There are quite a few of us that pour our Non Pro hearts into our passion within the City Limit's and on the road when we participate in National or World amateur championships.
Hope we get to "Stir the Soul" of the debate in the coming days after we get the nod over La La Land.
Thanks K! Please relay that sentiment to The MacArthur Foundation, would you? ;-)
Perhaps one of the many teachers out there will be able to make the "Chicago Star Pageant" happen at a school somewhere in the city. I only hope I'll be able to get an invite (or that a video of it gets posted on YouTube).