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Texas lawmaker wants to end emoji mix-ups
with Chilean flag
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 [March 04, 2017]
By Jon Herskovitz
AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - A state lawmaker
filed a resolution this week urging people to think before they text and
stop using an emoji of the Chilean flag, which resembles the Lone Star
State flag, as a symbol of Texas pride.
State Representative Tom Oliverson described the resolution as a
light-hearted but serious civics lesson for the social media age. More
than a few people have garnished their tweets and text messages about
Texas with a Chilean flag, he said.
"I designed it be educational, kind of like a public service
announcement," Oliverson, a Republican, told Reuters on Saturday.
His resolution does not carry the force of law.
It calls on lawmakers: "to 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."
The Chilean flag is available on the standard set of emojis while the
Texas flag is not.
Both flags have a single white star on a blue field on the left with a
horizontal white stripe on top of a red stripe. On the Texas flag, the
blue goes from top to bottom while on the Chilean flag, the red
horizontal stripe stretches across the bottom.
The resolution generated statewide news on Friday with many offering
their views on Twitter.
"For Pete's sake, let the #txlege freshman pass his adorable little flag
emoji bill," political analyst Harold Cook tweeted.
[to top of second column] |
Chilean alpine skier Thomas Grib carries his country's flag as he
leads his team into the Opening Ceremony of the XVIII Olympic Winter
Games in Nagano, Japan on February 7, 1998. REUTERS/Kimimasa
Mayama/File Photo
Oliverson said the message to prevent flag confusion had been
received.
"Even if the legislature decides not to hear it, we have achieved
our objective," he said.
(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Tom Brown)
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