The Mount Toby Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) supports current legislative efforts to change the state flag and seal of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. In recent years, the state flag and seal has come under increasing criticism as an official state symbol, because to many people it symbolizes white supremacy.
The current image depicts a “pacified” Native American man over whom hangs a sword. The Latin motto scrolled beneath translates: “By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty.
As John Peters Jr., Mashpee Wampanoag and director of the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs, told legislators in 2017, it is long past time for Massachusetts to “consider our shared history and be cognizant of the genocidal accuracy of the symbolism that the seal in part portrays.”
As Quakers, we reject the current flag and seal. The violence of the imagery and language and the connotation of white supremacy and subjugation of native people inherent within this imagery are contrary to the spirit of the Quaker testimonies of peace and equality.
Whatever the intent may have been, this symbol is experienced as hurtful today by the native people among us. It is time to affirm our commitments as Quakers, and as a commonwealth, to healing, peace, justice and recognizing the sacred wholeness of every human being. Proposed legislation (HD2776 and SD1877) would “establish a special commission for the purpose of examining the seal and motto of the Commonwealth to determine that they accurately reflect the historic and contemporary commitments of the Commonwealth to peace, justice, liberty and equality, and to spreading the opportunities and advantages of education.”
In particular, we support the inclusion of significant numbers of native people on the commission, including its chair.
On behalf of Mt. Toby Friends Meeting.
Cat Chapin-Bishop
Leeds