St. Michael, Defend Us Against Stupidity!

OMM's thoughts on the calls to change the badge of the Order of St Michael and St George because it's 'racist'.

From One Mad Mom

Umm, if you’re comparing the obvious devil in depictions of St. Michael to George Floyd, then you might be the racist. Honestly, the “There’s a racist under my bed!” canard is getting old. There are real issues at the moment and making this a thing downplays those.

Thousands call for change to one of Queen's highest honours amid claims it is 'racist'

Yahoo News UK Rebecca Taylor Royal Correspondent,Yahoo News UK•June 23, 2020

 A petition is calling for one of the Queen’s highest honours to be redesigned as campaigners say it resembles a white man killing a black man.

Thousands of people have signed a change.org petition which was started last week, noting a similarity between the medal for the Order of St Michael and St George and the way George Floyd died in Minneapolis.”

If they wanted to complain that the cruddy image that looks like it was drawn by a 5th grader is a little less grand than it should be, I’d be all on board. That it looks like a black man is ludicrous. First, does anyone notice the green wings, and, hey, if they were going for black, they picked the wrong color from the crayon box. Not brown, not black, more orange. Maybe it was Trump they modeled it after?

The badge of the order has St George fighting the dragon on one side, and the archangel St Michael trampling Satan on the other.

Yup, That’s the traditional picture of St. Michael. He’s trampling satan. Are we next going to get rid of Mary because she’s standing on a snake? Again, this is Christian vs. secular, not black vs. white.

On the petition, Tracy Reeve wrote: “The image on the Honorary Knights/Dames Commander (KCMG/DCMG) star is a white skinned angel stood on the head/neck of a black skinned devil.

Except, it’s not black. It’s not even brown.

“This is a highly offensive image, it is also reminiscent of the recent murder of George Floyd by the white policeman in the same manner presented here in this medal.

“We the undersigned are calling for this medal to completely redesigned in a more appropriate way and for an official apology to be given for the offence it has given!”

I have little doubt England will capitulate, since it’s been doing that almost since World War II, but this is ridiculous. It’s St. Michael and it’s satan. George Floyd wasn’t orange and George Floyd didn’t have green wings.

Many of the signatories have agreed that the medal needs “updating” or “modernising”.

Like I said, the artwork is a real downgrade from previous models. Not racist but definitely not as grand.

The Order of St Michael and St George was founded in 1818 by the then prince regent, who became George IV, when the Ionian islands were placed under British protection.

The order recognised the distinguished citizens of the Islands and then Malta, and now honours service in British territories and foreign affairs.

Sir Simon Woolley, the director and one of the founders of Operation Black Vote, told The Guardian: “The original image may have been of St Michael slaying Satan, but the figure has no horns or tail and is clearly a black man. It is a shocking depiction, and it is even more shocking that that image could be presented to ambassadors representing this country abroad.

Sir Woolley, have you ever seen a black man?

For most black and brown people, there is nothing good about the empire. Most people will see this as an image of George Floyd on a global scale and a symbol of white supremacy.

The Queen is in the order, and the Duke of Kent is the Grand Master. Others in the order include actor Angelina Jolie, astronaut Tim Peake, presenter and actor Michael Palin, and several former governor-generals of Commonwealth nations.

There are 125 Knights and Dames Grand Cross, 375 Knights and Dames Commander, and 1750 Companions.

The Cabinet Office has been contacted by Yahoo UK.

Really? That’s what they see this as? Meghan’s behind this, isn’t she? Honestly, my bet is they’re going to find some teen who actually designed the recent logo, and they’ll probably send the poor kid into hiding with the scarlet “R” tattooed to his chest. Geez. Grow up people. Wait until they see past models where the devil is really dark, like grey, like, say, a serpent. Uh, hello. There are various depictions of St. Michael with every color of the rainbow, but the devil is obviously the devil in all. How come nobody complains when satan is fair skinned in a particular image? Like I said, if you’re going to equate satan and George Floyd, that’s really your issue. But, hey, keep it up. It’s quite clear you’re really just trying to get rid of Christianity in general.