Tensions continue to rise and blood continues to flow in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes, now officially nicknamed the “North Star State” by its State government, with adoption of its new flag.

Certainly, this new standard will be much easier to distinguish from other State flags than the older flag, which was a War Between the States-legacy regimental style colors: perhaps very useful if Minnesota’s neighbors end up confronting what some are calling “the Confederate State of Minnesota” based on remarks of the governor and the Minneapolis mayor.

Actually, some people have gone so far as to claim that the new flag is based on and intended to imitate the Somali flag!

<Somali Flag. Honestly, this is a ridiculous charge. It could also be claimed that it was imitating a historical flag of the Republic of Texas. (Not that Minnesota is a republic, despite the constitutional responsibility of the FedGov to ensure that all the States it serves have republican governments.) The Bonny Blue Flag was one of several used by Texas both before admission to the Union and after it seceded. (Most have the letters of TEXAS around the flag; clearly not a good fit for “Minnesota.) But that is silly: Minnesota and Texas are opposites in so many, many things: not just politics.

However fun it is to talk about flags and scurrilous insults, it is clear that at least some Minnesota elected officials have made their rejection of federal authority and the US Constitution (as well as their own) obvious. And so far, no Iranian-style protests have occurred: the protest marches are very anti-federalist. Bonny Blue Flag >

No word on whether the Minnesota National Guard has gone past receiving the Warning Order from their Commander-in-Chief. And keep in mind, if the MNANG and MNARNG do support good ole Tim’s conflict with Trump and DC, it is a pretty powerful force. It has a full Armored Infantry Brigade, a Divisional Aviation Brigade, a whole bunch of support units, and both an F-16 fighter wing and an airlift wing: 13,000 troops and airmen. The Donald might have to call troops home from Europe to invade and subdue Minnesota!

And that doesn’t even take into account the likelihood that a good many of the Somali (and other Muslim) immigrants have served in militia units back in their original hometowns.

Of course, The Donald, being The Donald, has no problem with fanning the flames. Not only authorizing massive reinforcement of ICE troops in Minnesota, he has discussed the idea of declaring it to be an insurrection. Which would let him send either active duty units or federalize other States’ National Guard units to suppress the insurrection.

But is it? There are several different and conflicting standards. After all, in 2001 Congressional leaders (mostly but not entirely Democrats) declared the rambunctious mob in the Capitol in DC to be an insurrection. A declaration confirmed by both the guy occupying 1600 Pennsylvania a few days later (Uncle Joe) but also by the Federal courts, in the mass prosecution and conviction of participants.

On the other hand, rebellion and insurrection are generally treated as synonyms. Wikipedia lists an astounding 37 rebellions, some of which are actually labeled as “insurrections” by historians. This of course includes the War between the States, that 2021 flare-up, a previous pro-George Floyd occupation of Capitol Hill, various range wars and labor unpleasantness, and slave rebellions. Wikipedia also states that the Insurrection Act of 1807 has been invoked 30 times (including one “illegal” invocation by General Douglas McArthur in the 1930s).

We note with interest that of the 14 invocations of the Act since 1900, 9 have been invoked by Democratic Presidents and only 5 by Republicans. The Democrats? The sainted Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the deified John F Kennedy, and the sly and cunning Lyndon B. Johnson. The last invocation was in 1992, because of the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles.

Based on all 30 of these, going all the way back to Jefferson doing it to enforce the Embargo Act in Vermont and New Hampshire in 1808, what is going on now in Minneapolis would certainly fit. Contrary to what apologists for Walz and company, and their supporters, are claiming. We also note that many of these “insurrections” were due to federal actions, aggravating an already-bad situation. Not much different from what The Donald can be accused of.

So, we watch the situation in Minneapolis (and all of Minnesota) with interest. If the MN National Guard is deployed to start building fortifications along the borders with the Dakotas and Iowa? (The direction that federal troops would like be coming from, unless airmobile and airborne forces are used.) If Minneapolis cops and the Minnesota State Patrol start arresting ICE and FBI (and all the other alphabet federal agency) cops? If federal buildings are occupied, not just by Occupy Minnesota goons but by official cops or even MNNG troops? We definitely have both an insurrection and a rebellion.

But… as lovers of liberty, we believe that there are times when insurrection, when rebellion, are fully justified morally. Is this situation one? So far, there is no agreement among lovers of liberty. So, that is to be seen.

Your thoughts?