Blue Tigers Spotted in South Carolina

The South Carolina Senate has approved a proposal to name indigo as the official South Carolina state color. Indigo was one of South Carolina's first cash crops and was an important export during the entire colonial period but its commercial cultivation in the state ceased following the Civil War.

The leaves and flowers of the indigo plant were once the primary source of indigo, a deep blue dye used to color cloth. A member of the pulse family, indigo was grown chiefly in India, hence its name. In modern times, indigo production has disappeared as chemical dyes have replaced plant-based colorants.

It is difficult to understand why a state that is as politically red as they come has adopted blue as their official color. Republicans control the Legislature and all but one of the state's top political offices. In fact, South Carolina voters haven't backed a Democratic Party nominee for president since Jimmy Carter.

Instead of selecting a color based on a product that no longer offers economic benefits to the state, why not choose Clemson orange. Clemson University continues to add value and prestige and would be a much more logical choice. Besides, it would certainly add some cheer to those Clemson Tigers that are feeling somewhat blue over this unintended snub.