Someone tabled a motion to remove the volcano and condor from the national flag, and some other genius suggested they replace the tri-color with the CONAIE flag! It won't pass of course, but it's got a lot of people stirred up. Here's one letter to the editor of El Universo:

Assembly wasting time

I have read with astonishment the intentions of the Assembly to change the patriotic symbols. Assembly member Tania Hermida says that the proposal is not hers, neither the movement's, nor of the block of majority, in short, nobody's; but it is a proposal that “the civil society demands” and for that reason they welcome it.

[ebear's comment - this sort of convoluted "logic" is typical of the assembly. Incidently, Tania is a graduate of a Cuban film school and holds a masters degree in Cultural Studies. Just the kind of highly qualified person you need to write a National Constitution]

I'll leave the rest to babelfish-the meaning is clear enough:

The Undersecretary's office of Education says, perhaps on the other hand, that the symbols “are worn out”, and if an analysis of the young generation were made, we would see that attachment to the symbols “does not exist” . I indicate these people who how the young generations are going to have attachment by our native symbols, if more ago than 15 years teachers criterion of and school eliminated themselves, or left, matters like SPA moral and political education and civic, native, ethical place; and that the 31 of October, Day of the National Shield, if they want render to him honors to this native or better symbol celebrate the celebration of Halloween. They ask the Armed Forces, that defend to the mother country, every day award honors to the Majesty of the Flag and the National Shield, and which they vibrate when singing our Hymn, if they agree in they modify which them. They consult to the Ecuadorians in the outside, and ask to them if with its native symbols they are identified, to see what responds to them; when in each Ecuadorian home abroad they have his flag, music, by which they spill tears. It would be necessary to ask to them the members of an assembly which are the native symbols, to see if they know the importance than they are going to change. Pitifully to these it does not concern anything to them, so we prepare our hearts to love another flag, another shield and possibly to sing another hymn, and perhaps to say a day to a foreigner that asks the nationality to us, I am of the “Bolivariana Republic of Ecuador”.

Patrick Lepage Casella, Quito

ebear