TOP STORY OF THE DAY: Poll question sparks debate - To “B” or not to “b”

The Brazil Times Poll Question is a fun way to tap the community’s pulse on general topics.

After recently focusing on the correct spelling of one small town’s name, the staff was asked to post a question about Brazil’s name.

The following question was placed on The Brazil Times website and posted on the Times’ Facebook page:

The City of Brazil has recently updated its logo with a lowercase “b” instead of a capitalized “B.”

The question (which was only to be up on the website poll until Friday, July 28) is: Do you like it?

Three options were provided,

Yes, it’s innovative.: Results - 14.3%

No, I don’t understand it.: Results - 67.9%

I have not seen it.: Results - 17.9%

Many people had an opinion, with more than 360 comments left on Facebook.

However, only 168 people took the time to cast a “free vote” in the poll.

In January 2020, during the “State of the City,” address at the YMCA, Brazil Mayor Brian Wyndham announced a new identity for Brazil: A new logo with a forward attitude.

A local committee of 12-15 people from various walks of life had worked with an outside firm to develop a direct way to communicate Brazil’s future.

The logo they came up with was “progressive, vibrant, ready.”

“This is what our town is,” the mayor said then and still believes it today. “That describes Brazil in three short words. That’s where we want to be. We’re excited about this. It’s almost a rebirth, to a certain degree.”

Fast forward three years, and the city branding has become “social media fodder” for many people on the internet, with comments including;

SUPPORTIVE

Lori

Yes but probably the capital is B is best for the English language rules

Steve Lamb

I like it.

Brian Deakins

Yes. I like it!

Lynn Rodriguez Hohenstein

I like it

Tammy K. Elder

Yes!

John McWilliams

Yes.....I like it

Tammy K. Elder

Yes it’s innovative.

Margie Saldivar Warner

Thank you for asking the opinion of the community.

I would like to see the Capital B in the town name.

Laura Cole

I wouldn’t quite say innovative, but the new logo does look nice.

Steven D Wetnight

The small (b) makes it stand out.

NON SUPPORTIVE

Leslie Modesitt Cesinger

No! Needs to be capitalized. Thank you for the poll. It has bothered me for awhile now.

Charley Jackson

B in Brazil needs to be Capitalized!

Heather Killie

B! Have some respect for our town!

Gary Rickert

I like it the way it is B

Nancy Swearingen-O’Haver

I spent a lot of time visiting with my family there while I was growing up. It’s a second home to me. The B in Brazil needs to be capitalized.

Shelli Harris Roembke

The teacher in me says to capitalize the “b”, but we recently had 6 college students staying with us, and they were actually discussing this. They said it was so cool for our small town to have this logo and our name in lowercase. According to them, it’s current and trendy.

Luann Jackson

No. Should be capitalized

Do not understand why they would consider

anything else

Teresa Corrine Stewart Taft

Are you smarter than a 5th grader is what I think every time I see this

Pam Lawrence

I think our small town deserves to be recognized with a capital B.

CONCLUSION

The poll is down with a new one expected soon, but the debate continues on social media.

While many officials see this as a reason why people should make an effort to “keep up with what is happening in their communities” regularly and not wait three years later to debate or complain about an old topic that is already implemented.

An anonymous message sent to The Brazil Times kind of sums up this poll question:

“If you got people talking about something, then you’re doing something right. Good job.”