The Confederate flag is just as much a part of U.S. history as any other flag flown in the United States before, during or after the Civil War. Therefore it should be treated with the same due respect as any other flag. Hanging the flag in this manner is an insult to the decendants that fought for it, right or wrong...I found the article linked above quite troubling, but not for the reasons you might expect.
Although I think Mr. Sims' "art" display is vulgar and disrespectful, I fully support his right to express his views in whatever manner he deems appropriate and would not for any reason wish to see him censored.
The commander of the local Sons of Confederate Veterans chapter, Robert Hurst, called the display "offensive, objectionable and tasteless” and has petitioned the museum to remove the display along with other pieces of Sims’ work which is currently on display. There has also been talk of taking legal action to have this display forcibly removed.
I agree that the display is all of the things that Commander Hurst says that it is, but it is wrong to demand that something offensive be forcibly removed from the public domain.
We must not be guilty of hypocrisy!
If the Battle Flag of the Confederacy offends others, it is our duty to try to educate them on its true meaning. It is not our duty, however, to force others— as misguided as they may be— to be hindered in theirs first amendment right of free speech.
Yes, we should object to the mean-spirited and disrespectful treatment of that flag and be vocal about it, but it must be done with the view that we expect the same treatment when it comes to the display of our symbols.
Being offended is never a reason to demand that something be censored. He cannot ask people be tolerant of southern symbols when we deny the same rights to our enemies.
If truth is on our side, then men like Sims can only further our cause as we use the opportunity to educate the public about why it is that we object to displays of this nature.
We could have used this event as an opportunity to take the high moral ground because, until we kicked up a fuss and began to try and deny this “artist” his constitutional rights, he was the aggressor.
Be mad, be angry, and be offended, but do not stray from the principles for which our ancestors fought and which we claim also to love, viz., freedom and our God-given right to govern ourselves.
If the museum, of their own free will and accord, removes the display because of public sentiment, then we can claim a moral victory. If it is forced down by any legal maneuvering or threats against this man’s right to express his misguided views, it will be a moral loss.
We must maintain our honour AT ALL COSTS if we are to defeat the enemies of our cultural heritage.
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