Confederate Flag Hanging

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...

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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.

Bond says boycott should continue

The NAACP will continue the economic boycott against South Carolina over the flying of the Confederate flag as long as the state chapter wants to, said Julian Bond, the group's national board chairman...

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After reading the above, I think Mr. Bond is exactly right. They should keep the boycott going.

Why?

Well... it shows how stubborn and hateful the NAACP is against those whose ancestors answered the State call to fight back in 1860-- in a word, native white South Carolinians.

While I have no doubt that they strongly dislike southern whites, both living and dead, who do not deny their heriatage, the issue becomes complicated when we discover that...

South Carolina, as well as other Confederate states had black soldiers fighting under the flag that they condemn. Although I assume that the anger of the NAACP is not directed towards soldiers of colour, BUT perhaps it is!

The existence of black Confederate soldiers complicates their stereotypical and over-simplified portrayal of the two races in South Carolina (and elsewhere) at that time.

[Strangley enough, the article linked HERE appeared TODAY (!) concerning a Confederate soldier of African descent being honoured in Georgia, but this line of thought is beginning to take me off topic.].

Another reason I think they should continue their boycott of South Carolina is because it shows them to be that which they accuse others to be-- intolerant, racist, and hateful.

It shows that although the flag was moved from the dome and chambers of the South Carolina State House at their insistence and in good faith by South Carolina Lawmakers, it was not good enough.

Apparently, one culture and its symbols must be sacrificed to make room for another.

According to them, that flag is a symbol of hate regardless of history, reason, fact, or argument to the contrary, even though to me and millions of others it is anything but that.

It shows how little they care for so-called "Colored" people-- an antiquated and bigoted word which is still ensconced in their organization's name-- by creating a fury over an object which has no impact on the African Americans' day to day existence.

It shows that they do not know the difference between the so-called “Civil War” (So-called because it was no such a thing) and the Civil Rights Movement…

Mostly, however, it shows how impotent they are as South Carolina's tourism continues to improve.

It's too bad that we must continue this non-issue, but Mr. Bonds and others of his mindset will always make sure that there is enough racial tention to further their lack of agenda and sow the seeds of hate where none need exist.

Until next time, I remain yours

In the cause,

~ P. C.

P.S. – The poem "I am their Flag" recited by black Southern activist and former NAACP officer from North Carolina, H.K. Edgerton can be accessed by clicking HERE. It is really worth watching.

Society is an open-ended partnership between generations. The dead and the unborn are as much members of society as the living. To dishonor the dead is to reject the relation on which society is built—a relation of obligation between generations. Those who have lost respect for the dead have ceased to be trustees of their inheritance. Inevitably, therefore, they lose their sense of obligation to future generations. The web of obligation shrinks to the present tense. ~Edmond Burk