Complete the Compromise with Clarity

We’re trying to find a better way to honor the Confederate soldiers. The current way ain’t cuttin’ it.

No one believes that the reason we fly the Confederate flag is to honor the Confederate soldiers.

And the Confederate flag supporters say, “Well, the people are stupid and ignorant and don’t know any history and apparently can’t even tell a square from a rectangle. And it’s all the NAACP’s fault.”

Wonderful. So, what’s the plan to convince everybody that they’re wrong? What’s the plan? Where is the action from our state government?

I’ll tell you where it is. It’s H-3588, that’s where it is. H-3588 boldly and clearly declares that the reason we fly the Confederate flag is to honor the Confederate soldiers and not for any other reason.

H-3588 says that it’s good for SC to commemorate Confederate Memorial Day, that it’s wonderful that the Confederate Soldier Monument is on Statehouse grounds, and that it’s fantastic that we have a flagpole on Statehouse grounds — in the front near the Confederate Soldier Monument — where we can fly the Confederate flag on Confederate Memorial Day.

H-3588 is a ringing endorsement of all things Confederate, and, moreover, it announces the strong connection that our SC state flag has with the Confederacy. H-3588 says that it’s now time to complete the compromise so that we can celebrate it. So we can all communicate it clearly. So we can tell the world what we have done here in SC.

Soldiers who serve honorably within a military chain of command where elected civilians perform oversight are respected, regardless of the politics of the war in which they fought.

And terrorists who operate outside the law are not to be respected. The KKK and al Qaeda are not to be respected.

H-3588 is exactly what we need in SC after 9/11. We need to show each other and the world that we in South Carolina take the extra effort needed to support soldiers and to fight terrorism.

We need to send a clear message, not a confusing one. We need to not ridicule people for misunderstanding the message. We need leadership that says that government is responsible to the people.

We need leadership that understands that if the people don’t understand what their government is doing, then the government must make their actions easier to understand.

Learning From Vietnam

We learned from the culture wars in the United States during the Vietnam War era that soldiers who perform their duty honorably should always be respected, regardless of one’s opinion of the war they fought in, the reasons for the war, and the political leadership that engaged in the war.

Regardless, regardless, regardless.

The Civil War should not be an exception to this position of respecting soldiers. The Confederate soldiers were not terrorists. When Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered, they did too. The Confederate soldiers followed the orders of their military leaders, who in turn followed orders of their civilian authority, which was the governors of the respective states and the government of the Confederate States of America.

Terrorism is the actions of the KKK. Terrorism is the actions of al Qaeda.

We must stay true to our respect for soldiers. Respecting soldiers does not imply that we approve or disapprove of the Civil War, that we approve or disapprove of the reasons for the Civil War, or that we approve or disapprove of the political leadership that engaged in the Civil War. The history of the Civil War should be openly debated from every reasonable angle, but nothing should stop us from respecting soldiers who performed their duty honorably.

Our state legislature holds the position that South Carolina should respect the service and sacrifice of the Confederate soldiers. This position was made strongly with the compromise of 2000. However, this position was not made clearly with the compromise of 2000.

Flying the Confederate flag out in front of the Statehouse is confusing. Does this action by our state government imply sovereignty of the Confederacy somehow? Does this action by our state government endorse slavery, racism, supremacy, or secessionism somehow? Everybody is confused, and everybody gets extremely upset when somebody answers these questions differently than they do. The confusion is causing a crisis, and our state leaders must solve this crisis with clarity.

Therefore, our state legislature must clarify their presentation of their position by completing the compromise. I strongly recommend H-3588 as the vehicle for completing the compromise.

H-3588 flies our state flag where the Confederate flag flies now on every day except Confederate Memorial Day.  Our state flag was extremely important to the Confederate soldiers from South Carolina, so this action respects the Confederate soldiers.  Moreover, this action resolves all doubts about the possible implication of sovereignty of the Confederacy and about the possible endorsement of slavery, racism, supremacy and secessionism.

H-3588 flies the Confederate flag on Confederate Memorial Day on the flagpole where the Confederate flag now flies.  This action commemorates the sacrifice and the service of the Confederate soldiers by raising the flag that they carried on this day that we have set aside to honor them.  Moreover, this action protects the Confederate flag from being used for any other purpose on the Statehouse grounds (see comment #1).

This is a good bill that clarifies the confusion and completes the compromise.  Please support H-3588.  Thank you.

Communicating Without Confusion

First, South Carolina has a beautiful flag, and our issue here in SC is different from the issues in Georgia and Mississippi.  Our issue is about the third flag our state legislature flies: the Confederate flag.

Why does our state legislature want to fly a flag that’s not our state flag?  Why does our state legislature want to ignore the NAACP boycott and the NCAA ban?

Our state legislature owes us some explanations.  Our state legislators must think about what they are doing and answer the following key questions about flying the Confederate flag:

1. What message is our state trying to send?
2. Is there a better way to send that message? 

When you send a message, you want communication to happen.  You want clarity — communication without confusion, signal without noise.  You want people to receive your message and understand what you’re saying. 

To evaluate the communication, you’ve got to get feedback – specific feedback – on what people have heard, so you can judge the efficiency of your communication, and so you can try to improve the clarity of your message.

Let’s try to figure out what message our state legislators are trying to send by looking at these important statements by the President of the Senate, Sen. Glenn McConnell:

1. [When I see the Confederate flag raised up] I see honor, courage, valor. I see the red, white and blue and the blood of sacrifice that ran through that battle and the people that carried that flag. I don’t see black and white. I don’t see racism.
2. It hurts us to see groups like the Klan holding that flag. You want to talk about a sick feeling? Our group, our historical groups, we are disgusted when we see it. But we’re equally disgusted and sickened by the political rhetoric and people say it’s an emblem of racism, it’s an emblem of hate, it’s shameful and all of this. How do they think we feel when it’s the emblem of our ancestors? They hurt our feelings.
3. We will teach generations to come about the honor of these people and if they are going to choose the road of trying to stereotype us as racists and as hate mongers, then we are forever divided.

It appears that the message that Sen. Glenn McConnell is trying to send is that our state remembers and respects the service and sacrifice of the Confederate soldiers.  Also he’s trying to send the message that the Confederate flag is not shameful — it doesn’t stand for racism, it doesn’t stand for hate.  And I hope, but I don’t know, that he would also want to try to send the message that the Civil War is over and that South Carolina does not consider the Confederate flag as a sovereign flag.

OK, so those are the messages that Sen. McConnell is, and perhaps should be, trying to send.  And he’s trying to send them by flying the Confederate flag on a flagpole near the Confederate Soldier Monument on Statehouse grounds.  Let’s investigate the clarity of his communication by reviewing what messages the people actually receive (see comment #1).

Well, first of all, because the Confederate flag flies out in front of the Statehouse, just as the American flag flies out in front of public schools, many people naturally assume that our state legislature views the Confederate flag as a sovereign flag somehow.  So the non-sovereignty part of Sen. McConnell’s message has a lot of confusion in it, as judged by the people.  This is the NAACP’s first specific feedback.

Second, because slavery was ended during the Civil War period, because white supremacist groups waved the Confederate flag while terrorizing African-Americans, and because the federal government came to the rescue of African-Americans both times, many African-Americans see state government support for bigotry, hatred, and slavery when they see the Confederate flag flying from Statehouse grounds.  This is the NAACP’s second specific feedback.

Now, when the people provide feedback to our state legislators about their decision to fly the Confederate flag from Statehouse grounds, it’s the job of the professional (the legislator) to try to charitably understand what the responders (the people) are saying.

As a first example, when people say, “The placement of the Confederate flag on a prominently-placed flagpole in front of the South Carolina State House implies sovereignty and allegiance to a non-existent nation,” the professional (the legislator) must seize upon his responsibility to work to improve the clarity of the message that he is sending. The professional must say to himself, “I must improve the clarity of the message so that it has much lower potential to be misunderstood with regards to sovereignty.”

As a second example, when people say, “The Confederate flag represents bigotry, hatred, and slavery,” the professional (the legislator) must seize upon his responsibility to work to improve the clarity of the message that he is sending.  The professional must say to himself, “I must improve the clarity of the message so that it has much lower potential to be misunderstood with regards to racism.” 

Telling the people that they are idiots or that they are to blame for misunderstanding the message that you, the professional (the legislator), are trying to send is extremely unprofessional. It’s inexcusable. It’s lame. You lose all credibility as a professional when you declare something like, “if they are going to choose the road of trying to stereotype us as racists and as hate mongers, then we are forever divided,” or if you say something like, “They hurt our feelings.”

Look, currently the message is vastly unclear. That’s why so many people get so worked up about this issue. It’s because the leaders of our state government adhere to the Alan Greenspan school of communication — the more confusing, the better. The problem is a lack of leadership. Our state government leaders are acting like losers, not leaders (see the News on July 17: Inspiring and Uninspiring Leadership).

Hey, state leaders, the way to clearly send the message that our Confederate soldiers acted honorably is to pass H-3588.  This bill flies our state flag in place of the Confederate flag on every day except Confederate Memorial Day.  And then on Confederate Memorial Day, H-3588 provides for raising and lowering the Confederate flag to honor the service and the sacrifice of the Confederate soldiers. 

H-3588 clears up the confusion and completes the “compromise.”

H-3588 will provide raising and lowering ceremonies for the Confederate flag — on the flagpole on Statehouse grounds where the Confederate flag currently flies.  Thus, this bill is respectful and honorable towards the service and sacrifice of the Confederate soldiers and towards the Confederate flag.  This bill says that our state legislators did great things when they built the flagpole near the Confederate Soldier Monument, when they protected all monuments, and when they established Confederate Memorial Day.

What H-3588 also does is to fly our state flag in place of the Confederate flag on every day except Confederate Memorial Day.  Our state flag was extremely important to the Confederate soldiers from South Carolina.  By providing this opportunity to fly our state flag at the flagpole near the Confederate Soldier Monument, and by providing this opportunity to commemorate Confederate Memorial Day with respectful ceremonies, H-3588 respects the compromise of 2000 and completes it.

Finally, passing this bill will enable us to end the NAACP’s and NCAA’s restrictions.  The NAACP will end their boycott, and the NCAA will end their ban.  The specific feedback that these groups provided – that they heard confusing sovereignty and racism messages when they saw the Confederate flag flying year-round from a prominently-placed flagpole on Statehouse grounds — will have led to our state legislators deciding to send a clearer message about the importance of history and heritage.

Thus, South Carolinians won’t get all worked up about this issue, because we will have received clear communication.  The SCV, UDC, NCAA, NAACP, SCLBC, and all of us will be happy. Please, for the love of God, state legislators, try to be professional, and try to demonstrate leadership on this issue.

Please, please, pretty-please with sugar on top, pass H-3588.

You Don’t Know Your History

Let’s say you’re taking a history class.  What’s it called?  American History 101 (1492-1865)?  American History 102 (1865-Present)?  Why do the dates begin at 1492 and 1865?  Because 1492 was the year that Columbus landed in America and because 1865 was the year the Civil War ended.

So, what should we call our history class about the Confederate flag issue in South Carolina?  The Confederate flag was first flown during the Civil War, which dates from 1861-1865.  And the Confederate flag became a political issue in South Carolina in 1961, when John May (Mr. Confederate) secretly raised the Confederate flag up atop the dome, purportedly for the Centennial.

Therefore we should have the following classes:  Confederate Flag History 101 (1861-1961) and Confederate Flag History 102 (1961-Present).  I am interested in solving the major unsolved problem in CFH 102, which is that our state legislature continues to fly the Confederate flag in a manner that clearly implies:

1. South Carolinians owe allegiance to the Confederacy.
2. Our state government supports efforts to affront the dignity of African Americans.

It seems to me that Sen. Glenn McConnell (today’s Mr. Confederate) believes that CFH 102 should end in 2000, because the “compromise” enacted in 2000 was a final solution.  But people keep asking the presidential candidates of both parties about the Confederate flag — in 2000, 2004, and 2008.  And the NAACP boycott and the NCAA ban are still in effect.  And lots of people continue to get pretty worked up about this issue.

Anyway, anything you want to tell me about history, please indicate on which of the two courses you have appointed yourself as my lecturer.  And if you choose CFH 101, please tell me how your information is relevant to today’s political issue.  Because I am most interested in learning from people about CFH 101 when they are interested in learning about CFH 102.

See, today’s political issue is that our state legislature has appointed itself as the definer, the defender, and the deployer of the Confederate flag.  This is classic government encroachment on the responsibility of private organizations and businesses.  Our state government already has a flag that it is supposed to define, defend, and deploy — the Palmetto flag.  Our state government is not capable of, nor should it be responsible for, providing these services for more than one flag.

The proper organizations for defining, defending, and deploying the Confederate flag are the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the United Daughters of the Confederacy.  If we pass H-3588, they will get the opportunity to fly the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds every year in a beautiful, well-attended, respectful, and educational annual event. 

Passing H-3588 is a win for the SCV and the UDC.  Moreover, passing H-3588 is a win for all South Carolinians, including members of the NAACP and people involved with the NCAA.  When we get H-3588 passed, we will get the NAACP to end their boycott, and we will get the NCAA to end their ban.  And thus, we will relieve our state legislators of the burden of defining, defending, and deploying the Confederate flag, so that they can focus their attention on more important matters.

When we get our state government to stop forcing us to try to understand what in the world they are trying to say by flying the Confederate flag from Statehouse grounds, we can focus on productive things like doing business, working together, and learning from history.  Please write a letter to your state legislator in support of H-3588.  Thank you.

Renewing the Boycott

The Charleston Post and Courier has the story about the NAACP’s interest in renewing and strengthening the tourism boycott of South Carolina.

According to the report, Dot Scott, president of the NAACP’s Charleston chapter, “praised the decision to revive the fight to move the flag.”

“Symbols are very important,” Scott said. “It denotes a mind-set. To many it represents ugly and mean things. Every now and then we need to be reminded … that bigotry is alive and well. The flag (stands for) the ugliness we’re still experiencing. I am in absolute support that the flag needs to go.”

According to the report, Randy Burbage, South Carolina division commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, was “not surprised by the NAACP’s action but does not agree with it.”

“The flag is a symbol of pride to me, men that wouldn’t give up, fighting for freedom in their own right,” Burbage said. “Our state was being invaded. They were trying to save their homes, not preserve slavery. They (NAACP) want me to respect their heritage, and yet they won’t respect mine.”

According to the report, Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston said, “My bill passed, and I’m satisfied with it now.”

Getting lawmakers to agree even to reconsider the flag debate would be next to impossible, said Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, who joined Republican Sen. Glenn McConnell of Charleston to move the flag where it is. A two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate would be needed to bring the issue up, and that’s not likely, he said.

My response to these comments follow:

Randy Burbage says, “They (NAACP) want me to respect their heritage, and yet they won’t respect mine.”

With all due respect, this statement is false. How can you ask the NAACP to respect your heritage when you don’t respect it yourself! You let our state legislators use the Confederate flag to divide South Carolinians against each other! You should demand that they give the Confederate flag back to you because they don’t deserve to fly it. You should advocate for H-3588, as I am doing with my takedowntheflag blog.

The NAACP is saying that we shouldn’t fly the Confederate flag from Statehouse grounds because 1) South Carolina already flies a beautiful state flag — the Palmetto Flag — and 2) state politicians are using the Confederate flag to disturb South Carolinians and tourists. These are facts, and the NAACP is exactly right on these facts.

I strongly suggest that we pass H-3588. This is a bill that respects the Confederate flag and completes the compromise from 2000. This bill takes the Confederate flag away from our pandering politicians and gives it back to the people who love it, so that they can teach us about the honor of their heritage on Confederate Memorial Day.

Randy Burbage, sir, the bill H-3588 is the NAACP’s offer to respect your heritage. It’s a great offer, and, if you are really serious about respect, you should accept this offer. Do you want people to respect your heritage or do you want your beloved emblem to be a tool of pandering politicians? Seriously, please decide.

Finally, the 2/3 requirement is simply a legislative hurdle. A majority vote can remove the 2/3 requirement. Then a majority vote is all that’s needed to change the law.

Here are Your Speeches

When you vote for H-3588, state legislators, whether you love the Confederate flag or hate it, you will still have an amazing amount of positive things that you can say about H-3588. You are not required to feel ashamed of anything — far from it! Stand tall, and say whatever positive things you want. Here are some possibilities.

Representative or Senator who is also an SCV Member:

I am excited today about passing H-3588, the bill that authorizes the flying of the Confederate flag on our most treasured day of the year, Confederate Memorial Day.  We will get the opportunity each year to commemorate the enormous sacrifice of the Confederate soldiers and their families by flying the flag that these brave and honorable soldiers carried.

Today we renew our dedication to the preservation of our history.  We revisit our decisions from 2000 and take a bold and decisive new step.  See, we were under a lot of pressure in 2000 to come up with a final solution for the Confederate flag in South Carolina.  We came up with a really good compromise, under the circumstances.  And yet, there is still more to do.

The bill we pass today completes the compromise of 2000.  Today we ensure that our beloved Confederate flag, which represents our heritage of duty, honor, bravery, and sacrifice, will be treasured, respected, and honored by our beautiful state every year on Confederate Memorial Day, the day we commemorate the ultimate sacrifice of so many brave and heroic young men.

South Carolina, I could not be any prouder of our history, our heritage, our courage, our resilience, and our people, black and white.  I applaud my fellow legislators as we, and in fact all South Carolinians, celebrate our victory — our victory for truth, honor, and respect.  Thank you.

Representative or Senator who is also an NAACP Member:

I am excited today about passing H-3588, the bill that takes down the Confederate flag from where it flies year-round.  I am also excited that this bill authorizes our state to commemorate Confederate Memorial Day by flying the Confederate flag on that day.

Today we renew our dedication to the preservation of our history.  We revisit our decisions from 2000 and take a bold and decisive new step.  See, we were under a lot of pressure in 2000 to come up with a final solution for the Confederate flag in South Carolina.  We came up with a really good compromise, under the circumstances.  And yet, there is still more to do.

The bill we pass today completes the compromise of 2000.  We have done a great thing today.  We have taken the Confederate flag away from white supremacist groups, and we have given it back to the Confederate soldiers who carried it.  We have declared our respect for the soldiers who fought for South Carolina during the Civil War.  And we have declared our outrage at racism and supremacism.

South Carolina, I could not be any prouder of our history, our heritage, our courage, our resilience, and our people, black and white.  I applaud my fellow legislators as we, and in fact all South Carolinians, celebrate our victory — our victory for truth, honor, and respect.  Thank you.

Decommission the Confederate Flag

The Confederate flag began its life as a weapon of the Confederacy. The U.S. Civil War has been over for 143 years, but our state legislature insists on keeping the threat alive. Sen. Glenn McConnell insists on flying the Confederate flag from Statehouse grounds, and he says that he will play “no part in symbolically burying” it.

Please let’s make some changes to our laws about the Confederate Flag so that our laws are more clear, more relevant, and more appropriate for us and for our standing in the United States. Some people think we’re strange down here with the Confederate Flag in South Carolina. Perhaps they’ve read Sections 1-10-10 to 1-10-30 and 16-17-210 to 16-17-230 of our Code of Laws, which you can read online.

In Title 1: Administration of the Government, Sections 1-10-10 to 1-10-30 describe the “Removal and Placement of Confederate Flag.” In 2000, with the so-called compromise, South Carolina decommissioned the Confederate Flag (Naval Jack) by removing it from where it was flying atop the State House and by requiring it to be “permanently displayed in a suitable location in the State Museum.” These sections show us the way forward to continue our decommissioning process.

Now is the time to decommission the Battle Flag of the Army of Northern Virginia, which currently is required to be flown on our Statehouse grounds “on a flagpole located at a point on the south side of the Confederate Soldier Monument, centered on the monument, ten feet from the base of the monument at a height of thirty feet.” §1-10-10(A). The military battles are over, the Confederacy was defeated, and all the weapons, including the battle flags, should be decommissioned.

In Title 16: Crimes and Offenses, Sections 16-17-210 to 16-17-230 describe how the crime of desecration or mutilation of flags is an offense against public policy. You’re not allowed to publicly “defy, jeer at, trample upon or cast contempt, either by word or act” upon the Confederate Flag (or our US Flag or our SC State Flag).

Nor are you allowed to provide to the public (or own “for use for any purpose”) any article of merchandise or “receptacle of merchandise or article or thing for camping or transporting merchandise” upon which a representation of the Confederate Flag (or our US Flag or our SC State Flag) is placed to “decorate, mark or distinguish the article or substance.”

These sections are overbroad and could ensnare you with a misdemeanor which is “punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both.” Moreover, perhaps you “shall also forfeit a penalty of fifty dollars for each offense, to be recovered with costs in a civil action or suit,” which, against you, “may be brought by and in the name of any citizen of this State.” I suggest that you consult a lawyer if you sell or own so-called heritage items (bumper-sticker justice?) or if you publicly defy the Confederate Flag (perhaps by not saluting it when you pass by?).

We should get these sections of our laws changed. Strangely, Sections 16-17-210 to 16-17-230 may be amended or repealed with a majority vote in the legislature, but Sections 1-10-10 to 1-10-30 “may only be amended or repealed upon passage of an act which has received a two-thirds vote on the third reading of the bill in each branch of the General Assembly.” §1-10-10(B).

This supermajority requirement for revising Sections 1-10-10 to 1-10-30 is actually just a legislative hurdle that can be removed with a majority vote. Past legislatures cannot bind future legislatures – only the constitution can do that. If a bill passes [with a majority], then it must “be presented to the Governor, and if he approves he shall sign it.” Article IV, §21 of the SC Constitution.

Let’s complete our decommissioning of the Confederate Flag and get these sections of our laws changed. Thank you.

Advice From Sidney Poitier

I was reading Sidney Poitier’s awesome book The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography, and I got to page 127. I was floored. It’s perfect. Here it is:

When you’re addressing power, don’t expect it to crumble willingly. If you’re going to say, “Hey, now, look you guys, please look at what you did and look at yourselves and punish yourselves and at least try to square this thing, right?” — well, you’ll make slower progress at that than you would expect. I mean, even the most modest expectations are going to be unfulfilled.

Think about it.  Today there are still people all over the world who maintain that the Holocaust didn’t happen.  There are people in the United States — people among that power echelon we speak of — who maintain that all slaves were happy.  There are those power symbols that always say, “Well, it was for the good of the states.  It was for the cohesion of the political process.”  There are myriad justifications for denial.

There are also people who say, “Hey, after thirty years of affirmative action, they’ve got it made.  Black people — it’s their own fault if they can’t make it today.”

Yeah, well, of course they say that.  And they say it not just about black people.  They say it in every country.  We did something for you people, whoever “you” are.  And we think that’s quite enough now.

That’s the gist of it: we’ve done something, and we think it’s enough.  It may not be perfect, but it damn sure comes close to being okay.  Now let us hear you applaud that for a little while.  And thank us.  And you can take that hat off your head when you come in here thanking us.

That’s the way it is.  But let’s not get stuck there.  We have miles to go before we sleep.  We have lots to do, and some things just aren’t going to get done, you know?

Yes, Mr. Poitier.  I know.  And thank you.

Original and Political Meanings

“Bobtail” originally meant, and still means, a short tail. Now it also has meaning in drayage and legislative settings.

“Swift boat” originally meant, and still means, U.S. Navy PCF (Patrol Craft Fast). Now it also has meaning in a political setting. Why? Because some swift boat veterans named their 527 organization Swift Boat Veterans for Truth (SBVFT).

“Confederate flag” originally meant, and still means, a flag of the Confederacy (CSA or soldier). Now it also has meaning in a political setting. Why? Because some white supremacist groups chose to use the Confederate battle flag (CBF) as a symbol for rallying supporters and intimidating opponents.

Some swift boat veterans are upset that their beloved term “swift boat” is thought of negatively in the political setting. They should have done something to stop their colleagues from naming the 527 SBVFT. And now, they should demand that the SBVFT drop “swift boat” from their name.

Some people love the Confederate flag — the CBF, the one that the white supremacists chose — and say it represents their “heritage” of their ancestors’ honor and sacrifice. They are upset (and Sen. Glenn McConnell’s feelings are hurt) that the CBF is thought of negatively in a political setting. They should have done something to stop their colleagues from flying it during the Civil Rights Era. And now, they should demand that the Confederate flag be removed from political settings.

Sen. Glenn McConnell of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) Secession Camp #4 says that he’ll never take down the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds because “no one can persuasively argue that it represents bigotry or slavery.”

Well, “Confederate flag,” like “bobtail” and “swift boat,” will always mean more than just what it originally meant. It’s not the NAACP’s fault that the white supremacists chose the CBF as their symbol. It’s not the NAACP’s fault that the “heritage” crowd chose the CBF as their symbol.

And here’s the kicker: By flying the Confederate flag from Statehouse grounds, our legislature is continuing to take the Confederate flag away from the SCV and place it in a political setting.

In other words, our state legislature is acting like the SBVFT. It is Sen. Glenn McConnell who is adding new political meaning to the Confederate flag by flying it every day from Statehouse grounds.

It’s time to take the Confederate flag out of the political setting and return it to the SCV. It’s time to take down the flag.

Please support H-3588, which gives the Confederate flag back to the SCV by flying it only on Confederate Memorial Day. With H-3588, we can all commemorate the Confederate part of South Carolina’s heritage and history on Confederate Memorial Day. Thank you.

Speaking With Nonviolence

“In any nonviolent campaign there are four basic steps: collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action.”  –Martin Luther King, Jr.

What went wrong in South Carolina with the campaign to take down the Confederate flag is what’s most likely to go wrong in any nonviolent campaign.  The facts were collected, and injustices were determined to exist.  Negotiation was pursued.  And direct action was performed.  But self-purification was missing.

“We began a series of workshops on nonviolence, and we repeatedly asked ourselves: ‘Are you able to accept blows without retaliating?’ ‘Are you able to endure the ordeal of jail?’”  — Martin Luther King, Jr.

In the Civil Rights Era, the discipline of the protesters was far superior to the discipline of the establishment. 

The protesters purified themselves.  They prayed.  They marched.  They did what they trained to do.  They resisted in words and actions.  And they exuded love.  They acted, and they reacted, and through it all, they maintained their purity and their discipline.  They stayed with the winning campaign of nonviolence.

The establishment over-reacted.  They chose the road of violence.  Of dogs and fire hoses.  Of beatings and murder.  They lost.

In the era of South Carolina’s Confederate flag controversy, things have been different.  The first major difference between the previous struggle and the struggle of today is in the definition of the word “violence.”  Now, “violence,” in the campaign to take down the Confederate flag, is almost purely in word and almost never in deed.

When Sen. Glenn McConnell can win by saying that his feelings are hurt, well, something’s drastically wrong.  Has the world turned upside down?

We must choose the road of nonviolence.  We need to purify ourselves.  We need workshops and training.  We need to ask ourselves: “Are you able to accept insults and lies and ridiculous speech without retaliating in kind?”  “Are you able to endure the ordeal of having your feelings hurt?”

Please, look at this article about James Gallman.  He, and the other leaders of the NAACP and of other organizations, have presented many reasonable solutions, but none have ever worked. 

The idea of sanctions against South Carolina because of the Confederate flag on its Statehouse had surfaced in 1994. That year, flag opponents marched past hundreds of grim-faced, flag-waving whites in Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head Island, shouting, “Red rag! Red rag!” Nothing happened.

The NAACP has made the right request: Please stop flying the Confederate flag from Statehouse grounds because flying it there implies sovereignty and allegiance to a non-existent nation and makes a statement of public policy that is an affront to the sensibilities and dignity of a majority of people in the state of South Carolina.

But the people of South Carolina haven’t gotten what we want.  We must purify ourselves and ask again.  We must renew the campaign.  We must pledge to remove all violence from our deeds and our words.

We must ask ourselves: Can we insist that the Confederate flag be taken down without ever calling our opponents names?  Do we want the Confederate flag down or do we want to call it a “red rag?”

We need to employ the broken record technique:

In many instances you will be told no not because you don’t deserve it, but because outside forces are tying your boss’s hands. Try this: the broken record technique. The basic idea is to repeat your request, over and over, like a broken record, without ever changing your tone so that your emotions don’t appear to be escalating.

This blog is my repeated request, over and over, to take down the Confederate flag.  This blog is an example, I hope, of the broken record technique.  You can do it, too.

Please, fellow South Carolinian, send in the following letter or a similar letter in your own nonviolent words to your State Representative and State Senator:

Dear State Legislator:

Please work to pass the bill H-3588.  This bill is a great bill.  It presents a real solution to the problem of flying the Confederate flag from Statehouse grounds.

The people of South Carolina want the Confederate flag taken down.  The people of South Carolina want to respect the Confederate part of our history on Confederate Memorial Day.  The people of South Carolina will support you in your efforts to pass H-3588.

If we take down the Confederate flag, we can end the NCAA ban and the NAACP boycott.  Additionally, our state will no longer be defined as “South Carolina, the state that flies the Confederate flag in defiance of the will of the people of South Carolina.”

Please take the Confederate flag down because it doesn’t need to be there.  South Carolina already has a flag.  And the people of South Carolina want our state to be defined as “South Carolina, the state with the beautiful places and the smiling faces.” 

Please let me know about your stance and about your efforts in this regard.  Please let me know how I can help you.  Thank you.

Regards,

Active Voter