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9 Comments

  • Michael Rodgers
    July 12, 2008 at 10:12 am

    Edward H. Sebesta has sent me this link to “Neo-Confederacy: A Critical Introduction,” University of Texas Press.

    Reply
  • JimT
    July 19, 2008 at 10:00 pm

    As you know, your letter to Brad Warthen regarding the lack of leadership in South Carolina was posted on his blog. A number of people responded, most in favor of keeping the flag where it is, and most condemning the NAACP.

    One response in particular illustrates why the flag should be removed from its place of prominence on Gervais Street, and placed in a museum. These comments were posted by Walt Hampton:

    “These Negro attacks (funded by Jewish groups thru the NAACP) on the flag, Ben Tillman, and other White Southern icons of our culture, is just simply another pin in the axiom that multi-racial societies have never worked, and will never work. When Whites relinquish control of the societies we have created, we are subsequently exterminated (see Rhodesia, South Africa, and Hispanolia). Unless we Whites regain the stamina and backbone that our forebearers possessed, the same fate awaits us here.”

    Most of those in favor of keeping the flag flying on the S.C. State House grounds say (and I think they really believe) the flag is a symbol of a noble and glorious cause that was not about slavery but about Northern aggression or some other cause they hold dear. Having relatives who belong to the Sons of the Confederacy, I can attest that many of these people really are not racially prejudiced, but are convinced that flying the Confederate flag is about a grand heritage. While the words of Walt Hamilton prove that racial hatred is alive and well, the Confederate flag wavers seem oblivious to the need to acknowledge this part of the flag’s history.

    And this is where their position falls short. Their myopic focus on 150 year old history is nearly blind to subsequent history. They cannot grasp that their ancestor’s struggle is not the only experience with the flag and what it symbolizes. The fact that the Confederate flag has been used as one of the most powerful symbols of racism (probably second only to the white robes and burning crosses of the KKK) does not register with these people. Or if it does, it does not register as meaningful in any practical way regarding how the flag should be displayed.

    And this is why the flag should be moved to a museum. Its current setting displays only one point of view, the white Southerner’s. An entirely different and certainly no less significant history of racism and hatred wrapped in that same flag gets no recognition. The unbalanced view of the monument on Gervais Street sends a strong message that the history of white people is relevant, but the experience with that flag by others is not.

    The flag should be placed in a museum display where the entire scope of its use and abuse gets full coverage. This would not disrespect anybody’s ancestors, but in fact would honor all those whose struggle has centered around that flag.

    Reply
  • Michael Rodgers
    July 23, 2008 at 10:25 pm

    It boggles my mind why anyone in the “heritage” crowd wouldn’t advocate for H-3588. The bill is very respectful to “heritage,” and in fact it honors “heritage.” Here’s what I think:

    H-3588 makes “heritage” more secure by re-endorsing the Confederate Soldier Monument, Confederate Memorial Day, the Confederate flag’s flagpole, and the Confederate flag itself. Additionally, H-3588 educates everyone about the importance of our state flag to the Confederate soldiers. At zero cost, H-3588 does all of this, as well as clearing up all the confusion about why we fly the Confederate flag — to honor those soldiers.

    Only one question remains for the “heritage” crowd: What do you prefer, everyone giving the Confederate soldiers respect year-round and special honors — complete with a Confederate flag flying ceremony — on Confederate Memorial Day or seeing the Confederate flag fly year-round in a confusing and divisive display that encourages people to insult the Confederate soldiers due to the intransigence of our state legislators?

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  • Michael Rodgers
    August 16, 2008 at 10:21 am

    I like the recent (Aug 8, 2008) letter to the editor by Marilyn Rej of Columbia that was published in The State newspaper.

    Let us finally retire Confederate flag

    South Carolina, can we please, once and for all, put the Confederate flag issue behind us? The war is over; the Confederacy is history. The official seat of state government should retire the flag that once held, but no longer holds, supremacy over the state.

    While whites proudly memorialize the white heritage of states’ rights by waving the flag, black heritage is also memorialized — a heritage of denial of human rights and oppression. We are all, black and white, victimized by hatred and distrust. This festering wound is keeping our state from fulfilling its potential.

    We need to put aside our bitterness and pain, our prejudgments of one another, and work together toward a brighter future.

    There are many ways to honor the sacrifices of ancestors who bravely died defending their home. Flying a flag that incites hatred and racism does not honor the dead. It perpetuates bitterness in both races. It stirs pride in some, embarrassment in others and humiliating dehumanization in others.

    Let’s retire the flag to a place of honor in a museum, not because of pressure from the NAACP, but because it is the right thing to do and it is time to heal.

    MARILYN REJ, Columbia

    Reply
  • Michael Rodgers
    August 24, 2008 at 6:23 am

    Someone replied in The State, saying that he is “deeply offended” by the statements of Marilyn Rej. Please recall that she said that she wants to find a way “to honor the sacrifices of ancestors who bravely died defending their home.” So they’re both in agreement about honoring the soldiers.

    Those who oppose flag should let it go

    I wanted to reply to the letter from Marilyn Rej on the Confederate flag.

    I agree with Ms. Rej: Let’s put the issue that will not go away to rest. As a Southerner whose family has been living in South Carolina for nearly 325 years, I am deeply offended by her statements.

    I am sorry if that flag offends people, but I lost two great-great grandfathers and great-great uncles in that war. I understand why the African-American public can be offended by the flag because of the hate groups who used it ever since the civil rights movement.

    But that is not the fault of the descendants of those brave men who fought for what they believed in.

    I hold no animosity toward African-Americans, Jews or any other ethnicity or race. We are all God’s children and should love one another.

    We have every right to have that flag at the soldiers monument, and African-Americans have just as much right to have the monument they have at the State House.

    Please Ms. Rej and others who oppose the flag, just let it go. The law was passed by the House and Senate. It is over. If you can’t live with Southern history, move away.

    JAMES HARLEY, Columbia

    Let’s all get together and find a way to honor the soldiers. Here’s a suggestion: H-3588.

    Reply
  • Charles Parks
    September 12, 2009 at 10:03 pm

    We who hold the Confederate heritage dear, will never surrender this flag.
    This flag was, and has never been, a racist symbol except in the minds of those that would find racism in a boiled egg !
    And I for one am sick of hearing “racism” declared at every turn by the most racist organization on the planet – THE NAACP.
    I’m sick of hearing their distored version of history “The white man did it all” while conveniently neglecting their own history of the most relentless form of slavery – that exisited THOUSANDS of years before the discovery of America. And imagine this – a month of Black history every year, and they don’t say a word about that ???
    Even worse – slavery still exists in Africa to this day and although it is supposedly so terrible, not a word is said about that, and absolutly nothing what-so-ever has ever been done about it – sot that tell me it’s all a joke, just like wanting an appology and reparations – which if taken, should be taken from AFRICA first don’t you think ???
    I think the only reason the NAACP wants the flag off the dome is to gain membership and money, in addition to viewing the flag issue as a white thing – and well we can’t have that. An all white college, college fund, Miss American Pagent – whatever, but it’s ok to have all black this and that.
    What a load of BULL ****. All this amounts to is Black racism run amuck by a buch of racist slime bags for the sake of maintaining a separation of the races for a black voting block – thats what it is all about.
    And remember, when someone says they are a member of the NAACP – you know your dealing with a racist, and someone that supports racism.
    Charles Parks

    Reply
    • Walt Hampton
      September 19, 2009 at 3:13 pm

      Amen to that! Encore! Couldn’t have said it better myself!!

      Reply
    • Walt Hampton
      November 21, 2009 at 5:12 pm

      Hey Charles! This Clown down in
      Charleston, Mullins McLeod, just
      said on November 20th, “The Confederate
      flag must be removed from the State House
      grounds if South Carolina is to attract jobs, according to one Democrat running for
      governor.”

      This moron, who says he wants to be
      Governor, apparently isn’t even aware that Boeing just decided to build a huge plant
      down there! This is another argument in
      favor of the premise that Liberalism is a
      mental disease…total detatchment from
      reality.

      Appears to me like if we can get more
      outfits like Boeing down here, it might
      be time to put the flag back on the Capitol
      Dome, and if the Negroes don’t like it,
      they all can go back to Hispaniola!

      Reply
  • Michael Rodgers
    September 12, 2009 at 10:09 pm

    The SC General Assembly stole the Confederate flag from people who “hold the Confederate heritage dear.” H-3588 gives it back. That is all.

    Reply

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