There’s been a whole lotta verbiage flying around the
country about what’s loosely referred to as “the Confederate flag”, and whether
it should be flown…well, anywhere.
Here’s what I have to say about that: The battle flag of
the Confederacy does not belong on any governmental property within the United
States in an official capacity. (If, at some time or in some parallel universe,
there is a sovereign entity that chooses that banner as its official standard,
they are free to stick it up any flagpole they so desire.)
On private property, I say do as you damn well please. Freedom
of expression is enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution, which
applies to everyone, even those who wish that the particular war represented by
that flag had turned out differently. Men and women for the last two hundred or
so years have died for your right to do exactly that, so you’re welcome. And I
don’t expect you to pick up on the irony of this situation.
I do think everyone should step back from the blizzard of
metaphoric flag-waving and -burning and take a few deep breaths. We need to get
our focus off the symbol and pay attention to the issues beneath it. You know—treat
the disease rather than dab at the symptoms. Racism, fear, injustice,
inequality…and like that. Wrapping yourself in any piece of colored cloth doesn’t
actually cover up the fact that you’re stitch stark naked when it comes to
dealing with very real social problems.
Meanwhile—here’s a flag that should insult everyone.
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