Editorial Activity by Katelyn Huckery

A Great Cultural Blow for the South

mfrazi11 — 2015-07-08 13:57:47 UTC

Why has our flag being erased from history? My great great grandpappy fought for the South in the War of Northern Aggression, and we have owned and flown his flag for decades. Why is no longer okay to take pride in our cultural history? The Columbus Dispatch recently expressed its desire to remove the flag from the public eye entirely. However, this should not take place, because this is a knee-jerk reaction to the South Carolina church shooting and will not accomplish anything constructive. Many say that the flag is a symbol of oppression, however that is a limited view of what the flag represents. So what's our solution? Take the flag down from public places if you must, but don't prevent it from being sold and flown privately. We should be free to fly whatever flags we like, and this needs to change now.

2015-07-08 14:03:38 UTC

The Confederate flag represents heritage and pride. It symbolizes the culture of the South. It is misinterpreted as a reflection of slavery, but that’s obviously incorrect. Rather, the flag was created to represent the pride of Southern culture.

The Confederate flag is a symbol of American history. Disposing of the flag would mean erasing a significant part of American history. It reflects American values of freedom of speech.

Remember the Flag

2015-07-08 14:04:27 UTC

Will the South rise again?

The removal of the Confederate flag highlights the recent attacks against Southern history and pride. Years ago, the removal of Dixie from Ole Miss football games gave credence to Northern liberties taking over the region. As the area continues to gentrify toward homogeneous sympathies, the culture loses its flavor. By removing the flag, one cannot remember their past.

Some brave places within the area seem destined to remember the past. Mississippi still throws up the rebel flag as a remnant to that time. Boulevard names based upon Confederate generals still exist in every Southern town. The Rebel nickname still lives in Oxford. Not all forget.

The reason for this emphatic response has nothing to do with racism. Of course the South understands the evils of racism. The Confederate flag has those connotations. Everyone knows. No one is stupid.

But the truth remains that the Confederate flag reminds the South of a time when brave men and women dared to take a stand against their government. The right to declare and own property in lieu of the U.S. policy exemplifies the dedication needed to succeed in this country. The simplest fact? The Confederacy remembered by the flag is the single greatest failed movement in this country’s history.

Keep that flag!

kcollingwood — 2015-07-08 14:04:38 UTC

After the shooting in a Black Charleston church by a white male, people had contrasting opinions about the confederate flag being displayed in public.

We think the flag should stay.

Because of our constitutional rights and the rich history behind this flag, we believe this flag should be allowed in public and private places.

People argue that the flag represents and symbolizes racial discrimination and hatred, but that is very subjective. We have freedom of speech, and flying whatever flag we want should fall under first amendment rights.

We aren’t flying this flag as a symbol of hatred, it’s a historic artifact reminding us of our nation’s history.

Keep the flags, a piece of cloth shouldn’t hurt anyone.

shaver_66 — 2015-07-08 14:05:10 UTC

The Confederate flag does not represent slavery. It is a cultural symbol steeped in history, and it needs to be saved. To take this symbol of our heritage down would be a dishonor to our ancestors and the soldiers who fought for our freedom. “The flag has been flying outside our house for the last 6 generations,” said Charles Smith, a South Carolina native whose family developed the area. “My great-great-grandfather died fighting in the Civil war, and to take it down would be like spitting on his grave.”

Some say this flag is a symbol of slavery; however, the flag has a much more complex meaning than this. It is a symbol of southern pride and culture. Flying a gay pride flag does not make one gay, just as flying a Confederate flag does not mean one supports slavery. We need to come together as a country to mutually respect one another’s histories. Write to your representative and let him or her know that you have the right to fly your own flag.