G. Douglas Clarke,
Thanks for your good piece agains bigotry. I didn't see the original
message on the List so hope it was sent privately - I do read all the
messages or thought I had. I think that the noble elements of the
Scottish-Southern tradition are very fine when they are expressed with
sensitivity to all people in an inclusive and caring way. We are all one,
after all.
As one of the founders of this List I would remind everyone that we are not
to get involved with politics or religion on this List except in terms of
historical issues, so that while I have often thought that the issue of the
SC flag was one on which I would be interested to hear some creative ideas,
I think we need to move that discussion to private ground. It is a current
issue and not an historical one in the sense that I am talking about.
Diarmid Campbell
----- Original Message -----
From: G. Douglas and/or Jeanette Clarke <clarkedj(a)infoblvd.net>
To: <CAMPBELL-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 29, 2000 8:37 AM
Subject: are you talking about confederate battle flag?
Richard,
I don't find your call for outcry, but maybe I deleted it. In any case,
if
you're still looking for opinions, here's mine: as I
understand it, the
confederate battle flag was put up over the South Carolina Capitol in the
early 1960s, in obvious defiance of antisegregation legislation. This is
the best reason I can think of that it should come down. Ever since
Reconstruction, some southerners have defied the reality that we're all
related and blacks aren't inferior. They may say that it's about states'
rights and about history, but it's dark history, at best. I am certainly
a
history buff and have been reading a lot about that period in our
history,
including my own family, and even though I can try to understand how
southerners feel (I lived in South Carolina for nine years, and married a
SC
girl), I can't escape the sense that the flag has more to do with
bigotry
than with history.
I understand that flag defenders have offered to put it up in a separate
flag park, which I think would be an appropriate place for flags (all the
other battle flags, too) of historic significance, but it seems
inappropriate, at best, for it to fly over the capital. If it had always
flown there as a historic remnant I might feel differently, but the fact
that it was put up in defense of bigotry just bothers me. But then, that
flag has always stood for defiance.
There are many citizens of South Carolina for whom the flag is an
insult --
should it fly over a capitol building that belongs as much to them as
to
the
other citizens? It would seem that some still struggle with the same
issues
that so many died for, 135 years ago.
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