Dear editor:
What does the Confederate flag mean? To many people in the South, it stands as a symbol to what they saw as interference from the federal government to their way of life. The flag not only represents their stand against interference, but to protect their way of life, which included the right to own slaves (human beings) and to exploit them for monetary gain.
It seems that many persons of the South glorify this symbol and rationalize it not as a negative but as a positive. Many Southerners believe that they had just cause to secede and divide the nation. Many Southerners say that the South had many African-Americans who fought for the Confederacy and that the South had a plan to free the slaves three years before the Emancipation Proclamation. People say that many Northerners owned slaves. They say that the history books fail to mention these events and cast negative ideas on the South and its people. I have failed to find any references to these thoughts and rationalization.
If people still believe in the Confederation, its goals, attitudes and actions, they are free to believe what they wish. They are free to publicize their beliefs on private property, even though it may cause discomfort to many who experience the sight. There was a flashing billboard at a local church that stated, "The bitterest pill to swallow was that of pride." Now I think it was meant to convey the message that everyone needs God and that we should not deny his/her presence or effect on our lives.
I personally feel that many Americans need to swallow their pride and recognize that the secession of states was an affront to our nation and that slavery was an atrocity to African-Americans and an affront to U.S. citizens.
Take 'em down!
Don't perpetuate the negative!
Respectfully,
Paul Reilly
Retired, living in Arkansas
Hot Springs
Editorial on 07/24/2015