Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

letters to the editor:

Rebel flag a symbol of racism, treason

In the wake of the mass murder in South Carolina, one of the primary topics of conversation was a flag. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley appeared on national television, sincerely upset with these racially motivated murders, yet during this same interview, she evaded the question concerning the flag flying near South Carolina’s Capitol. In many people’s view, the previous tears were political in nature. On Monday, she called for the removal of the flag from the North Carolina Statehouse. Perhaps she actually felt compassion. I think she knows this banner represents to many people the hateful era in which it was born.

It was chilling to see the flag of the greatest nation in the world at half-staff and the state flag flying in full color. One represents freedom and liberty for all, and the other is symbolic of a time of hatred and oppression.

To many Americans, the Confederate flag is a symbol of treason. President Barack Obama said it belongs in a museum and not over the capital of a state.

Thousands of black Americans have died while serving under the American flag to help protect this nation. They continue to do so with pride, love, honor and devotion. Many blacks also have died in the presence of the so-called rebel flag because of its display at Ku Klux Klan gatherings. Review photos of black lynchings and you will see this flag front and center.

I recently saw on TV a prominent GOP spokesman and Fox News contributor state that the flag in South Carolina had nothing to do with this crime. If a flag means nothing, why do we pay tribute to our nation’s at almost every opportunity we get, from every morning in the classrooms of our elementary schools to the sacred death of one of our fallen warriors? The flag is a symbol of high esteem in our national consciousness. Every city, country and state has a representative flag. Why? Because it is a visual attribute to something we feel attached to and of which are a part.

The man accused of the South Carolina shooting carried several flags/banners of hate with him daily, on his car and his clothing. Therefore, a piece of cloth on a flagpost in a public place has definitive meaning for a whole spectrum of people — some good and definitely some evil. So don’t confuse yourself and don’t attempt to confuse the world with misleading rhetoric.

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