Though not born in the South, I am an Alabama boy. I lived there from the time I was 5 in 1960 until I got married in 1978. I then lived Chattanooga until 1984 when we moved back to Alabama and stayed there till we moved to Ireland in 1995. I am a Southerner and yes, I am proud to be from the South.
I went to primary and secondary school in Alabama. I went to college and seminary in Tennessee.
My secondary school had a huge Rebel flag on the wall of the gym. We were called the Rebels. We waved the flag and sang Dixie at sporting events. I never gave the racial implications a second thought.
As the years have gone by I have become totally ambivalent about the flag. I, as a rule, think folks can get far too worked up over a symbol on a piece of fabric.
I have been amazed at the speed with which the Rebel flag has become the target of a backlash of the Charleston shootings. It seems like the strangest of targets. The banning and removal of this symbol will be accomplished and everyone will feel much better about themselves.
But what is really going to be accomplished? Will racial hatred be abolished. Some white guilt might be assuaged, but will the next black church be any safer from a lunatic racist attack?
Of course not - the removal of a symbol is not going to do anything of real value, And, outside of public and government facilites the Rebel flag will be more popular than ever. Cancelling 'The Dukes of Hazard' will be agreat victory over racism. Everyone will feel better, but nothing of substance will be accomplished and racism will be as popular as ever.
So take down the flag, repaint the General Lee, cancel the shows.
But some day we are going to have to face the real issue here.
No comments:
Post a Comment