Confederate, U.S. flags share
remarkable traits
The first American flag by Betsy Ross contained 13 stars
representing the 13 original U.S. colonies that became the first states. It
stood for secession from England. It stood for grievance over and redress of
excessive taxation. It stood for the perpetuation and maintenance of slavery.
It stood for the intolerance of tyrannical central government. It stood for
state sovereignty. It was a symbol of rebellion and slavery to British patriots.
It stood for the identical ideals that were represented
by the Confederate flags 84 years later.
I find it enigmatic that when enemies of the Confederate
flag address it, they are careful to never draw the consistent parallel and
purpose of the two flags. They always stress the agenda of groups that adopted
the flag after the defeat of the Confederacy and American citizens’ last chance
for liberty.
If we expunge everything from our history, heritage and
environment that has been misused at one time or another, just think for a
moment about the consequences. Of course, each individual would make his or her
own list and no lists would be the same. Why should any one group of
individuals take preference over another, particularly when the item at stake
had the same intended original purpose as an item they wish to keep?
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