We're always hearing the phrase "America is a nation of laws". We certainly have enough of them! The question really becomes, do we follow the letter or the spirit of the law? For as long as I know personally, we have seen lawyers arguing the fine points or the phrasing of a law. Successfully nitpicking over a comma or a word that could possible cast some shadow over the guilt (or innocence I suppose) related to some infraction...to tumultuous applause for their 'brilliance'.
It seems we all get lost in the argument over the letter of the law, often to the total neglect of it's spirit...what the law was intended to do. Ask any 'common man' whether a particular action is contrary to the spirit of a particular law, and chances are they will know who is right and who is wrong in a matter of minutes...or hours...or maybe days if the matter is complicated. We use to call that 'common sense'.
Unfortunately, common sense appears to be another disappearing quality on the American landscape. Worse still, it doesn't appear to be missed! The latest frenzy over the Confederate Flag is just one more example. This article by the Digital Journal, The Confederate flag — Heritage, history, subjugation of a race, goes through an exhaustive look at the history of the flag. The real question though is...who cares???!!! Not that the article isn't excellent in what it does or that we shouldn't care about the history, but we miss the real point. It's not about whether the flag is part of history/tradition...it's about what it means to the vast majority of Americans.
Whatever the history of this flag...and the fact that it is
actually the Battle flag for the Army of Northern Virginia...is irrelevant. Why it was created...what the original intentions may have been...why the war was
fought...are all irrelevant. What is
relevant is what the flag means to people now.
The swastika was a symbol of good-fortune or well-being for 5,000 years,
and still is to some people today. However,
what it means to most of the world is vastly different from those meanings of
the past. Few today would argue that a
swastika on a flag would be acceptable for any reason. A symbol of oppression, hatred, violence can
never be tolerated on anything official that represents a free people anywhere. Can you imagine the response of Americans if a swastika appeared on the flag of a foreign nation?
Yet, we are having a conversation about a symbol that has almost the same meaning to many Americans. When we accept this representation at any official level, we are empowering that symbol and the people who cling to it.
Individuals are free to believe what they will in America.
Even if those beliefs run contrary to the very fabric of our
nation. However, when a person cannot
stand and deliver that opinion openly...when they rely on sophist arguments and deception to
defend these symbols, it reveals the very fact that they do know precisely what
this symbol represents...as well as the fact that they fully intend to foster this
hatred and violence and disunity.
We cannot repress the opinions of the individual, no matter how vile we view them. It underlies the very freedoms we hold at the heart of our nation. However, we cannot either, allow these same vile opinions to take on even the appearance of state support..lest it empower these same vile individuals to action.
Common sense tells us the official representation of the Confederate Battle Flag is wrong. You can argue otherwise for weeks or years or the rest of your life. It will not change the fact that this flag offends the vast, vast majority of Americans. To paraphrase former president Ronald Reagan..."Take down your flag Nikki Haley". The time has long passed to do so.What do you think? Does the meaning of the flag matter or is it's perception by people the important issue?
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