Symbolic Expressions: Should Confederate Flag Be Banned?

Raskin’s column delivers an extremely simplified version of the Civil War, not unlike a Classic Comic version of “Hamlet.” He has boiled the Civil War down solely to the issue of slavery vs. emancipation. This is a view too often held these days by many who are lacking education in Southern history. He failed to recognize that the seeds of the Civil War were planted during the nullification crisis of 1832, when North Carolina refused to comply with taxation that unfairly burdened Southerners and provided newly constructed roads for Northerners.

Raskin wrote, “It (the Confederate flag) was flown by those states that conspired to bring down the U.S. government through an act of war.” The Confederate States of America did not wish to “bring down” the U.S. government, but wished to peacefully coexist. He failed to mention that President Lincoln refused to open negotiations with the Confederate government regarding Fort Sumter. He failed to mention that the Confederate government offered to let merchant ships into the harbor to sell goods but were refused.

Why was it that in a nation born of rebellion to its British rulers, less than 100 later people who sought a peaceful escape from the constant maligning of their constitutional rights were destroyed?

The Confederate flag is not a symbol of slavery to all, and for those to whom it is, I pity. I hope that Raskin realizes someday that flying the flag of the Confederacy can be a memorial to those who sought to protect their rights under a Constitution that they thought would protect them but failed. It is a part of this nation’s history which we cannot ignore, but should be remembered in hopes that we can learn from it.

ERIKA LAIRD TEMM

Covina