Long flying in the capitol of South Carolina, the Confederate flag has often been a source of passionate discussion from both sides.
From those that support the flag, they've clung onto the phrase "heritage not hate" — while the other side demands it be taken down due to its connections to slavery, racism, and hate. Many of those who died in the Civil War under the rebel banner didn't really even care about the issue of slavery. Back when states were more sovereign and less united than they are today, many southerns joined the fight simply because they felt as if the North was invading them.
But the fact of the matter is this: The South lost, the glorious rebellion lost, and no matter how high you fly the flag, it's still the flag of a loser.
If you support flying the Confederate flag in a governmental capacity, you must also rescind your standing as a United States citizen, and you should rejoice at the death of every (enemy) Union soldier. You cannot support the cause of open treason against America while pretending to love America.
The Confederate flag, its meaning, and its history deserves to be remembered — within the confines of history books and museums. The last veteran who fought under the banner of the Confederacy died in 1951. Everyone else at this point wasn't there for the fight, doesn't have a firsthand understanding of what the fight was about, and doesn't deserve to fight for a flag that they themselves have co-opted.
Like it or not, the flag has a hateful meaning to enough people that it's time to take it down. Fly it on your own private property if you must be that guy in your neighborhood, but to fly it on government property in a government capacity is inappropriate at this point, an embarrassment to anyone who loves the United States, and a betrayal to those who lost their lives in a war that nearly tore us all asunder.
Its time to come to peace and join each other as brothers. This piece of cloth has been a needless reminder of our hate, not our heritage. To the southerners out there who cling to a dead relic, it's time to stop being so needlessly spiteful; use some good old southern hospitality and be kind to your neighbor.
The South is still the South, whether or not Johnny Rebel's flag is there doesn't make it any less so. It's time to grow up. Stars and bars is a pretty flag — but it ain't ours.
#TakeItDown
And please SHARE this petition to take down the Confederate flag!
