For many people in our state, the flag stands for traditions that are noble. Traditions of history, of heritage, and of ancestry.
The hate filled murderer who massacred our brothers and sisters in Charleston has a sick and twisted view of the flag. In no way does he reflect the people in our state who respect and, in many ways, revere it. Those South Carolinians view the flag as a symbol of respect, integrity, and duty. They also see it as a memorial, a way to honor ancestors who came to the service of their state during time of conflict. That is not hate, nor is it racism.
That's an excerpt from Gov. Nikki Haley's much lauded announcement that she was FINALLY recommending removing the Confederate flag from South Carolina's statehouse grounds. (Law degrees that only 2/3 passage by the state legislature can actually lower it, let alone remove it.)
What is astonishing about Gov. Haley's statement is how oblivious she - and apparently much of the fawning media - is about flagrant contradictions in what she said. That's not a partisan opinion. It's a matter of objective history, if white southerners can look at it through an unbiased lens.
Traditions that are noble - such as...? The only answer Southerners like Gov. Haley & Sen. Lindsey Graham give usually pair with heritage. Or they might mention revered ancestors who fought for a cause they believed in at the time. What they always leave out is that the vaunted heritage is forever tainted with the unspeakably inhumane, that the cause their ancestors so nobly fought for was not simply "state's rights," but the specific right for any new state in the Union to welcome slavery within its borders, to blazes with the lethal consequences.
Just read CSA Vice President Alexander Stephen's famous Cornerstone Speech, which clearly (if somewhat verbosely) laid out what set the glorious Confederated States of America apart from any civilized nation heretofore on the face of the Earth:
Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner- stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth. This truth has been slow in the process of its development, like all other truths in the various departments of science. It has been so even amongst us. Many who hear me, perhaps, can recollect well, that this truth was not generally admitted, even within their day. The errors of the past generation still clung to many as late as twenty years ago. Those at the North, who still cling to these errors, with a zeal above knowledge, we justly denominate fanatics. All fanaticism springs from an aberration of the mind from a defect in reasoning. It is a species of insanity.
Very interesting... The tone of the arguments he makes - that Northerners are fanatics who reject the fact that the negro is born subordinate to the white man - sound a tad like ones made today against people who seek some sane form of gun control. The South was convinced that Northerners were out to abolish slavery everywhere. Today, gun advocates are convinced the call for wished for/never passed laws requiring background checks is the diabolical first step toward seizing everyone's guns.
But I digress. Back to Gov. Haley. She freely acknowledged that, "The hate filled murderer who massacred our brothers and sisters in Charleston has a sick and twisted view of the flag. In no way does he reflect the people in our state who respect and, in many ways, revere it. Those South Carolinians view the flag as a symbol of respect, integrity, and duty. They also see it as a memorial, a way to honor ancestors who came to the service of their state during time of conflict. That is not hate, nor is it racism."
Ah hem... Gov. Haley - you're clearly talking about WHITE South Carolinians, 'cause it's a safe bet that African-Americans do NOT experience the Stars & Bars as a "symbol of respect, integrity & duty." Governor, it's time for you, an Indian-American, to be a leader in recognizing that reality.
And it's time for all responsible reporters & commentators to stop singing her praises for calling (after how many days?) the removal of the Confederate flag from South Carolina's statehouse ground & start noticing it took her almost a full week to stop saying that the state needed to heal before the legislature could start considering the fate of the Confederate flag flying over the statehouse grounds. Almost a full week, where she made it clear that keeping the flag flying would help, rather than exacerbate, the healing of those most touched by the tragedy. And for that she's touted as a political force to be reckoned with in '16?
If she'd stepped right up to the plate, yes. If she made her statement before hadn't national & world opinion surged against her & South Carolina, yes. If she spoken before the powerhouse CEOS & even the Charleston Chamber of Commerce called for its removal, yes.
But she didn't.
I hope she's satisfied with being the GOP poster Gov, because her own words will sink any national political hopes. Nuff said.
Reminder - the governor can only call for the flag's removal. Actually making that happen is up to 2/3 of the state legislature. Now, THAT will be an interesting session!
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