Confederate flags-Honoring the dead or racist symbol?
Parker Willis
Issue date: 2/23/07 Section: State News
- Page 1 of 2 next >
The Missouri State Park Board bill made it to committee this week and drew opposition from a national association.
Clyde Williams, a representative from the NAACP, showed up at the House corrections and public institutions committee meeting to oppose HB 495.
"This bill is an attempt to have the Confederate Flag be displayed on state property," Williams said. "For the past two years, Missouri has been in the national spotlight in the month of June as the state flying the Confederate flag."
Williams continued by saying the Civil War might have settled some scores more than 150 years ago, but some wounds still fester.
"We should be rallying around symbols that tie us together and not tear us apart," Williams said. "The rebel flag represented hatred, oppression and the Confederacy, which was an enemy of the United States."
But Rep. Michael McGhee (R-Lafayette) said this bill is more than just an excuse to raise the rebel flag.
The bill will establish the Missouri State Park Board, an eight-member board responsible for managing all aspects of the historical marker program.
One of which is in McGhee's district. The Confederate park in Higginsville was home to injured Confederate soldiers for nearly 60 years. Now all that is left is the chapel, the hospital and the cemetery.
This is where the problem that Williams was talking about comes into play.
McGhee wants the State Park Board, once it is established, to return the Confederate flag to the cemetery.
"They may decide to put it up and they may decide not to but that would be up to those people on the board to decide," McGhee said. "Since the Civil War has been over, soldiers never flew the Confederate flag. Not in front of the hospital, not in front of the chapel, and not in front of any of the Confederate soldiers homes. The stars and stripes flew there. The only place the Confederate flag flew was over the cemetery of the soldiers that died for that cause."
Clyde Williams, a representative from the NAACP, showed up at the House corrections and public institutions committee meeting to oppose HB 495.
"This bill is an attempt to have the Confederate Flag be displayed on state property," Williams said. "For the past two years, Missouri has been in the national spotlight in the month of June as the state flying the Confederate flag."
Williams continued by saying the Civil War might have settled some scores more than 150 years ago, but some wounds still fester.
"We should be rallying around symbols that tie us together and not tear us apart," Williams said. "The rebel flag represented hatred, oppression and the Confederacy, which was an enemy of the United States."
But Rep. Michael McGhee (R-Lafayette) said this bill is more than just an excuse to raise the rebel flag.
The bill will establish the Missouri State Park Board, an eight-member board responsible for managing all aspects of the historical marker program.
One of which is in McGhee's district. The Confederate park in Higginsville was home to injured Confederate soldiers for nearly 60 years. Now all that is left is the chapel, the hospital and the cemetery.
This is where the problem that Williams was talking about comes into play.
McGhee wants the State Park Board, once it is established, to return the Confederate flag to the cemetery.
"They may decide to put it up and they may decide not to but that would be up to those people on the board to decide," McGhee said. "Since the Civil War has been over, soldiers never flew the Confederate flag. Not in front of the hospital, not in front of the chapel, and not in front of any of the Confederate soldiers homes. The stars and stripes flew there. The only place the Confederate flag flew was over the cemetery of the soldiers that died for that cause."
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Tommy Aaron
posted 2/24/07 @ 4:39 AM CST
"wounds still fester." ~ Williams, naacp
It's racist and press seeking people as, Williams that keeps opening sores that fester! Ain't there more important issues facing the black community than a flag? Yes! It just don't get the press or money his type thrive on. (Continued…)
Charles
posted 2/24/07 @ 8:57 AM CST
The Confederate Battle Flag is the flag of the Confederate soldier. It should fly proudly over their resting place. Over 10,000 people petitioned to have it flying. (Continued…)
Brock Townsend
posted 2/24/07 @ 12:16 PM CST
Substitute Flag for Lee, and it is the perfect rebuttal to the NAACP.
Old wars waste time
http://www.news -press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070223/OPINION/70222091/1015
clint lacy
posted 2/25/07 @ 8:18 PM CST
In my opinion the NAACP is a "Black Supremacist" group. They are no different than a "White Supremacist" group, the end goal is the same, advancing race. (Continued…)
Martin Wisenbaker
posted 2/25/07 @ 8:36 PM CST
An honest look at the facts of history without inflamed emotions will reveal much. But inflamed emotions will prevent one from using good common sense. (Continued…)
Stephen Smith
posted 3/13/07 @ 12:09 PM CST
The Confederate Flag certainly could be construed as a symbol of racism and oppression. We should be sensitive to this feeling.
But the truth is that most of the Southern troops owned no slaves. (Continued…)
Post a Comment