Flying the Confederate flag offends those who stand for American ideals

Editor:

Tuesday, June 14, is designated as Flag Day. The flag of the United States is a symbol for the ideas and ideals of this nation: that all men are created equal, justice for all and self sacrifice for the common good.

I know there are some in our community who reject these ideas because they fly the Confederate flag. The Confederacy was formed in opposition to the idea that all men are created equal and their flag is the symbol of that idea.

Alexander H. Stephens, one of the founders of the Confederacy stated quite plainly that the cornerstone of the Confederacy is slavery; completely rejecting the ideal that all men are created equal and idea of equal justice.

Some may try to argue that the Confederacy stands for states’ rights but this is completely wrong. South Carolina, the first state to secede, made quite clear that they were leaving the Union because northern states would not change their laws and return runaway slaves. So it wasn’t that the northern states were telling the South what to do; it was because southern states couldn’t dictate to North what laws to pass, totally rejecting states’ rights argument.

By their very words and deeds the founders of the Confederacy believed that only the privileged few should have justice and be free. The Confederate flag, representing the Confederacy, is the very antithesis of the United States.

Flying the Confederate flag shows your hatred for the U.S. Constitution and all the men and women who have served this great nation. In this country you are free to display your distain for freedom, for equal justice and your hatred of all this nation stands for. That is your right.

I am a patriot, I defended this nation in war when it was not popular and I will display my American flag proudly. I believe in the ideas and ideals of this great nation.

Reference: 1). The Cornerstone Speech by Alexander H. Stephens in Savannah Georgia 3/21/1861. 2). Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union, 12/24/1860

William Fine

Brockport