Tuesday, February 20, 2007

She's Absolutely Right



I'm not sure how often I've agreed with Hillary Clinton on public policy declarations, but I agree with her today: The Confederate Flag in South Carolina should come off of the state house property. She said so here. Of course, the media loves her, so if she were to say that Kleenex should be used to clean jewelry, I'm sure it would make the headlines.

But in this case, she is right (as she was about the Iraq war until that became less of a vote getter).

I lived in South Carolina when the flag was flying over the State House, not just on the grounds. What an afront to honor! The Confederate state is not soverign over the State of South Carolina and should not have the flag flying over it.

By the way, the flag is no longer flying over the state house. Some trivia about that issue: the flag was put up there by then Democratic governor, and later democratic senator Fritz Hollings as a way to protest civil rights progress. The flag was removed by order of Governor David Beasley, a republican. I am sad to say that it cost him his job. He was not re-elected. Why not? Because white Christians of South Carolina refused to stand in solidarity with Blacks on this issue. Shame on them, I say.

The flags that fly over the State House now are the American Flag and the South Carolina Flag. that is how it should be, for those are the sovereign authorities which oversee South Carolina. The confederate flag was removed from above the state house, but political pressure kept it on the grounds as a historical artifact.

6 comments:

PastaKeith said...

I lived there when they took it off the top of the state house and moved it to the front of the building... one of the lawmakers said when you walked through the front door if your were tall enough you could jump up and grab it.

Pretty Pathetic. Does Maurice's Piggy Park still fly the flag, I wonder? Or has that establishment started to run out of money?

Bre said...

Thanks for the fedblitz info...much easier.

Mike Greiner said...

Bre, you're welcome.

As for the flag, Keith, you and I know what that issue is in South Carolina. But can we agree to not run down Maurice's Piggy Park? I mean, is nothing sacred?

Anonymous said...

Mike... Let me just say first that I too agree with Hillary (choke, gag) on this issue, however it's her motive that makes me sick! She in no way cares about the people of South Carolina. She cares about her own selfish ambition and that is what bugs me about this. She is just looking for the black vote, period.
But as I said she is right. The flag should have come down a LONG time ago. To the "old timey" South Carolinian, they argue that the flag is culture. I say "Baloney!" we all know its racist! But what do I know, I'm just a stupid Yankee!

Gary Karr said...

For what it's worth, Gov. Beasley didn't order the flag to be removed. He proposed that it be moved, but the General Assembly decided against that, and in part, that did indeed cost him his job. It was still the right thing to do, and I don't think he regrets it at all.

Mike Greiner said...

Thanks, Gary, for the correction. :)