Is the South Rising Again?

By Dr. Henry Flores, NewsTaco

Recently, a federal appeals court ruled that the State of Texas was required to print the confederate flag on the state’s license plates when requested by a motorist.  The state’s Land Commissioner, Jerry Patterson, is one of the leading advocates for this policy.  Mr. Patterson, himself, is a member of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans.

Meaning of Flag

Advocates argue that the flag is a symbol of the state’s cultural heritage.  I’ve heard this argument put forth by various editions of the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups over the years.  Well, they do have a point.  It is a symbol of the state’s cultural heritage because it represents what those who served, including their sympathizers, fought for during the Civil War of the 1860s.  It represents two principle issues:  a treasonous act and championing slavery.

The Confederate Flag represents an act of treason because it was waved by an army raised by states that wanted to dissolve the United States of America and form their own country.  The leadership of this group of states, that included Texas, were not patriots, they were not men of courage, they were not men of vision, they were men who saw only one way in which to adjudicate conflict,  by waging war.

This act of treason as has been written about extensively and was based upon only one issue and that was to protect the nefarious institution of slavery.  Slavery was what made the Southern agricultural economy wealthy much of which formed the basis of what is still considered “old Southern money.”  Slavery was an essential part of the cultural history of the South and all it stood for.

Let’s look at the company of those who enjoy flying the “Stars and Bars” as the confederate Flag is affectionately called in the South.  Besides those who wish to have the flag imprinted on their license plates the flag can be found emblazoned on the sheets worn by members of the various chapters of the Ku Klux Klan.  Ah, the Klan the keepers of the flames of patriotism, white supremacy and christianity!  The Klan, whose members lynched, murdered, brutalized and terrorized those who espoused voting rights and equality throughout the south.

Yes, I would agree that the Confederate Flag does indeed portray and represent the cultural history of some folks in the United States but is it a symbol of culture that we, as a nation, wish to represent as our history and culture?

Relevance of the Flag Now 

This past week the Ku Klux Klan called for the shooting of immigrant children along the border.  We have the State of Texas fighting against people of color having the right to vote.  We also have the State of Texas fighting against minorities getting a quality education.  We have the State of Texas preventing low income people from having access to affordable healthcare.  We have the State of Texas allowing the Confederate Flag to be imprinted on a state license!

So, what is the State of Teas trying to tell us and the remainder of the United States?  Is Texas trying to tell us that it condones racism?  Is Texas attempting to roll back the clock to embrace the cultural  heritage of racism, slavery, murder, lynchings and terrorism?

I don’t know but a wise old woman once told me that one can tell the content of a person’s character by whom that person hangs out with and Texas is hanging out with those who espouse a cultural history that has been condemned by the nation and the world.  One reason Governor Good Hair will not come close to winning the presidency is because he represents a state that condones hatred and racism.

[Photo by cindy47452/Flickr]

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