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May 26, 2006
An Open Letter to the South
Dear True Southerners (i.e. ones who hate Yankees),
On Monday, a 15-year-old girl led a protest against her school’s ban on Confederate flag clothing. The high school sophomore wants to be able to wear that type of clothing as a way to pay tribute to ancestors who fought on the Confederate side during the Civil War. Apparently, saying a prayer in their memory or visiting their gravesites or writing a poem or having sex with horses didn’t occur to her. Instead, she’d rather walk around her high school wearing a symbol that is saturated in racism, hatred, and oppression.
I don’t know if banning certain types of clothing is a particularly good idea. Freedom of choice is a very nice thing, even in high schools. What I do know, however, is that more than 140 years have elapsed since your ancestors lost the Civil War, and it’d be nice if you people actually recognized that fact.
It’s utterly absurd that the Jefferson Davis Highway is a major road in Northern Virginia. Hell, Germany might as well name its highways after Adolf Eichmann and Adolf Hitler. After all, like Jefferson Davis, I’m sure they had their good qualities too, right?
It’s completely ludicrous that in Virginia, (Robert E.) Lee-(Stonewall) Jackson day is a paid holiday the Friday before Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. I guess you can’t honor one of "them" types without honoring two of your own too, right?
There are many great things about the South. At least, that’s what people keep telling me. However, your fixations with the Civil War and confederate flag are even more mind-boggling than Jennifer Garner’s decision to procreate with and marry Ben Affleck.
Just because something is part of your history doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good thing worthy of celebrating. Ted Bundy’s descendants probably don’t light a candle in his honor every year and think, “Well, sure he had some faults, but no one could sucker an attractive coed like good old Theodore!”
I know it’s hard to let go of your belief that all that is good with this country originated from the South and all that is bad came straight from the North. Thus, each day, I’d like you to look in the mirror and recite the following: “I grew up in the South and I love it. However, I love America even more. In fact, I love America so much that I will stop referring to the Civil War as the War of Northern Aggression. All of my ancestors who fought in the Civil War are dead. I never met any of these people and I really shouldn’t feel so passionately about them. However, if I feel the urge to pay tribute to them, I will not put on a white robe and hood. Nor will I burn a cross or hoist a confederate flag from my pick-up truck. Instead, I will read a history book written by someone from the North or the West coast, write a short story about slavery from the perspective of a slave, or molest one of the farm animals, but only if papa gives me permission first.”
Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend.
Sincerely,
Thinking Fool
Comments
i'm just curious to know whether the girl's school allows students to wear swastikas. could you imagine the duplicity if nazi-era symbolism was acceptable, but the confederate flag was not?
it's funny. symbols can be used to evoke a range of passions. for example, the swastika - we associate it with the nazis. but if you go to a buddhist temple in china (particularly in the more secluded regions), the swastika is still viewed as a symbol of that religion (signifying balance, stability, etc).
in certain parts of the middle east (and perhaps other geographical regions as well), the Red Cross organization cannot use its traditional red cross on a white background, but instead uses the red crescent. the cross image is too intertwined with notions of christianity and the west, and all sorts of other evils.
perhaps southerners don't think of slavery and anti-abolitionism when they think of the confederate flag. maybe, to them, it's just a symbol of independence (or some element thereof).
Posted by: LM at May 27, 2006 12:00 AM
It is not the war of northern aggression, but instead, the recent unpleasantness. I had the pleasure of attending a daughters of the Confederacy Fish Fry in my youth and from first hand experience can tell you these people are wacky as hell, but never once did anyone mention black people. Well, other then me. I asked if there were still any darkies working in the backyard. I do not remember too clearly what happened next. Someone mentioned the overwhelming probability that my family had nothing to do with the confederacy but instead owned hollywood. Luckily my father is from Kentucky and had dealt with this situation his entire life. We ran like hell to the car.
Posted by: sf at May 30, 2006 02:24 AM
