Change the Mississippi Flag?
Many are rushing to worship at the alter of political correctness by advocating a change in the Mississippi Flag. They say it causes angst (a strong feeling of being worried or nervous) in some and therefore should be changed. Despite the fact that it has flown proudlyt over Mississippi for well over 100 years. Despite the fact that Mississippi has made monumental progress in race relations even as this flag was flown. Despite the fact that over 60% of Mississippi voters (black and white) voted to retain this flag.
Changing the flag will not alter a single event of the past. Changing the flag will not improve the lives of even one Mississippian. Changing the flag is nothing more than an effort by the worshippers of political correctness to make themselves feel good.
In 1965 (over 50 years ago) Richard Holmes became the first black student to attend Mississippi State University. In 1972 (45 years ago) Melvin Barkum became the first black quarterback to start for Mississippi State University. Also in 1972 Frank Dowsing became the first black student to be elected Mr. MSU. In 1989 (28 years ago) Stephen Cooper was elected 1st black student body President at Mississippi State University. These events, and they are merely representative of the great progress made in racial equality, all occurred while the current Mississippi State Flag proudly flew.
After you change the flag to make everyone feel good, what next? Do you honestly believe that will end the demands? Here is an example of what is next: "On Monday, more than 200 SJW zealots held a protest inside the American Museum of Natural History in New York City to take down the supposedly “racist” statue of former President Theodore Roosevelt. The protest’s organizers, NYC Stands with Standing Rock and Decolonize This Place, also called for Columbus Day to be renamed Indigenous People’s Day." I have heard they are also demanding that the Jefferson Memorial in Washington be destroyed. I might also note here that the Lincoln Memorial was vandalized.
We are fast becoming a country ruled by mobs. Mobs that shut down free speech. Mobs that destroy monuments. Mobs that cower spineless politicians and hoodwink well meaning progressives. Mobs that often lead to police forces standing down and not protecting the innocent. Mobs that do not speak for a majority of law abiding and, to date, silent majority.
If you could erase the past, what would be the benefit? Both good and evil occurred then as it does now. Without slavery our black citizens would be living in Africa. I doubt this is a choice many would make today. Black Mississippians stand on the shoulders of their ancestors in overcoming slavery and segregation. It is a heritage to admire. Removing symbols of that past merely diminishes their struggles.
“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.” Booker T. Washington. Removing the symbols of the past also removes a record of obstacles overcome.
About one year ago I suggested to a FB friend that there was a war on all things Southern. She thought that idea silly. I wonder if current events have changed her mind. Of course the South is only the first target. Our founders will soon be next and then what? The Maryland flag? Yes, it has been called out.
The only real question is when will we draw a line and say, no more? Each time we give in to the progressives we lose a bit of our history. We lose a bit of ourselves. What part of our history is worth preserving? If not all of it, then we are distorting history. Certainly there is good and bad. We are a product of all of that, not just the parts some may like.
I urge you to leave the flag alone and concentrate on something that will actually improve the lives of all Mississippians.