Letters to the Editor

Confederate Flag? A lot of To-Do over nothing

Before the Confederate flag is surrendered up for the second time in this country, another flag or two and what they represent need to be brought into focus as well. First off however, why did the police and the media see fit to show this mass murderer waving a few small Confederate flags? It wasn’t necessary to do so to start this firestorm. Perhaps those who are to report the news decided to make the news by whipping up another story born of a senseless mass murder. I take it as a deliberate demonization of the “stars and bars”. This ultimately plays into the hands of racist groups who want the Confederate flag to strike fear when it’s seen by people of color. The liberal media is also trying to establish an overall resentment of the flag by the rest of the country.  The Confederate flag has and is being transformed by those who admire and hate it into something it never was from its origin.

If society sees fit to put the Confederate flag on the chop block of political correctness, let’s take a look at a real offensive flag! No flag (to my knowledge) could represent no greater oppression, tyranny, atrocities, murder and human misery over a great expanse of time and to every corner of the world than the British flag known as the “Union Jack”. Still, this flag flies proudly on yachts, docks and harbors all over America. All the crimes or offences against society related to the Confederate flag are pale by comparison to the bloody history of the British Union Jack.

If a crusade is to be started to remove all symbols of hate, racism or oppression from public view, history would rate the Confederate flag as among the least offensive. Without requiring explanation in this day and time, all flags and symbols of Islam need to go.  Christianity does not get a pass either since the Ku Klux Klan likes to set fire to crosses. All crosses too should be removed from the top of every church down to every necklace since this “burning image” in our minds now represents racism more than Christ Jesus.

If the people of the southern states and former Confederacy are pressured and compelled to run down the “stars and bars”,  should they be denied the right to remove the American flag as well? It was Civil War General Tecumseh Sherman who conducted his infamous march across the South making war on the civilian population burning, robbing, raping and pillaging a path across the South. It was under an American flag that these atrocities were carried out so, why should the Southern states have to look at this banner to remind them of the criminal acts and humiliation they were forced to endure? Let the history books proclaim what flags waved over the biggest crimes against humanity. When the slain are tallied, the Confederate flag would not be worth mentioning.

Karl Schmidt  

Farmville, Va.

Virginian Rails Against Her Southern Governor

This is a copy of the email I sent to our Governor this week. I hope others will also take my example and call, email or write to their representatives with their opinions. They are there to represent the people, not their own agendas!! I also understand Walmart, Amazon and others have taken all confederate flag items out of stores and off line. Well I won’t give those stores my support again either.

To quote Ronald Reagan, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We did not pass it to our children in the bloodstream; it must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same.”

To Governor McAuliffe:

I am against removing the Confederate Flag from our capital or license plates. It is a part of our history, heritage and is historically important to our culture in the South. It has NOTHING to do with racism. The only reason race is a factor is because a candidate running for President of the U.S. used it to promote segregation in the 1940’s!! Farmville, Va. has promoted the history of the Negro race with the Moton Museum as just ONE example. The civil war ended in Virginia. We certainly promoted THAT this year with the 150 year anniversary. You certainly showed up for THAT event!! The Confederate Flag should certainly be flown in Virginia as a historical remembrance and not tarnished for the acts of one sin sick individual who took a picture with it. I have heard NO news reports he was carrying, wearing or even reference the Confederate Flag during his sick act!! I am ASHAMED OF YOU!! I’m sorry you represent my state!!

Sincerely, 

Susanna Hardy Baker

Keysville, Va.