Can you Rewrite History & Eliminate Hate?

I read about an attempt to remove another civil war memorial. I shook my head. It’s obviously an over-reaction to the recent attacks on churches. With that being said, there is another danger emerging in our country and I think its being propagated by those we would not suspect, but that’s another subject. Its too coincidental that race is becoming an issue, again. So are the attacks on historical symbols.

The Constitution of the United States guarantees a right to exercise beliefs. Even so, prejudice and hatred should never be tolerated. The law also states that the free exercise of beliefs shall not infringe upon the rights of another.

Oppression, no matter the cause, or the excuse, is a horrendous crime. If a person is forced into subjection because of the color of their skin, it’s an atrocity. If a person has to show their ID, or their genitals to use the restroom of their chosen gender, there is a problem.

When two people build a life together, purchase houses, and cars, even raise children, they should expect to inherit the benefits of that work when one of them dies. Lifestyle has nothing to do with it. That, my friends is what same sex marriage is about.

Anytime a person is forced out of job because of their sexual preference or their physical appearance we should be appalled. Age and weight discrimination should never happen in our country.

I could run the gambit with possibilities, but suffice it to say there will always be people who would trample on the rights of others. In a country, that overcame so much to exist, It should never be tolerated.

As I said, the crimes should not be permitted, but symbols, especially historical ones, do not commit crimes.

The Southern Cross was a battle flag of the troops of Northern Virginia during the War Between the States. It was not the Confederate States flag. It was the state flag of South Carolina until recently. No matter what you think of, when you see it, the symbol has instilled pride in many generations. It does not stand for slavery or discrimination.

Regardless of secession, brave Americans, on both sides, died in that war. The American civil war was fought in families. It was literally brother against brother. As President Lincoln said, Our house was divided. To erase one side of the conflict besmirches the memory of our family members. 

In every conflict, there are winners and losers. The sight of the rising sun on a flag brought anger into the hearts of many of the greatest generation. That generation is almost gone and any residual anger is learned. The attack on Pearl Harbor was a tragedy, but it was a victory beyond understanding for the other side. Brave people died on both sides.

Some hate groups use Nazi symbols from another generation to rally behind, it’s the hatred, not the symbol that causes the infringement on individuals. While growing up in the nineteen-sixties, I wore the peace symbol. The sight of it, brought anger against me, but it was a symbol of my beliefs. Now I wear a butterfly. That too, is a symbol.

Would you remove the Star of David from the necklace of every Jewish person and replace it with a cross? What about those who don’t like the cross? What about those who would burn the cross in a front yard? Should we get rid of the cross?

I cannot know what motivated the current attacks on certain churches in our country, but to insult a generation by removing their symbols is ludicrous. Symbols mean something to people, but just like we must respect the differences of individuals, it’s stupid to criminalize a symbol or a monument.