To The Reader’s Forum:

My attention was brought to a previous submission outlining the “bigotry” behind branding the Confederate flag.

Now while we all know that the media has been forcing a lot of race issues, and even sparking some racial tension themselves these days, the idea that the Confederate Flag is a symbol of racism is a sign of ignorance of it’s true background. Now the common “Confederate Flag” that keeps popping up around the area is actually the battle flag of North Virginia. The flag presents 13 stars in an “X” pattern representing the 13 states that X’d themselves out, or removed themselves from the Union. Now while people may debate the reasoning for this has racist background, the true and main reason for this was that the North, and more specifically Lincoln, wished to establish a strong and centralized government in Washington to oversee all the states. The South merely wished to keep power of the states, with the state governments. These are the ideas we fought four during the American Revolution when we seceded from the Authority of Great Britain.

Overall, the flag represents the idea of keeping power with the state, and not allowing a powerful government to “control all.” The flag itself has no real racial connection to it whatsoever, other than what is given to it from people who are unaware of its true meaning and background.

Personally, I understand people may not agree with the idea, and people may reject the flag. But the U.S. Constitution, and more specifically the Bill of Rights, started off with one of the most beautiful rights given to us. And that is the First Amendment, which protects people in their right to freedom of speech. This includes flying a flag of any kind. To consider it “bigotry” to fly a flag that one does not understand the true meaning of is quite appalling to me. However one does not have to agree with why someone flies this flag. But instead we all should respect and cherish the fact that we are allowed to fly whatever flag we want, without having that right taken away from us due to the opinions of others. And to any who does fly their flag, regardless of what flag it is, I salute you!

Nick Buziak

Jamestown