Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past several weeks you’ve probably heard the big controversy that’s been going on over the seemingly innocent confederate flag.  When I was a kid I really didn’t really have any opinion of the Confederate flag, I learned about it in history class, saw it occasionally on TV but it didn’t really have any true meaning to me, but I was white and raised in the midwest, why would it?

As I got older I saw it more and more and I wondered, why is it in our country, the “United” states, would people fly a rebel flag?  It just seemed weird to me.  Is there any other country in the world that has had a civil war or rebel uprising that continues to allow these “rebels” to fly their flag?  The answer is no.  If you were to fly a “rebel” flag in any other country you would most likely be considered a traitor and tried for treason.

I am a full believer in the right to free speech, right to bear arms, all the human rights.  But I am also a believer that once our country became “United” that’s how it should be, the confederate army was defeated, the war is over people!  We have have strayed so far from what our country was meant to be, I doubt it will ever recover.

The confederate flag may be a symbol of the south to many, but to others it is a symbol of an era that should be forgotten, a period of time when so many people lost their lives over a nation divided.  A symbol of a period of time where human beings were bought and sold like livestock, a period of time that can perhaps, never be forgotten as long as some continue to wave that flag.

Is it an innocent symbol of the south?  Is the swastika an innocent symbol of Nazi supremacy?  When you see a swastika, does it make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?  I think not.  The American flag is the symbol of our United states.  We should respect it, we should not step on it, burn it, or wipe our asses with it (yes I’ve seen all the ridiculous videos on youtube).

If you are a true American you will fly the American flag and be proud of it, leave the Confederate flag in history where it belongs.

Jean Marie Stanberry-guest blogger Kingsmuir Press

jeanstanberry.com  @jeanstanberry