The Confederate Flag and the 2020 Elections
The Confederate flag is not a work of art; it is a symbol. A symbol is defined as “a thing that represents or stands for something else. [It is] used to express specific ideologies and social structures.” For those who slept through Civil War social studies classes, here is what you missed. On February 4, 1861, representatives from AL, FL, GA, LA, MS and SC (TX came later) met in Montgomery, Alabama, to form the Confederate States of America and prepare to secede from the Union.
On March 21, Alexander H. Stephens, vice president of the Confederacy, clearly stated the Confederacy’s purpose: “The Confederacy’s foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests upon the great truth, that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and moral condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth.” The flag the representatives chose—as a symbol—represents this ideology.
To proudly display the flag and believe in its symbolism—and honor the men who led the rebellion—flies in the face of the ideals set forth in our Constitution. Elected or appointed public officials, whose oath of office demands that they “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic . . . ” must be on record against the use of the Confederate flag and against honoring Southerners who supported the Civil War and its ideals in public places. Public officials cannot spin this denial as a First Amendment right, because it is a direct violation of the intent of our Constitution and the wording of the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments. And, equally important to remember--the Confederacy killed more than 200,000 American troops!
Therefore, we believe it is proper and appropriate for all candidates in the 2020 elections to publicly state that the Constitution and the flag they are supporting belong to the the United States. They should also strongly oppose the ideals and beliefs that Stephens so clearly set forth for the Confederacy. Without acknowledgment of that position, these candidates will be unwilling and unable to help our nation heal its wounds and move forward toward a more perfect union.
Note: If the Confederacy and Jim Crow are not denounced, it appears they are the "Again" that MAGA wants to return to--a time when the civil and economic rights of women, African Americans and other people of color were marginalized.
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Allan Kullen, President ■ People of America Foundation / Americans All
301-520-8242 ■ [email protected] ■ www.americansall.org