Flying the Confederate flag is fanning the fires of a . . . Civil debate on symbolism

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FLYING THE CONFEDERATE FLAG IS FANNING THE FIRES OF A . . . CIVIL DEBATE ON SYMBOLISM

November 5, 2000

How could one flag that bears the nation's colors be offensive to so many Americans? While some say it is a symbol of heritage, others say it is a symbol of bondage.

The flying of the Confederate flag over the South Carolina Capitol in Columbia was a hot topic earlier this year. South Carolina raised the controversial flag in 1962, when its legislature voted to fly it to commemorate the centennial of the Civil War. Some saw the move as a protest against the growing civil-rights movement.

Since then, many black leaders have tried to have the flag taken down, saying it was a painful symbol of slavery. White leaders fought to keep it flying, saying it would be disrespectful to take down the flag that rallied Southern troops during the Civil War.

Last year, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People announced a tourist boycott of the state in an effort to bring down the offending flag.

In May, the South Carolina legislature voted to remove the flag from atop the Capitol and put a smaller version on a flagpole in front of the building, next to a monument to slain Confederate soldiers.

Still, many residents are not happy. To find out how some young people feel about the issue, Y-Press recently interviewed Thaddeus Lattern II, 14, of Ladson, S.C., and Jennifer, 17, and Joe, 14, of Goose Creek, S.C., who asked to be identified only by first names.

"I don't really see the big deal about it. I think that it's part of our history and part of our heritage as well, and it does not necessarily have anything to do with the slave factor," said Jennifer.

"It was just a war that we fought because we truthfully believed that we had a right to have workers on our farms and everything. And I don't think that it was meant to make anyone feel inferior to anyone else."

Thaddeus sees the issue differently. "I think it is a sign of racism. The state should think about all its people," he said.

Joe said that while the Confederate flag is widely seen as racist, it's more than that.

"Even though some people think that it's racist, because it was part of the slavery, I think they should have kept it on Capitol grounds because it's not just that. It's part of our history, the Southern history of the Civil War," he said.

Jennifer said that taking down the flag shows disrespect for the Confederate soldiers who died.

"I definitely would feel very offended if I was a soldier and they took down the flag that I fought for and fought under," she said.

But to Thaddeus, the state needs to think about the people now living.

"I was upset because of my heritage," he said.

While all the teens feel strongly about the flag, they believe the media have run the topic into the ground.

"It's been crazy. You turn on the news every single night and there's something new about the NAACP boycott, or the moving of the flag, or debates about it. It's insane!" Jennifer said.

"I think it is overblown. It's just a flag," Thaddeus said.

Still, it's an issue that these teens have discussed often.

"I've talked about it at school a lot. I've talked about it with my friends, and I've talked about it with my parents," Joe said.

"I've talked about this issue whenever it comes up. I talk about it at work or at school, or just hanging out with my friends," said Jennifer. "I'm not one to hold back my feelings."

Thaddeus has talked with his family about the flag, and they agree with him that it should come down. However, Joe has had to defend his position.

"All my friends started saying stuff about it, saying that it's wrong. They think it was racist. But I think it wasn't wrong because it's part of our heritage. That's probably the most time I've been honest," he said.

But all agree that the controversy reflects badly on South Carolina.

"It shows that the state is a racist state," Thaddeus said.

"Some people think there's nothing but rednecks and hillbillies down here," Joe said.

The Confederate flag is a double-edged sword: a symbol of heritage and of bondage. But the controversy might lead to more enlightenment for both sides.

Jennifer said the children of South Carolina may have more respect for the flag because of the controversy.

"Before they didn't know about it, and now I think that they are looking into it to try to find out what the big deal is," she said.

"More people now realize the seriousness of it," Thaddeus said.

REPORTERS: Jenny Hoffman, 12 ; Trey Johnson, 13; Lauren Slemenda, 11.

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