Flags have been all over the news for a few days now. Civil War memorials have also been in the news.
I've had a few days to mill everything over and now I have some opinions.
Taking the case of the Civil War memorials first....
After the fall of the Soviet Union, the statues of communist leaders were taken down all over Eastern Europe. Some remain. I honestly don't like the idea of wiping out all traces of the monuments of the past. That is too much like wiping away history. That's never a good idea. We all know that those that forget history are doomed to repeat it. Do I think we should remove the countless Civil War memorials? No.
The other matter that has made the news is flags. After the massacre in Charleston many retailers have stopped selling the Confederate flag. iTunes has stopped selling Civil War games use the Confederate flag. (I strongly disagree with this instance)
Some people see it as a symbol of Southern pride. Some see it as a symbol of racism.
My feelings on the Southern flag: If it's a symbol of Southern pride.... it's a symbol of white southern pride. It's also a symbol that white supremacist groups and the KKK have adopted as their own. That has never made me comfortable.
But in the end, it's a symbol.
Retailers can chose what to sell.....
In the end, we can't forget history. We shouldn't take down memorials. I'm not a fan of the confederate flag, but I also believe it's a free speech issue. Retailers have the right to choose what they sell.
And can we go back to what is really important? The other Civil War?
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