LETTERS

Magnolia flag is Mississippi's forgotten flag

Someone called the other day with an ingenious solution to our ongoing state flag conversation.

MISSISSIPPI STATE FLAG from 1861 to 1890

It's hard to bring up the subject of changing the state flag without stirring emotions.

Many blacks view the flag as a symbol of oppression and hate; many whites view it as a reminder of a proud heritage and a noble cause, devoid of racist connotations.

I would venture that most Mississippians, white or black, don't give the state flag much thought until an opportunistic politician needs an issue with which to flog the public.

"I'm going to fax you a picture of the flag Mississippi used before our current one," the caller said. "It's beautiful. It's a perfect solution to the Confederate flag controversy."

The current flag was adopted by the Legislature in 1894.

Prior to 1861, Mississippi used the "Bonnie Blue Flag." The banner, a white star on a blue field, became popular in the South after the war with Spain for West Florida in 1810. The design is still used in the Texas flag.

In January of 1861 the state adopted a flag in which the Bonnie Blue Flag appeared in a top corner (in flag parlance, the canton). A green magnolia tree (later declared the state tree in 1938) appears on a white field and the banner is bordered in red fringe.

This design served as the state flag until the present-day flag was adopted. The 1861 flag was so popular, it is credited with Mississippi becoming known as the "Magnolia State."

The 1861 flag is part of the state's heritage, has no negative connotations that we can think of and would be a simple and elegant way to put this contentious issue behind us. On the day it is announced, news would appear on front pages of the nation's newspapers; race-mongering demagogues would have to face more pressing issues; and the rest of the world would marvel at the wisdom of our Legislature.

BIRNEY IMES
Editor/general manager
The Commercial Dispatch
Columbus

South didn't ask to rule, only to be independent

First of all, it wasn't a civil war. A civil war is a war between two factions of one country for control of that country. The South didn't want control of the country; they wanted their independence, thus the War for Southern Independence. The Southern states had every right to secede from the Union - same as we did from Great Britain!

Slavery? Been around since time began. Blacks owned blacks in Africa. Blacks sold blacks to the slave traders who brought them to New York. The Yankees had their "pick of the crop" and sent the rest to the South.

The reason the South seceded from the Union? It was the economy, stupid! Unfair taxation. After seceding from the Union, the South was trading with England and France via the port of New Orleans. The North couldn't compete with the South when trading with England and France, so Lincoln brought up the slave issue to keep England and France out. No supplies, war lost!

J. Michael Hemsley wrote in his letter to the editor that "The Confederate Battle flag is a part of my family's history," and then states that it is "time to remove the symbol from our flag."

What is he going to tell his grandchildren when they ask about this time in history, "What flag did they fly?" Oh, they didn't have a flag!

Chris Rock, the comedian, stated that when he sees the Confederate battle flag it is frightening. What does he do? Hide under a bed? In a closet? Go running down a street screaming, "My God, the Confederate battle flag! What are we going to do?"

You cannot erase history. Learn from it, move on and get a life!

TOM FILE
Ocean Springs

We can't improve past by wasting the present

The lovely Mississippi state flag, the historic names of schools, the beautiful melody of "Dixie" - obviously these things I cherish mean entirely different things to some other state residents.

Yes, my parents and my teachers taught me about the Civil War, and they taught me that slavery, practiced throughout history all over the world, is an evil and demeaning thing.

But they didn't teach me that the way to deal with unpleasant pages in my history book was to go back and rewrite them - erase them and pretend that they never existed. In fact, that seems like a terrible waste of the present. We can't improving the lives of people who lived in the past, and improving the lives of people who live in the present will never be accomplished by changing the colors on a piece of cloth.

KATHERINE WRIGHT
Gulfport

Why not go back to the Magnolia Flag?

Since we can't seem to make everyone equally happy, why not make everyone equally unhappy?

The NAACP'ers and liberals don't like the current flag. The Sons of the Confederacy, history buffs and "Don't tell us what to do'ers" want to preserve Mississippi history. Why not go back to the "Magnolia Flag"?

Prior to the Civil War, Mississippi did not have a state flag. After secession, as a separate member of a confederation, we needed one and the Magnolia Flag was adopted. While all Southern regiments would have had a battle flag, only the state of Mississippi and its regiments had the Magnolia Flag.

If we switch back to this flag, at least one group will be happy. (I'll give you a hint, they make flags for a living.)

ANDREW J. ADAMS III
Ocean Springs

Many sold themselves to come to America

I can't believe the controversy over the flag of the Great State of Mississippi.

First of all, the flag is a symbol of the state, not the symbol of slavery. Then the fact that there never was a civil war, the war was a fight over who should control commerce. It was a war between the states, and it was fought over taxes and who should pay the greater amount.

Abe wasn't as honest as he is made out to be. He used the slavery issue to keep other countries out of the fracas. The North had as many or more slaves than the South.

And blacks were not the only slaves; many whites were bought-and-paid-for slaves. Did anyone ever hear of indentured servants? Many Irish and Polish immigrants, also some from England, were sold here to purchase their way to America. How many blacks would even be here had they not came as slaves, sold by their own tribes?

Don't blame me; I'm only reporting the facts.

BEN BRUHNKE
D'Iberville

Honor what you wish, but don't force others

I don't like to say so, but for once I agree with a Sun Herald editorial.

I was born and raised in Mississippi. When I was in college in the early 1970s, I remember a teacher who did not quite say it, but who was probably unsympathetic to the Civil Rights movement. He once asked the class what was the most positive event in the history of Mississippi. I said the Civil War.

He said, "But, we lost."

I said, "No, we did not; I'm an American."
The Confederates fought with great courage and loyalty and with considerable skill. (I was a Civil War buff as a kid. My favorite generals were J.E.B. Stewart and Nathan Bedford Forrest.) However, they fought to maintain slavery and to avoid paying taxes on imported products. Use whatever high-sounding phrases you want (states rights, Southern culture, etc.); this is what the "War for Southern Independence" was about. The more recent history of the Confederate battle flag is tied to white racism and resistance to Civil Rights legislation.

If you wish to honor this heritage, do so. However, quit whining when others point out the racist overtones of your actions; and quit requiring that everyone else join you in saluting the heritage by making it part of the state flag.

LARRY E. COX
Biloxi

Was flag editorial an April Fool's joke?

Was "Time for Mississippi to shed the threads of a defeated past" a slow-news-day editorial intended to bump up your circulation? Or was it a mis-published April 1st editorial? Or has your newspaper become an "enabler" to those who are forever bent on eking out "their" spoils of war?

What spoils beyond the flag will you enable their capture and destruction? The "Sun Herald, circa 1884" maybe? Do you have a shredder?

ARMOND 'SI' SIMMONS
Pell City, Ala.
psysim@voy.net

Despite noble origins, flag has been tainted

I read with interest the controversy that followed the editorial in The Sun Herald concerning the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the Mississippi state flag.

As far as your Civil War is concerned, the heroism and valor of the Confederate soldier is beyond dispute.

I suppose the fundamental question is, "What were they fighting for?" Without doubt, the main issue was states' rights, however, the issue of slavery went hand-in-hand with this.

The swastika is an Oriental religious symbol. However, it was misappropriated by the Nazis and is now synonymous with their evil creed. Sadly the Confederate battle flag is equated with racism, despite its noble origins.

BRENDAN JAMES MOONEY
West Sussex, England
Brendan3@TESCO.COM

Why not target modern slavery?

For 76 years, this writer has been proud to be, not only a Southerner, but a Mississippi Southerner.

In my veins flows the blood of my Choctaw, Irish and French ancestors, all of whom fought (and some of whom died) for the heritage that the banners that they fought under guaranteed us.

That heritage is now under attack by the NAACP, the ACLU and a few blacks who claim that it promotes racism, that the Confederate battle flag is a symbol of slavery. They say that it frightens them.

What should frighten them is the socio-political and politically correct garbage that is being taught to their children in today's school systems. Today, we have the most educated, but most ignorant population in the history of our republic.

Most of this nation's minority's today are kept in bondage (slavery) because of our present welfare system. (i.e., preferential treatment, set-asides, etc.) This system destroys their self-esteem, discourages their desire to seek employment and forces them to vote to re-elect to public office those politicians that continue to trap them in their circle of poverty.

Many words have been written on these pages by those who are well-informed and well-advised on the true history of the Civil War and the factual history of the Confederate battle flag. The multitudes of those who will not take the time to avail themselves of the true facts of the Civil War as well as the factual history of the Confederate battle flag deserve to continue to suffer their fears.

GEORGE ROGERS JR.
Kiln

No symbol can change opinion of a person

I personally salute 13 of the 14 writers whose letters to the editor on the Mississippi state flag and the Confederate battle flag were published on Aug. 27.

At the time the Confederate battle flag was conceived, the one lone writer against it would have been called a "turncoat," among other things. It's good to know that only one of the 14 would agree to let a symbol die that so many thousands gave their lives for.

The bottom line here is that if the Confederate battle flag was removed from the state flag, there would be no difference in racism or any other race issue. The cry would just move to the next symbol or word - such as "Dixie" or Jefferson Davis and on and on and on.

There is no symbol or word that's going to change my opinion of a person, but his actions will. I hope when a person sees a German swastika, he will not think all Germans are like Hitler, because that is surely not true.

Thanks again, Rebs.

MARVIN FLOWERS
Biloxi

What flag flew over state prior to 1890?

I read the Aug. 27 Opinion page in search of something new and creative on the "Battle flag in the Mississippi state flag" controversy. Only one writer offered a solution: Don Holtzclaw suggested we surrender and go on with the white flag. I am surprised the NAACP has not suggested the canton be replaced with a black square.

I would like to request you publish a color picture of the state flag before 1890. I recognize the 1890 flag was a vindictive response to the carpetbagger years, which had finally ended. Perhaps, our founding fathers chose a state flag that all contemporary, politically correct, self-righteous, intellectual thinkers might agree upon if we knew what it looked like.

JOHN L. GREENE
Ocean Springs