As we work on our own plans for Reconstruction in class, it really makes you wonder what you would have done differently. The repercussions of how America handled reconstruction after the Civil War are still felt today. It was a tricky time where the reintegration of the Confederacy would have to be made to save the U.S. Yet somehow, after over one hundred and fifty years, Confederate flags are rampant throughout the South.
Just the fact that there are still Confederate flags in the South demonstrates that there is still loyalty to the Confederacy. Now, I wholeheartedly believe that there is freedom of speech and thus people should be allowed to fly any flag they want to on their own property. But what about the Confederate flag that flies in front of the South Carolina statehouse?
The Huffington Post reported that in May of '10, only two of the six candidates for governor would consider moving the flag.
It is shocking that one hundred and fifty years after the Civil War, the flag of the opposition is still flown publicly. No, I don't believe this means that Southerners want to leave the Union again and there will be Civil War II. But this flag embodies all the ideals of the Confederate South: extreme racism and the belief in slavery. Personally, if I was African-American, I would feel extremely uncomfortable seeing my neighbors and government supporting such an institution. And frankly, It makes me feel uncomfortable as a caucasian as well.
So it raises the question. If the U.S changed their plan for Reconstruction, could they have somehow prevented the infiltration of the Confederate flag into Southern culture?
No comments:
Post a Comment