Flagging the Obvious

Dateline: Charleston, South Carolina.

Does it really take the murder of nine black people to realize that racism still exists?

Why does it take a young white supremacist to get politicians to act?

Why is a white killer labelled crazy and a brown one a terrorist?

Why do Presidential hopefuls wait until the media speaks before they talk?

Why does the flying of a symbol that stands for slavery, bigotry, rape, and the elimination of human decency make sense in a country that stands for the “Land of the Free”?

Why do the supporters of the Confederate flag believe it honours their past, yet somehow doesn’t dishonour the past of their fellow countrymen and women? That’s the argument commonly made for flying this flag over the state capitols in places like South Carolina, witness to the horrific murders of nine black churchgoers a week ago. That’s the argument why it’s part of the state symbol of Mississippi.

Can you imagine how people would feel if parts of Germany still flew the Swastika?

Imagine Canadians reactions if the FLQ flag was raised over parts of Quebec?

Speaking of our homeland, you may think this is an American issue. It is not. I can tell you how nervous I feel when I see a Confederate symbol on someone’s clothing or vehicle.

So much of our culture is influenced by the U.S. Racism is learned. Taught. Bred. Just yesterday my son had an incident with a classmate who wanted to play the white pieces during a chess game. He said, and I quote, he didn’t want to be the “Black N’s”. You can fill in the blank. This wasn’t a joke. It was intended to be as mean as it sounded. But to who? My son, of many bloodlines, looks white to most people. That is what really struck me. It wasn’t meant as a slur to my son, though it upset him greatly, it was this other boy’s view on the world.

Thankfully there are signs of progress. Businesses are condemning politicians for their stances. Media are not hesitating to take candidates to task. Voices, that were often muzzled, are beginning to speak up.

But can you imagine being one of the many black lawmakers in the South Carolina legislature, who enter the daily workplace under the symbol that demonized their ancestors for centuries?

I don’t think removing the Confederate flag would have saved the lives of those none people in that historical church. But it could save the next nine.