Your Opinion: Work remains to be done

Dear Editor:

A recent entry regarding the Confederate flag caught my attention. Its premise was that this flag was not a symbol of hate but rather state's rights. I do not agree. In my view this flag was a symbol of folks wanting to keep that plantation way of life - slavery included.

In his "Cornerstone Speech" of March 21, 1861, Alexander H. Stephens, vice president of the Confederacy said: "Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner-stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical truth, and moral truth ..."

This "moral truth" is what motivated Dylann Roof, and he honored this flag by wearing it proudly and upholding its "truths" with human sacrifice. Folks right, left, and center should be appalled by its use in any government setting. It is part of history and that is where it belongs.

Gov. Hailey pushed for removal of the flag because, as I understand it, it was requested by the families of those killed at Mother Emanuel Church. But the eyes of the world were on South Carolina, and so something needed to be done. It was a disgrace to the fallen of this massacre, but it also made good business sense. Should it continue to fly, the boycott of South Carolina tourist spots and businesses would follow, causing large financial upset to the state.

While "love and peace" was certainly given as motive, I'm betting financial loss to the state would have been tremendous. Plus this gave Gov. Hailey's reputation a nice boost. Removing the flag is a nice gesture, but there is much work to be done. Though legal, we should not find it acceptable for Darren Wilson's defense to be funded by the head of the KKK. Nor is it acceptable for citizens marching to our capital to be met with jeers or pieces of watermelon and fried chicken in their path.

The high school graduation rate disparity as well as incarceration rates of whites vs. blacks should not be acceptable to any fair-minded citizen. There is plenty of work to be done here.