Submitted by Jack Wyman, Aug 6, 2007 11:51

I enjoyed reading this exchange and believe Mr. Anthony makes several valid points with which I concur. For many Americans with a Southern heritage, the Confederate flag symbolizes the heroism of those who did indeed fight to preserve their homes, land, and their way of life; their very liberty, as they saw it, guaranteed in the Constitution. All Americans, North and South, should respect that noble effort. To that extent the Confederate flag is deserving of honor. No thoughtful person would disagree with that, nor ask any American to disown and condemn their own heritage. The convictions and patriotism of our Southern soldiers were just as sincere as those of the North.

The problem, however, with displaying the Conferate flag, is that, regretably, it has come to also symbolize racism and bigotry and opposition to equality and justice under our laws. Mr. Mulligan concedes that. He's right to say that Robert E. Lee, who did more to effect reconciliation after the conflict than just about anyone, would also oppose this abuse of a once proud and honorable symbol. And he's also correct to point out, once again, that slavery was indeed the true cause of the War. That cause may have had a wide variety of cultural, political, and economic manifestations, but it was the "peculiar institution" that made this bloody confrontation inevitable and inescapable. The Corwin amendment would never have become part of the Constitution. Lincoln was right: this nation could not permanently exist as half free and half slave. Anyone who would suggest otherwise is plainly deluded.

Finally, is there any fair-minded citizen of this, the greatest republic the world has ever known, who can honestly say that we would be better, or stonger, or more free, as two countries rather than as one United States of America; as the Union that Lincoln and others gave their lives to preserve?

Jack Wyman

Texas

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.