Today, the State of South Carolina showed itself as a state looking to the future. After emotional and somewhat heated debate, the bill was passed that allowed for the Confederate Flag "Stars and Bars" to be taken down from the capitol property in Columbia, SC, and placed in a museum on the capitol property http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/south-carolina-confederate-flag_559e0307e4b05b1d028fb690?ir=Politics§ion=politics&utm_campaign=070915&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Alert-politics&utm_content=FullStory&ncid=newsltushpmg00000003. Governor Nikki Haley had promised to sign the bill quickly. And, she did. http://www.kcbd.com/story/29510871/south-carolina-governor-confederate-flag-comes-down-friday. The best thing, in my mind, that although the flag is going to be relegated to a Civil War "relic room," there will be a ceremony that will treat the flag with dignity and honor.
Why is this good? Because although the flag's symbolism is mixed: "hatred vs. heritage" a ceremony to lay it to rest honors all: It honors those for whom the flag symbolizes the heritage and the history of their family. A ceremony also can be a rite of passage for those who view the flag as a symbol of hatred: A rite of passage ending an era of hate and racism, and starting a new era of forward thinking, future looking, respect and dignity embracing, inclusive and accepting people.
It is symbolic that South Carolina leads the way: it lead the way into the Civil War. It can now lead the way into a new era of compassion, acceptance and unity. South Carolina has a burden to bear: to continue to move forward with inclusion, acceptance, equality, dignity, respect.
What an outcome from an act of hate.
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