In response to the message you posted and which I have copied below, let me say this. In essence I agree with you. However, at age 58, I'm a little more selective in which battles to fight. Further, as my dear mother taught me, there's more than one way to "skin a cat". There is more to Southern Heritage than a mere piece of cloth. The Confederate flag represents the modern day Ku Klux Klan and hate groups. This is fact not opinion. No amount of "education" is going to counter this. And frankly, I don't blame Afro-Americans for being upset to see it flying. Put yourselves in their shoes. Quite naturally they focus only on the slavery issue. Truth? I don't see truth involved in defending flying a flag that once represented something and today represents something else to the overwhelming majority of people in this country. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest started the Ku Klux Klan to fill a need in the 1860's.. The Ku Klux Klan has evolved into nothing but a hate group in modern times. Would any self-respecting person defend the Ku Klux Klan or belong to that organization today? Would you? I doubt it. I'm not a supporter of Dick Gephart. I believe he used this issue for his political advantage but I don't see taking down that flag as an erosion of anyone's rights. I see it more as taking it down out of consideration for what it represents to the Afro-American community and to the overwhelming majority of Americans outside of the South and Border States. Belle =========== > But there is another point of view which says that truth, > even when it appears to be losing the battle, is still worth supporting. > This was the philosophy of Nathan Hale, St. Stephen, Socrates, > Jesus, the US Founding Fathers, etc. These people, and others like > them, have taught that letting liars intimidate you into silence > and passivity is the step just before becoming a liar yourself. Victory > is nice, but it is good also to keep one's integrity, even when > victory seems far away. If everyone had taken the attitude you > espouse, there would be no First Amendment rights to lose, because > the First Amendment would never have been written. Or did you think > the Bill of Rights was written at a time when it was "safe" and "wise" > to stand for freedom? > > >