With our state flag rightfully being on the hit list of Confederate symbols that need to be put into museums, I look to my black friends and my 58-plus years as a proud Mississippian.
Mississippians are No. 1 in a big category, giving to charity.
I mention this because we are No. 50 on all the good stats and top the list on the bad stuff. Like it or not, Republican, Democrat, or whatever, we are a giving sort, and we take pleasure making others happy and helping those less fortunate than us.
Just about every white Mississippian has a relative who fought in The Civil War/War of Northern Aggression/War Between the States.
My friend, Rosemary Jacobs posted recently that she had a great-great-great grandfather who was a Confederate general, and went on to be governor.
My great-great-great grandfather was CSA Gen. Jacob Sharp, elevated to the rank of general on the battlefield of Atlanta. I still have his general stars he wore.
South Carolina’s government took down the stars and bars Friday. Now, the country’s eyes look to Mississippi. As with “Mississippi Burning,” our citizens are under attack, and under attack because of actions of our forefathers, or prior actions within our own state. In NOLA, the mayor is contemplating taking down statues of our “heritage,” the Civil War.
Here in Columbus, around the turn of the century, we put in front of the courthouse a Confederate monument. The chiseler from the Marble Works was one talented dude. If one approaches this “symbol” from the south, it has a soldier with flag semi-furled, looking Confederate Go into the courthouse and head north to the statue, from behind, and the figure is a Klansman. I discovered this hideous figure about 20 years ago when a couple came to “The Friendly City” for this reason alone. “I came to Columbus to see the Klansman on this Confederate monument,” the wife said while pointing this out.
I am damned proud of my heritage. I try to give when I see a worthy cause and will continue the best I can. My friend, Wilbur Colom, a local African American attorney, recently posted a response to Rep. Jeff Smith’s position of the flag letting Jeff know how offensive this symbol is to all black and many white Mississippians. Almost 40 percent of our state’s population are African American.
Our governor has indicated he wants to keep this flag. He is too weak to be considerate to anyone at all. Heck, Phil must be conflicted because the Republican in him wants to cultivate an image of Mississippi as business friendly, but too ignorant to realize that if a business is looking at a Southern state to locate, that damned flag is not helping us.
This is too deep for Phil. Here, this social question is a classic example of perception becoming reality. It is crystal clear to the most casual observer that these symbols, in the name of good manners, and consideration of our fellow citizens, be changed.
For once in our lives, we have the chance to show the U.S. we care about our fellow man, not just by giving to charities, but by showing each other that irrespective of our heritage, all persons deserve good manners. Something this offensive to so many should be in the museum. I will donate Gen. Jake’s stars; he would be proud.
David Owen
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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