University of Virginia Library

Be Cool

The week has been a bad one here on the
the Grounds. A wave of reaction best
described as white backlash now threatens to
make matters worse.

The psychology of symbols is tricky
business. In the wake of last Saturday's
dispute at Scott Stadium concerning the
display of the Confederate flag, many
students seized on the occasion to challenge—
in the name of free expression — the
subsequent ban placed on flags in the
bandstands by the Department of Athletics.
Though we regard a pro-Stars-and-Bars
movement as misguided (and ultimately
stemming from a zeal less lofty than the
protection of freedom of expression) there
are doubtless some students motivated
entirely by a genuine concern for freedom.

One can only hope they will press their
claims in a manner reasonable and not
conducive to further conflict.

Similarly, while we share the disdain black
students hold for the smug racist who would
flaunt his bias with a cloth emblem, we ask
black students to recognize the triviality of
the banner itself. The time has come to move
beyond mere symbolism, no matter how
repugnant its manifestations, and expose,
analyse, and attack racism in concrete
instances.

This is not to say that symbols don't
count: they do, because their presence
especially in an emotional situation tends to
create atmosphere and mobilize people. But
when the symbol itself becomes the center of
attention the real point is somehow missed,
which is tokenism of the worst sort; it is
self-defeating.

As the weekend approaches with another
football game and another round of parties
along Rugby Road and Madison Lane, there
seem to be elements conspiring against the
current lull, even against reason itself. Those
who contemplate acts of provocation would
do well to consider the possible consequences
— not only for themselves but for the entire
community.

If the Confederate flag appeals to you as a
token of freedom, ask yourself how it may
affect the sensibilities of others. If it strikes
you as offensive, enquire into the possibility
that there may be larger battles to fight than
those of a century ago - and more important
victories.

Finally, if we must confront one another —
and there may be no alternative to that—let
us do so peacefully.