University of Virginia Library

Radical?

Upon reading A. Warren
Walton's letter (Confederate Flag
Ruling Blasted as Step Backwards."
October 7, 1971), I was amazed by
his continued use of the phrase
"Black Radicals" in reference to
those students who, because they
found the flag offensive, requested
that it cease being waved during the
game. Mr. Walton, due to an
undying obsession with the good
ole "Stars and Bars," was obviously
overwhelmed by the emotional
tension of the event and
consequently judged the students'
action as radical. Keeping this in
mind and seeing that he relied on a
simple analogy ("...the Student
Council, takes a step backwards,
instead of holding your ground.
Like giving a small child a piece of
candy to stop his crying, even
though you know you are
wrong...") to help convey his idea, I
will use a simple example so that he
may better understand what
constitutes a "radical" action.

Let us suppose, Mr. Walton, that
you are standing, unintentionally
perhaps, on another persons foot. If
that person asks that you refrain
from doing so is that a radical
action? If that person does not ask
you to refrain from standing on his
foot and simply takes out a 45
caliber pistol and, shall we say,
alters considerably the appearance
of your foot, then, maybe you
would be justified in classifying
that as a radical act

Whether Mr. Walton considers
the action taken by Student
Council as "a step backwards" is
based entirely on his judgement,
but if he still considers the action
taken by the blacks as "radical," I
not only question his judgement
but I pity him.