University of Virginia Library

Letters To The Editor

Tolerate Defunct Symbols

The recent article about the
Confederate flag at the last football
game is an excellent example of a
common bigotry. I accept a
probable bias on my part because I
have lived most of my life in the
South. However, I don't feel this
bias plays any part in my opinion
on this subject.

The "stars and bars" is a symbol
of a large minority's quest for what
they felt was right. I personally feel
that they were wrong on certain
major issues as that of slavery.

But the "stars and bars"
represent an old dying culture of
large plantations, beautiful homes,
and, of course, "King Cotton".

Are we going to condemn this
culture because of one facet being
wrong? If so, why not do the same
to Greek and Roman symbols of
civilization? Why not tear down all
Grecian architecture?

What about Thomas Jefferson?
Jefferson believed that the black
people were inferior. He was wrong.
But we still preserve his traditions.
Where would we be without
Thomas Jefferson? "Oppressive and
decadent culture" indeed.

Also, as a lover of all types of
music, what is wrong with "Dixie"?
It has a very good beat and melody.
It's words contain nothing with
racist tones.

I lived six years in Montgomery
Alabama and all "Dixie" ever was
to me was an inspiring song. We
always played it at football games.

Useless Ban

It may seem to many that an
athletic event is no place for a flag;
however, I doubt the need to make
flag waving in Scott Stadium illegal.
Frequently, I have questioned the
motives of enthusiastic staff
swingers, including the incident at
the Duke game. The flag might be
black, or red or blue with a yellow
star, or even confederate. It would
have been easy for me to project
my own feelings onto the flag waver
and become upset with his
"implied" meaning.

The confederate flag means
different things to different people
as evidenced by the endless debates
on its display. That a flag is allowed
into a University function need no
imply University support for all its
possible implications, and paranoia
on the matter is unnecessary.

So we ban all flags since who is
to say which flags ore OK and
which are not. But then anything
provocative that can be nailed to a
stick should go, and no more
pennants, etc. My point is basic: A
confrontation on the particular
intention of a particular flag waver
may seem undesirable, but I favor
a minimum number of restrictions
on individual liberty, and see
insufficient need for a ruling from
powers that be, in this case. If
waving the confederate flag is in
fact that person's expression of
racial prejudice, I would rather he
identify himself. It is not the flag
we have to live with but the man
underneath.