Time to Put the Confederate Flag Flap to Sleep

"I think it wiser moreover not to keep open the sores of war…"

Robert E. Lee

Historians claim Lee ‘sought to distance himself
from divisive symbols of the Civil War.’

Oh bother.

It’s hard to understand why this is even a concern anymore. The so-called Confederate flag flap is bluster and other B-starting words.  In most discussions, the two sides end up sitting on their own principles. Like some kind of beer commercial, we hear:  ‘it’s heritage—it’s hate.’ And the common end to the argument turns on both sides screaming “know your history” as if nothing else need be said.

And so, the truth is the flag being touted these days as the Confederate flag isn’t really the Confederate flag. It is the Confederate battle flag as used by some Confederate military commanders, like Lee himself, to help control troop movements afield.

Historically, there were three versions of the Confederate flag, none of which looked like the battle flag that is the heart and soul of this controversy. That emblem was part of the real Confederate flag in its second iteration, where it stood in the upper left corner—the same place the United States reserves for its field of stars. Even the third version of the flag only showed the battle flag in the upper corner.

That portion of the flag was pulled out and used by some confederate units because it was easily identified and prominent in the field for the troops who used it as a rallying device. It is not now, nor was it ever, the Confederate flag.

So what does the flag really stand for?

Most proponents would say, “States rights” or some other platitude evoking a certain sort of loyalty oath. But the reality is not that simple. Yale University’s Avalon project provides access to specific historical documents of the time that tout slavery as the prominent cause of the rebellion. Take for instance these statements different states cited in their very own Declarations of Secession:

South Carolina cites "... an increasing hostility on the part of the non-slaveholding States to the institution of slavery, has led to a disregard of their obligations ..."

Mississippi states in the opening of its declaration:  “Our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery—the greatest material interest of the world.”

Georgia cites slavery in its second sentence:  “For the last ten years we have had numerous and serious causes of complaint against our non-slave-holding Confederate States with reference to the subject of African slavery.”

So I suppose we can unmask the oft-cited statement that the Civil War wasn’t about slavery. These states apparently thought slavery so critical a point that it got a front row seat in their own rationale for secession.

What has happened to the battle flag is a travesty. It has become a symbol of rebelliousness and hate. It is not what it was intended to be, but has been bent by many who do not know its history nor are they concerned with history in general or in particular. It has been hijacked by many hate groups:  neo-Nazis, Skin Heads, white supremacists, and racists in general.

So why not let this great symbol rest in peace?

Get away from the arguments and heart-felt feelings, if possible, and look into your hearts and you will know that it’s true. I applaud the Confederate States that stood up for what they thought was right; after all isn’t that the American way? But don’t tell me the war wasn’t about slavery and expect me to believe it. The very states that led the Civil War identify the slavery issue as the primary cause of their secession.

So when it comes to the Confederate battle flag flap, I say “Know your history.”