Mississippians deserve a symbol of unity, freedom

The Mississippi state flag debate goes on and on and on.

William Faulkner wrote, "The past isn't dead. It isn't even past." In the South, we still have white people mourning the loss of the Civil War as if it ended only months ago. They say you can't erase history. I agree, but in the same sense, we should realize that it is just that -- history.

As an African American, I feel that the Confederate battle flag, a symbol of hate, is unacceptable in any form or fashion. The people who defend the use of this flag as a symbol to honor the soldiers who fought and died in defense of the Confederacy never condemn others who use the flag as a symbol of hatred, namely the Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist groups. If this flag is so revered and honored, why don't they protest against those who have made it the symbol of hatred that it is today?

Much as I despise the Confederate battle flag and the use of it as part of the Mississippi state flag, I have no objection to its private use. I don't care if every truck in the state has a Confederate battle flag bumper sticker or window decal.

I have signed the petition "One Flag for All" and encourage all fair-minded people to do the same. Per the One Flag site: "It is time for Mississippians to have a flag that our youth can look upon and see unity and not division, freedom and not oppression."

I congratulate Carlos Moore, a native of Moss Point, on the lawsuit he has filed against our governor to have the Confederate symbol removed from our state flag. I pray both of these actions have success.

LINDA B. HUEY

Moss Point

This story was originally published March 5, 2016 at 6:57 PM with the headline "Mississippians deserve a symbol of unity, freedom ."