The Confederate battle flag is a symbol of Southern heritage and Southern pride. It is something that has come under fire because it was flown over the capital of South Carolina, and now flies on the state ground Confederate memorial. As a Southerner myself, I believe the flag should not have been taken down and should never be taken down. There are two Confederate flags: the “Stars and Bars” and the Confederate state flag. If any of the flags should cause controversy it should be the state flag and not the battle flag. The state flag would represent any of the policies of the South; the battle flag represents all the Southern men that gave their lives in hope for the right to govern themselves. It is unfortunate that hate groups such as the KKK and the Neo Nazis have used the battle flag. It is unfortunate that slavery existed in the South. It is unfortunate that the battle flag has been stereotyped for all these things. However, it is also unfortunate that slaves were brought to this country under the U.S. flag and that many of the founding fathers owned slaves.Also, the Native Americans experienced their holocaust under the sword and the American flag. It is unfortunate that many things happened under the American flag.However, nobody wants to take down the American flag for these unfortunate times in our history. This is because the American flag represents the men that died to bring about their hopes for the freedom to govern themselves, to free themselves of a government they didn’t believe represented them anymore. Most of these men died simply for what they believed in. That is exactly what the Southern soldiers did in their war. They fought for the right to govern themselves and to part with a government that they believed no longer represented them. They also fought in protection for their state and a duty to protect that state. The battle flag represents the sacrifices of these men. Let the South have at least one thing to honor the men that died for the South.Aaron Weiner

Sophomore

Materials science engineering