Was this the right thing to do?

I think that the flag on private property is the "proper" use and is the right of the property owner. The use on public buildings should not be permitted.

Hi, Sergeant Jones.

Despite being born in the South, that was never my flag. I honor only one. That it’s flying on government property seems wrong. That flag hasn’t mattered in over 150 years other than in history. If we fly it as a matter of heritage, why not fly the British Union Jack or the French Tri-Coleur? It’s a state issue, if the state wants to fly it over their buildings with the approval of the people, so be it. But to take it down, or to cancel Dukes of Hazard reruns, in sudden fear or loathing because Dylann Roof waved it and killed people (which is horrific, don’t think I’m minimalizing his crime) is to memorialize what he did.

Roof did this. He caused this sudden growth in hate. By concentrating on the issue of a flag, we’ve immortalized him.

Personally I think it's letting the bigots win. According to the article, this most recent round of debate, is a reaction to Pictures of Dylann Roof (who committed an act of terrorism, killing 9 people in church) holding the flag. The flag wasn't a symbol of racism until the KKK started carrying it around in the 1950's and 60's (they were also carrying around crosses, but nobody seems to mind that).

So this just becomes another issue that divides us. I have close friends that are a different race, but my automatic reaction is not color blind. The next generation (my son) IS color blind NOW, his football team represents every race, and they are the best of friends, they all listen to the same mix of music and enjoy the same movies... but I can almost guarantee that in the fall when school starts up if this debate is still raging some redneck punk is going to show up at school with "the stars and bars" flying from the back of his pickup truck, a fight will break out and my son's group of friends will be asked to pick sides by racists on both sides.

I hope they recognize it for what it is and back EACH OTHER up, and call the racists (who are most likely just parroting the stupidity of their parents and grandparents) what they are. I HOPE that the experience of being hated just because they LOOK different doesn't teach them to be wary of ALL people that look different. I hope I've built the "muscle memory" in him well enough be able to judge people AUTOMATICALLY "Not on the color of their skin, but the content of their character."

I hope the next generation is able to overcome the sins of the last.