My Answer

My Answer
 
From: cliftonpalmermclendon@yahoo.com

I replied to "American dream is still a slave to Confederate flag in Stone Mountain"
Economic Times, India
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/American_dream_is_still_a_slave_to_
Confederate_flag_in_Stone_Mountain/articleshow/3616215.cms as follows:
 
The flag that we know as the Confederate Battle Flag was used by many (but by no means all) Confederate military units during the War for Southern Independence (1861-1865). It was their flag, and they alone had the right to interpret its meaning.
 
When the War was over, the Confederate soldiers became Confederate veterans. They formed an organization known as the United Confederate Veterans. The Confederate Battle Flag was still their Flag, and they alone had the right to interpret its meaning.
 
In 1896, since many of the Confederate veterans were aged, infirm, and dying off, the Sons of Confederate Veterans was formed as the successor organization to the United Confederate Veterans. The legacy and authority of the United Confederate Veterans was transferred to them over the next ten years. This transfer of power culminated in a speech given 25 April 1906  at New Orleans, Louisiana by Stephen Dill Lee, Confederate lieutenant-general, and commander-in-chief of the United Confederate Veterans:
 
To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we will commit the vindication of the cause for which we fought. To your strength will be given the defense of the Confederate soldier's good name, the guardianship of his history, the emulation of his virtues, the perpetuation of those principles which he loved and which you love also, and those ideals which made him glorious and which you also cherish. Are you also ready to die for your country? Is your life worthy to be remembered along with theirs? Do you choose for yourself this greatness of soul?
 
Not in the clamor of the crowded street,
 
Not in the shouts and plaudits of the throng,
 
But in ourselves are triumph and defeat.
 
Since 25 April 1906, therefore, the Confederate Battle Flag has been the flag of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. They alone have the right to interpret its meaning. They have interpreted its meaning, and explained (repeatedly!) that meaning – and it is not hatred, nor is it bigotry.
 
Inasmuch as the Sons of Confederate Veterans have explained the meaning of the Confederate Battle Flag, there is no room for any debate on the subject, any more than there is room for debate as to whether or not the number 64 is even or odd. G. Stuart Smith was out of order for holding such a debate or discussion.
 
The Confederate Battle Flag is not the flag of the Kluxers and other malcontents of their ilk. They do not have the right to make any use whatsoever of it.
 
The Confederate Battle Flag is not the flag of the NAACP. They do not have the right to interpret its meaning. If they wish to comment about it, let them comment upon its meaning. Let them say:
 
We don’t think that people have the right to choose their form of government. We believe that, if certain people want a different form of government, the existing government has the right to use murder and pillage and rapine to force them to accept the existing government, then spend the next 143 years kicking them for having had the unmitigated gall to desire a different form of government.
 
So that they may be consistent in their views, let them go on to say:
 
In the War for Independence (1776), we believe the British were right and the colonists wrong. In Mexico’s war of independence from Spain (1810 – 1821), we believe that the Spaniards were right and the Mexicans wrong.
 
In the Texas War for Independence (1836), we believe the Mexicans were right and the Texians were wrong.
 
In the Hungarian Uprising (1956) and the Czech Uprising (1968), we believe that the Soviets were right and the Hungarians and Czechs were wrong.
 
In the 1990s, when the various nations composing the Soviet Union began to break away, we think the Soviet Union should have crushed the breakaways just as they crushed the Hungarian and Czech uprisings – and as the United States crushed the Confederate States.
 
The Confederate Battle Flag is not the flag of anyone living on the Indian subcontinent. They have no more right to comment upon what they may think it means than I have to comment upon what I think various details of Hindu, Moslem, Jain, or Sikh symbols mean.
 
Clifton Palmer McLendon
Gilmer, Texas