Swastika flags and Confederate flags do not share the same historical context and meaning. The World War II generation experienced the two in different ways.
Images of battle scenes and of Adolf Hitler haranguing crowds with Nazi flags in the background frightened children when viewed in theater news clips. Fathers and brothers were fighting Nazis and dying in Europe to save our democratic freedoms. A cousin suffered capture and privations in a German prisoner of war camp. Hitler and his Nazi henchmen were despised, but not the German citizens and foot soldiers, most of whom suffered as much or more. A victors’ peacemaking Marshall Plan was the surprising American response, not retaliation, which led to a period of recovery, peace and prosperity for both countries.
Nevertheless, decades later a Nazi swastika still arouses in us deep, visceral emotions of fear, anger, and loathing that are hard to describe. A recent comment that people who display Nazi a flag and salute don’t understand what emotions they are arousing was met with the unknowing angry retort: “They know exactly what they are doing!”
The experience back then of the Confederate flag was different. A lad on the front porch of our home in Bluefield, West Virginia could see the state line running along the mountaintop. Almost a century earlier it divided a free state from a slave state during the Civil War. A trip across the mountain when gas rationing permitted was to visit relatives.
The war had divided families when cousins fought against cousins. Perhaps for that reason, for almost a century the war was not discussed in polite company. No memory exists of Confederate flags being flown then. Warrior heroes and foot soldiers on both sides were viewed with varying degrees of respect.
Now both flags are ripped from those contexts to be displayed for different purposes and to communicate different messages. They arouse different levels of emotion depending upon each person’s context and life experiences. The intense emotions aroused in my African American friends are understandably different. However, many of us join them in fright and anger, especially when the symbols are accompanied by hoods and guns.
The two symbols displayed on flags and bumper stickers in our town are objectionable. They represent commitments at odds with the ideals of American liberty and equality the American flag symbolizes and they dishonor brave soldiers from Montgomery County who fought in the Civil War and in World War II to preserve those ideals against the threats of tyranny and oppression.
A Confederate flag recently fluttered beneath an American flag in the neighborhood of Bethel AME Church. What should one do? Strong attachment to American freedom of speech and expression caused me not to protest to officials nor steal the flag. The occupant had as much legal right to display that flag as others have to display favorite flags. Organizing a group protest outside the house might be counterproductive. A personal visit and confrontation might be effective, but more likely to cause increase anger and even violence. Nevertheless, persuasion would be more effective that any force. Fortunately, the Confederate flag disappeared from the neighborhood before a decision was reached.
Perhaps the occupant learned more clearly the poisonous attitudes and acts those symbols represented in the past and now. Or, the occupant gained some empathy for those who are legitimately fearful and in distress when confronted by hate filled symbols. Perhaps a friend or minister persuaded the occupant to remove the symbols voluntarily for the common good. A good word (persuasion) is more powerful in the long run than a sword (violence).
Voluntary removal of such symbols would be a positive step toward preserving American ideals and promote a peaceful, harmonious and prosperous future for everyone.
Raymond B. Williams, Crawfordsville, contributed this guest column.
