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To Our Readers
THE beef over South Carolina's "Stars and Bars" Confederate flag has a lot in common with the ongoing custody tussle over Elian Gonzalez. In both cases what's at stake is pride, not principle. The persistence
of spiteful prideThe dynamic Cuban community of South Florida would not be diminished perceptibly if one 6-year-old boy went back to Cuba with his father, after all. Nor would the lives of the white citizenry of the "Palmetto State" change if Robert E. Lee's battle flag were relegated to a museum (interestingly, the actual state flag of South Carolina isn't the ensign of the Confederacy -- it's a white palmetto tree and crescent moon on a blue background).
In both cases, the objective is clearly not to enjoy the status quo -- to keep the boy in Miami or the flag flying -- but to deny opponents the satisfaction of imposing their will. Many South Florida Cubans hate Castro too much to willingly give up Elian without a fight. Similarly, white South Carolinians -- steeped in the culture of states rights and the ersatz chivalry of the southern cause --don't love that old flag as much as they do denying those who want it down.
In both cases, unfortunately, people get hurt.
The flag of the Confederacy is a symbol for more than the gallantry of a scrappy, gray-clad army that resisted and almost broke a Union force with vastly superior resources. It also represents centuries of slavery and decades of white supremacy, discrimination, segregation and even lynching. For black citizens, especially in South Carolina, seeing that banner flying above the capitol is a hateful and painful affront.
Of course, that's why it's there.
"In my eyes and the eyes of other people, it's not racial," said one white South Carolinian. "In my opinion, it represents the heritage of South Carolina." Unfortunately, much of that "heritage" is subjugation, bigotry and pain.
In Elian's case, the victim is much more obvious.
Blinded by self-righteousness and denial, anti-Castro Cubans are sacrificing a child on the altar of pride.
John Flanagan is editor and publisher of the Star-Bulletin.
To reach him call 525-8612, fax to 523-8509, send
e-mail to publisher@starbulletin.com or write to
P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802.