Time to Celebrate the Union - and Remove the Confederate Flag

Time to Celebrate the Union – and Remove the Confederate Flag

By Adam Nick

Like many American immigrants, my patriotism runs deep. I came to this country after the core values of tolerance and opportunity were suppressed in my native land.

When I arrived on these shores, I found proof that the American dream is real. I found a job and worked hard for my education. No one ever told me that I couldn’t pursue my dreams, or that I didn’t belong.

The America that I moved to welcomed me with open arms. I perceived it as a nation that valued diversity and meritocracy, one where hard work mattered more than skin color or family history. But these values have evolved slowly over time, and recent events prove that we are still growing as a nation.

Perhaps the most pivotal event in history that set the course for modern America is the Civil War. If the outcome had been different, it is feasible that the shameful practice of slavery would still be practiced in some states today. Thankfully, the Union – and common decency – won back in 1865.

Our national culture has come a long way in 150 years, but it remains a work in progress. A spotlight has been shined on this struggle in recent weeks, as a growing number of southern states are considering removing, or have already removed, the Confederate flag from state capitols and other public property.

The state governments that are finally coming to terms with the ugly meaning behind this symbol are doing the right thing. It’s high time to bring down the Confederate flag and all that it symbolizes: unequal treatment based on race; lack of mutual respect among all Americans; the message that racism is okay.

The fact that public officials have allowed this symbol of the Confederacy to fly for so long is dishonorable on many levels. First, it disregards the fact that 620,000 Americans died fighting in this conflict. Flying the flag of the rebellion disrespects those who fought to keep our great nation whole.

Second, the flag is clearly a throw-back to a time when being born with the wrong color skin was enough for others to judge someone as a lesser person. That principle flies against America’s modern core values, and it should never be sanctioned by the state.

Third, we already have a very fine flag to represent the unity of our nation. While every state has the right to design a flag of its choosing, the symbolism of the Confederacy has no deserved place on those flags.

In a civilized society, the government should never condone the use of divisive symbols like the Confederate flag. Individuals can still choose to paint their cars, tattoo their bodies, and adorn their living rooms with the flag. However, the time has come to remove it from state flags and other government property once and for all.