I've mentioned several times that I am a southern gal from Georgia here in America. Every state in our awesome country has it's own rich and sometimes tragic history. For years many sectors of people have fought to have our state flag changed.
It probably isn't much of a secret that here in Georgia slavery was a very common denominator before and during our civil war. At one time our state flag was the Confederate Flag, a symbol of the southern unity for slavery.
Of course history shows that the civil war was a great instrument in the freedom of slaves. This was and has been the right choice for our country. No human should ever own another human, under any circumstances. However the fight about that symbol has continued onward.
Several years ago our legislators debated over the changes that our state needed to make and so the Confederate Flag was no more. It's original symbol did remain in a small form. The debate has reared it's head again taking on the discussion of whether or not there should be car tags that still have the Confederate Flag on them in any manner.
Some people would argue that that flag reflects racism and continues to display disrespect of the Negro community. Other say that it allows us to connect with our history and pride that our southern heritage maintains.
I don't like racism in any form. I am oppose to harmful treatment of any human being no matter their origin. As far as I am concern we are all God's children and since I don't know if God is a race of any type, then each man, women and child are equal.
However, having said that I pose this question. Can a flag no matter what it's symbolic history may be decide how I feel about other races? Does the Confederate symbol used on the car tags really reflect racism related to slavery of so long ago? When do why just let the past be the past and concentrate on improving the present and our future.
Sometimes the more you hang on to something negative the more it becomes the reason for the hatred. I think, and this is only my thoughts here, that if I work as hard as I can to be a better person everyday to every individual I come in contact with, then any symbol from the past can not represent who I am.
If I really want people to think better of me as a older white female from the south, then I have to be the very best that I can be. I am what you see. I am not a racist, but I am a fair and kind individual that cares deeply for everyone.
Moving forward and letting go is hard. Learning from the past and excepting the challenge to grow must be the goal.
Flag or no flag, I say let go and work on the issues that are killing our society. We have much bigger problems than whether or not a symbol on a car tag really reflect our hearts.
Why lingerer? It simply doesn't pay.
Be kind, it matters everyday.
CJ
