As a South Carolinian and lifelong Southerner I strongly urge Gov. Nikki Haley, Congressmen Trey Gowdy & James Clyburn, Senators Lindsey Graham, Lee Bright, Mark Sanford, Harvey Peeler & Glenn Reese, Member of the House Rita Allison and all other elected officials of South Carolina's State House to support the compromise set forth in South Carolina Bill 4895 Chapter 10, known as the "South Carolina Heritage Act of 2000".  I, along with many other South Carolinians, feel that moving the Confederate Battle Flag from atop the State Building to the state ground's Confederate Memorial (Chapter 10 Section 1-10-20B) was a fair and adequate compromise; a compromise that should continue to be honored despite our recent tragedy and any other hence forth.  This amendment was created and approved in an effort to maintain South Carolina history.  It allowed those who have historical and familial ties to the flag an appropriate place to honor their heritage whilst giving reprieve to those who do not share such history, loyalty and pride to the Confederate Battle Flag.  It told the country that we are proud of ALL of South Carolina... past, present and future, but also have the integrity and respect to consider all views.  It is our PAST that gave us opportunities to make mistakes, which we manifested into knowledge.  It gave us victories to celebrate, which gave us the strength to progress.  Thus, the mistakes and victories of our past have molded us into the state we are TODAY and will guide us into our FUTURE.

In addition to the intricate history woven into our state the Confederate Battle flag has an important place in our countries past.  Too many are ignorant on the entirety of this flags history and believe it to be synonymous with racism and slavery, which is completely inaccurate.  The flag was created during the infancy of the United States of America during a time when the words "freedom, liberty and pursuit" meant more than their definition.  Our country had recently broken free from the taxation, tyranny and oppression of the British and as a result these simple words invoked emotion and action from men.  The Confederate flag and the original succession of South Carolina from the Union was not a decision based on the singular issue of slavery, but a message to the Union.  The message was clear, "In order to gain true freedom, justice, liberty and the pursuit of happiness we risked our lives and sacrificed the lives of many others.  We will not be victims of yet another over powering government."  These men and women risked everything to avoid what they feared would be more tyranny.  They fought for small government, healthy commerce and so much more.  These men were exiles, children of the exiled, destitute seeking a better a life; they were by the very definition “Rebels”.  They fought out of fear, they fought for their sincere beliefs and that is exactly what this country is built upon.

History is not always pleasant.  There is often bloodshed, but for us these sacrifices have ultimately made our country better. It is not right to erase pages of history simply because they make some people uncomfortable.  It is disgraceful and disrespectful to the 1000's of men who were there fighting; the thousands of men and women who wrote those pages through bloodshed and sacrifice, regardless of the side they choose.  By taking away their flag and ignoring their story you tell the world that their struggle and their strife did not matter... You rob them of the honor they deserve and the place in history they earned.

The pages of our history books tell a very human story.  They have taught the past and present generations and hopefully those to come a very human story littered with trials, tribulations and mistakes. It's a story marked by victory and defeat, pride and glory. A story signed by its authors in blood and tears.  However, the most captivating part of this story is the lessons that were learned, the progress that was made and the most unlikely bonds forged in friendship.   If you rip away one part of this story you tell the world that we are ashamed of our history and heritage; that we are ashamed of those who have made us who we are today.  This is not honorable or fair to those who still have ties to this part of the story. 

The censorship of history is a very slippery slope.  What will be next?  The Alamo because it makes Mexican-Americans uncomfortable?  Should we return the land to the Native Americans because they are still upset about how their pages read?  Should we remove all of the Martin Luther King monuments and rename the 730+ Martin Luther King Blvds located throughout cities in 39 states because some are still sour about the Civil Rights Movements? (On a side note, of the 730 MLK Blvds, 70% are located in southern states) What about the American flag itself?  It is a symbol hated across the world.  Many with Anti-Americanism beliefs find it to be synonymous with greed, poor morality, and extreme international economical holds and so on.  Obviously, these people are uncomfortable with our presence.  Does that mean we should remove our flag and turn our backs on all we have achieved and created?  I think not!!!  All of the above are ridiculous and removing the Confederate Battle flag is no different!  We are Americans; we must learn to accept and respect the differences in our cultural heritage not obliterate them.  This is simply the price one must pay to call the Melting Pot home.

I close with this... Charleston has made me proud to call South Carolina my home.  There have been so many unspeakable events occurring in our country during the recent past.  Many of the other cities touched by these egregious events answered violence with more violence, but not us.  We choose love over hate, unity over division, forgiveness over grudges.  We showed the world that despite race, religion or any other difference we are a kind and tolerant community.  Most importantly, we refused to allow the actions of one deranged man define who we are.  We showed the world that we are not the racist state that so many still believe us to be.  We cannot and should not allow the actions of one man and the racist beliefs of a sad and pathetic group of hateful bigots distort our heritage, disrespect our flag and take our history.  Please take action, but do not bill us for the actions of ignorant extremist.  Instead, help us educate others on the complete and true history of the flag.  Help us stop the distortion and dishonor bestowed upon our flag by those who chose to hate.  I ask you to stand behind our state, uphold our history, support our flag and allow us to honor and memorialize our heritage. 

You can find S.C. Bill 4895 at:

http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess113_1999-2000/bills/4895.htm