Changing the state flag of Mississippi was not an issue to be taken lightly, and we don’t believe the members of the legislature have done so.
For years, our state was represented by a talisman including a symbol drawing on a time when the citizens of state chose to leave the nation over the issue of slavery.
While we are happy to see the change in the flag, we are saddened by the vitriolic resistance to it.
We have listened to the arguments made by those who are against changing the flag and we simply do understand. The arguments don’t hold water. Many of these arguments simply cover a deep-seated ugliness we hoped would have disappeared by now.
Many also make the argument the people of the state should have chosen whether to retain the flag, but the general vote in 2001 to retain the flag was an anomaly. State flags have historically been chosen by legislative decision. Including in 1894 in Mississippi.
In fact, the arguments for direct choice by the people of the state fly in the face of the republic in which we live. We chose representatives and they make decisions as our proxy.
We are proud of our representatives who chose to change the flag and shake our heads at those who didn’t.
Those who oppose changing the flag say they will remember the representatives who voted for the change and work to remove them from office.
We can only hope time will soften these views and they will find the goodness we know exists in their hearts and see changing the flag is a good and noble endeavor.
