• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1991-11-14_Vol57_No13_03

Volume 57 Number 13 Voices The Western Carolinian Page 3 Thursday, November 14, 1991 Letters to the Editor John Marshall Dennis Editor-in-Chief Confederate flag: a symbol of heritage Dear Editor, This letter is in response to the letter by Ms. Channelle James in the November 7, 1991 edition of The Western Carolinian. First, I agree wholeheartedly with Ms. James' opinion that Miss Alston is a wonderful choice for Miss Catamount and I know she will represent the school well as she reigns in intelligence, grace and beauty. I also reaffirm her disgust at those who "booed" during the Homecoming activities and hope they are ashamed because that action is completely inappropriate for any reason! My difference with Ms. James comes in a separate matter that has been discussed in many forums for decades and will not soon be resolved. I am referring to the use of the Confederate flag in public and private displays. The Confederate flag is used in many forms to represent states, companies, museums, schools and civic groups. In all of these cases, the Confederate flag is used in "good spirit" and should not be interpreted as a racial slur but rather a symbol of southern heritage. The southern United States is a special place, as most southerners will agree. One reason is that we are the only part of the present United States of America to have been defeated in battle on our own soil in defense of the "homeland". This has instilled a determination to survive and a spirit of unity to rebuild which is mixed with the emphasis of intellectual, civic and religious pursuits and "Southern Charm." I agree that terrible things were done under die Con federate flag, to African-Americans and Euro-Americans alike. However, is this a reason to completely ban that part of our heritage? Should we ban the United States flag in Cherokee, the western states or California because of what was done to the Cherokee and all Native Americans or Japanese-Americans under the flag? Of course not! The same should apply to the Confederate flag. Contrary to popular belief, slavery was not the only issue of the Civil War. In most cases, including my Confederate veteran ancestors, the Civil War was about state rights, personal freedoms and protection of the "homeland." I personally disagree with the teaching of several groups that use the Confederate flag, such as the Ku Klux Klan. However, these misled people are a great minority and I hope the rights and images of all Southerners will not be destroyed by these few. I personally consider myself from the "New South" which is based on southern traditions but has also changed and improved based on the leadership of people like Martin Luther King, Jr. I think of all peoples as one, united, equal under God and law. This opinion may offend racists or atheists, but I am entitled to my personal beliefs just as they are. The Confederate flag is a sym bol of my Southern heritage, good and bad. It is a symbol of my identity, a memorial to the great injustices of the past so that they will never be repeated and a symbol of hope and unity for the future. Just as the United States reunited, so can all races come together and live in harmony, remembering that it takes differences to create harmony. I hope that Ms. James and many who share her opinions can see my side just as I can see hers. Attacks and bans cause anger and resentment that will never lead to unification. It is only through a common understanding and rational explanation on both sides that people can come together. I personally apologize if the Confederate flag offended Ms. James or any other member of the public, but I also ask that you re-evaluate your opinion of this symbol. I ask you not to judge it based on the offensive actions of a few but the good spirit of the whole. If, after doing this, your opinion has not changed then so be it, I just hope a greater understanding has been achieved. Like a few Native Americans that spoke out against the Atlanta Braves 'Tomahawk Chop," you are entitled to your opinions; it is America! Thank you, Greg Galloway Displayed flag represents'' New South'' ideas Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the young lady's letter concerning the Confederate flag offending African Americans at WCU. First of all, I would like to address her issue about the negative slurs that might have been yelled at the new homecoming queen. Yes, I do agree that Miss Alston is a fine representative for WCU. I do not agree that the "boos" were heard from the crowd just because of her color. If you remember, each homecoming representative was affiliated with some type of school organization or greek association. There are always going to be a few bad losers in every crowd. There would have probably been "boos" regardless of who won, due to the obvious intoxication of most of the student body attending the game. In regards to the argument concerning the "hideous Rebel flag", I would like to argue that the Confederate flag is a symbol of the South as it once was. Southerners and southern fraternities simply display this flag because they are proud of their heritage. The same can be said for some African Americans who wear traditional African dress around campus, be it jewelry, clothing, or what not. They are proudof their heritage, and are well justified in doing so. Why can't people accept the fact that Southerners do not want the "old South" to rise again, but are only showing their pride in where they live. The Confederate flag should not offend African Americans because the flag does not stand for pro-slavery or oppression of the black race. The young lady that wrote the letter seems to be lacking in some basic knowledge of our nation's history. The Confederate flag was not adopted by the Confederacy until after the start of the Civil War. The Civil War was not fought just over the issue of slavery, or how the blacks were "robbed, beaten, and killed". Yes, slavery is a terrible thing, something that we would all like to forget. However, the Confederate flag does not symbolize prejudice feelings towards African Americans. It is simply a banner that many of the student's ancestors died fighting behind. It symbolizes all southerner's pride in where their ancestors lived, regardless of some of the atrocities that were committed against blacks during that time period. The important thing to be remembered is that we attend a southern university in the great state of North Carolina. The Confederate flag is a part of the way of life of the South, and it always will be. If the young lady can't accept the fact that she is living in the South and attending a southern university, then maybe she should consider attending another university. I feel that it is she who is living in the past, not those individuals who wave the Confederate flag for the ideas of the "New South". Thank You, Anonymous Southerners proud of heritage and flag Dear Editorial Staff, I was both shocked and appalled at the bashing of the south that you printed in your November 7th issue of The Western Carolinian. It is amazing to me the utter ignorance that one of our students decided to display through your editorial column. I am truly sorry to inform Ms. Channell James that we (Southerners) are extremely proud of our heritage and refuse to take such militant stands against us seriously. The quote "as long as I and a lot of other African Americans are alive, the old South will not rise again" seems to be militant to say the least. Does the term "oppression" come to mind? On another point it is not a "hideous Rebel Flag", as Ms. James so eloquently put it, it is called a Confederate Flag. Perhaps Ms. James is inneed of a history lesson. The Confederate Rag represents neither hatred of blacks, slavery or anything of the kind. (Consultation with any Freshman history professor will surely clarify this for anyone who would like to base their opinions on factual information.) And to state that people who display this flag represent murderers, rapists, and thieves is a slap in the face of every Southern American alive. I would like to challenge Ms. James to look at some of the atrocities that have taken place under the American Flag, or would you like to do away with it also? Does one have to be Black to be proud of his or her heritage? I think not. What I would like to know "as a tuition paying member of this school" is why I have to hide the flag of my heritage, while African Americans parade theirs around their necks. As I remember it, displaying a flag in no way infringes on anyone's rights. If you are offended because of the displaying of a flag, that is a personal problem, not a legal one. Everyone has prejudices against others, that sadly enough is a fact of life, it is another story entirely to imply that everyone who displays the Confederate Flag is a racist. Many Southerners lost relatives in the Civil War, and to be ashamed of the colors under which they fought and died would be disgraceful to say the least. The fact that some hate groups have chosen to use our flag as a symbol of hatred saddens us more than anyone else. In conclusion I would like to stress that I am not a member of any fraternity, nor do I represent any organization, school-related or private. I am only a student who feels his heritage was ridiculed unjustly. In her article, Ms. James suggested "ignorance or hatred" for the displaying of the Confederate Flag. As for her article, I suggest both. Thank you, A Concerned Student I T/te Western Carolinian \ Western Carolina University The Old Student Union P.O. Box 66 Cullowhee, NC 28723 John Marshall Dennis Editor-in-Chief Assistant to the Editor Laura Adams Associate Editors Charles Baldwin - Business Jennifer Mann - News Stephanie L. Messer - Copy and Layout Robert M. Robertson - Sports Has the "Magic" gone out of life? Photographers Stephanie Messer Hunter Pape Typesetters James Miller Laura Whitmire Layout & Design Dawn Cook Office Manager Mike Greene Distribution Elizabeth Phlegar Karen Vollar V. Writers Misha Baker Dawn Cook Jeff DeMoe Suzanne Kendall Dave McCaskill Barrett Nichols Melissa Richardson Kim Shively Derek Smolik Karen Sovick Jimmy White Julie Wingruber Ad Salesperson Christa Humphrey Advisor John Moore Dear Editor, On November 7, 1991, I learned, along with the rest of the world, that one of the greatest basketball pi ayers of all time - and one of the greatest human beings of all time - has been infected with the HIV virus (which causes AIDS disease). Ervin "Magic" Johnson has the virus. I have heard that he got it through heterosexual sex, but it does not matter ho w he got it or how anybody else got this virus. Magic is my hero. I loved watching him lead the Lakers to victory over Philadelphia and Dr. J., Detroit and Isiah, and the best of all, the Boston Celtics and Larry Bird. Magic could do things with a basketball that few people could imagine. Yet Magic made it look easy. I am saddened that I won't get to see Magic play out the rest of his career and have a "retirement tour" like Kareem Abdul Jabbar. And I am scared that one of my friends or family members could catch this terrible disease. Guys, wear condoms!! Girls, insist that the guys wear condoms; if they don't, do not engage in any sexual activity with them. I also feel a great deal of anger. Magic and 40 million other human beings worldwide have the virus and will most likely die. Over 1,000,000 human beings (not fags, queers or junkies, but human beings) have already died. By the way, 1 out of 1000 (conservative estimate) college students have the HIV virus. That's sji at WCU. What really makes me angry - the real tragedy of Magic's illness - is that our government has dragged its feet for 10 years on this issue. If rabies mutated to such a point that all current treatments did not work, our government would mount a massive effort to develop new treatments. AIDS is just as fatal - if not more so - as untreated rabies. Our government needs to develop a massive project - similar to the Manhattan Project that created the atomic bomb - to beat this disease. I would favor creation of a cabinet-level position - and $20 billion a year, minimum - to beat this disease. Yes, it can be beaten and I would like to see it beaten within 5 years. Heck we put a man on the moon 8 years after President Kennedy called for it. We can do it! I want to see it done before Magic and anybody else has to die. And if we as a society cannot devote enough resources to save Magic and the other human beings who are infected, then we are the sick ones. And maybe we don't deserve to have someone as special and beautiful as Magic in our world. Sincerely, Daniel M. Breen J The Western Carolinian welcomes editorial Input from students, faculty* and staff on matters of public interest. Please address correspondence to: Voices P.O. Box 66 CuliowheeyNC 28723 AH Submissions will be considered, but The Western Carolinian reserves the rightto refuse publication of offensive or otherwise unsuitable;material. The Carolinian is not responsible for opinions expressed on the Editorial Page. Student On The Street "What does the Confederate flag symbolize to you?" Name: Keith Clark Major: English Education Class: Junior Hometown: Canton I think of war, democracy, partial freedom. Name: Kevin Helms Major: Social Sciences Class: Senior Hometown: Marshville It represents our southern heritage. Name: Christina Smellegar Major: CTM Class: Senior Hometown: Greensboro Southern rebel. Name: Katherine Frawley Major: Marketing Class: Junior Hometown: Concord Freedom. Name: Duane Howell Major: Business Admin. Class: Graduate Hometown: Goldsboro The confederacy, the Old South which was once upon a time. Name: Tony Freeman Major: Theraputic Rec. Class: Senior Hometown: Bryson City It represents the wants of an individual to be different from others but also be accepted by his or her '. peers as a unique person. Name: Don Bridges Major: Natural Resource Mgt. Class: Sophomore Hometown: Shelby It was a symbol representing the freedom of the states from the centralized power of the federal government at that time, in order to give more power to the states. Name: Stefanie Mixon Major: Anthropology Class: Junior Hometown: Sylva David Duke. Period. Carolinian photos by Hunter Pape

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University's student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina University
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1991-11-14
  • Date digitized: 2019-10-02
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22.75" x 14.25"
  • Pages: 10 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1991-11-14_Vol57_No13
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library