Editorial: It’s time to fold flag issue and move on
Published: May 11, 2009
The Auburn City Council condemned Rev. Arthur Dowdell’s actions and urged the Ward 1 representative on the council to apologize at its regular meeting last Tuesday night.
That’s just what Dowdell did, less than two weeks after he removed small Confederate flags placed in observance of Confederate Memorial Day from the graves of Confederate soldiers at Pine Hill Cemetery.
The meeting’s outcome may not have exactly been a “kiss and make up” situation, and peace offerings made may have been just a formality, but peace offerings were made.
What the City of Auburn, its citizens, the Daughters of the Confederacy, Dowdell and anyone else involved in this controversy must do now is put this issue to rest.
Sure, heated feelings will continue to simmer.
Dowdell’s actions only served to stir the emotions of many and did nothing to heal divisions within the community.
It was counterproductive and did damage even to the arguments of those who oppose using the Confederate battle flag only in a ceremonial nature.
But what members, and leaders, of this community must do now is put this issue behind us, and concentrate on other matters that not only bring unity, but also produce a better quality of life for residents.
Talk of the flag issue is counterproductive to our growth.
We challenge the city to be good stewards of the taxpayers’ money and continue to find better means to fund schools, attract industry and maintain the city infrastructure.
We challenge Dowdell to steer away from practices that might be perceived as divisive and concentrate on measures that improve the quality of life in his ward.
Like any city councilman, Dowdell needs to fully understand the needs of his constituents and do what he can as their elected representative to meet their needs in the chambers of city hall.
He needs to put arguments for or against the Confederate flag to rest and fight battles that are productive for our growing community.
Many understand that the Confederate flag is a part of history.
What happened at Pine Hill Cemetery two weeks ago should be just that … history.
Let’s move on.
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Reader Reactions
Move on or wimp out move on sounds better but wimp out is what we are doing. I don’t understand if someone removed a mlk sign are other black mans flag or sign would everyone want to move on No Who wrote this editorial most of the time they have their name on top line. Wake up people the city of Auburn police mayor and all others don’t want to do the right thing because of the RACIST label. The real racist is Dowdell but that’s OK because he don’t know much about history and thinks the flag is racist.
“Moving on” only works when things that are wrong have been corrected - ask any dentist or exterminator.
Things can “move on” when the citizens of Auburn - and elsewhere since this is a “First Amendment” issue - are reliably assured that Councilman Dowdell will NOT be permitted to attempt to achieve by regulation what he has failed to achieve by direct action: that is, censor the battle flag in any way, ESPECIALLY on private property. If the Council and the Mayor can assure the people that this WILL NOT HAPPEN, that they will NOT entertain such a motion by Dowdell or any one acting on his behalf and/or separately, then the matter should be closed.
Unfortunately, justice was denied in this case because of the failure of the UDC to act appropriately, doubtless due to the fear that they would be labeled “racists” and other such trumped up politically correct mendacity. I understand the REASONS, why the ladies failed in their duty to the noble dead, but it is sad to see such a loss of conviction and courage on the part of Southern women who in the past kept alive their heritage at a time when doing so carried far heavier penalties than a bit of name-calling from the haters of that heritage.
Sadly, today we stand on the shoulders of giants whose like will probably never come again.
Yes! It’s time to move on…America has spent 40 trillion dollars on social justice just since 1964…it’s time to stop paying and MOVE on…remove anything that is historical about anything that has happen since 1964!!!
Move on is not the answer, OUTRAGE is and a determination to see justice done should prevail. How about me go tear up something I don’t like off your grave?
Would you fine me or just move on?
how about we all just let this go, and quit calling folks names..
keep the faith
How about an editorial calling for all the white supremacists on your Web site to stop posting. Or, better yet, close down and delete the posts on this issue. You’re keeping this issue alive by allowing your Web site to be used as a bully pulpit for hatred!
I’m framing this editorial. Y’all actually came up with a reasonable, well-thought editorial. Y’all must be graduating from first grade and moving on to second.
Excellent editorial! See you in second grade in the fall.
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