Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Flags of The Confederate States of America


Flags of The Confederate States of America
 
 
Dear Sir:
 
It has come to my attention that you sponsored a motion to the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of VFMA forbidding the display of "the Confederate Battle flag or any of its derivatives" on "museum property," said motion being carried unanimously.
 
To begin with, the "Museum property" to which you referred is legally a part of the Confederate Memorial Park as specified in an agreement between the State of Virginia and the United Confederate Veterans. As such, you, the Executive Committee, the Board of Trustees and the VFMA have neither the moral nor the legal right to make such a determination. Yet, even if you and your small cadre of politically correct bureaucrats could so determine, that certainly does not mean that other flags of the Confederate States of America - such as the First, Second and/or Third National flag(s) - could not be so displayed.
 
Therefore, in light of the historic nature of the museum - and since neither yourself nor any other member of the Executive Committee or the Board of Trustees or the VFMA itself has (at least openly) forbidden the display of these legitimate symbols of that which you are supposed to protect and preserve - I see no reason why said National flags should not be prominently displayed both inside and outside of the Museum. To fail or refuse to do so proves that it is not the Battle flag that is the problem, but the bigoted, anti-Southern prejudice of those like yourself who have been given the charge of protecting and preserving Southern history and heritage. Worse, it is just one more example of an elite group considering itself worthy to make decisions contrary to what the majority of their fellow citizens have shown time and again to be the will of the People. When the State of Virginia holds a referendum regarding the display of Confederate symbols - including the Battle flag - and the PEOPLE of Virginia vote to consign them to oblivion, then and only then will you and your fellow "trustees" have the right to censor history. Absent public support, you represent just one more small politically correct elitist clique ruling by fiat which, unfortunately, seems to be the norm these days.
 
Valerie Protopapas
Long Island, New York