Confederate Flag
To commemorate the Civil War's Centennial, the State of South Carolina hoisted the Confederate Flag proudly above its state capitol building in 1962. During Campaign 2000, the Republican candidates have stirred the fires that General Sherman started back in 1865 when his troops burned Columbia, the South Carolina capital (Newsweek). Today, there is a strong sentiment in the country that the flag should be lowered forever. Some people feel that the flag is a symbol of slavery. The NAACP has launched an economic boycott against trade in the state until the flag is removed, and the business community seems in favor of its removal because of their anticipated loss of revenue (Newsweek). Editorials, television news shows, and commentaries tend to make one feel that overwhelmingly, the nation favors the removal of the flag from the South Carolina Capitol. This position, supported in his essay, "The Rebel Flag" by Michael Cohen, is not the only side to the issue, however. To fully comprehend the debate from the perspective of those people most closely involved, the South Carolinians, one must examine the history and heritage involved with flying this flag. Contrary to his contention that both sides o
Finally, Cohen takes the attitude that if we would just remove the flag from South Carolina's capitol, we could forget about the Civil War altogether. He says, "Unlike Viet Nam or World War II, no one lives to even vaguely recall those who fought and died during the era. No group can honestly claim they are so deeply upset about the loss of their great, great grandfathers that they must fly an offensive symbol atop a government building." Ironically, Cohen points out a valid reason for keeping the flag precisely where it is with this type of thinking. The crucial point of this whole argument is that we need to remember our mistakes and learn from them. Those "chapters in a high school text" to which he refers should be viewed as "red flags" for the future. Just forget the Civil War? Not unless we don't mind going down that bloody path again at some time in the future. indoors. The fire on Main Street was now raging and we on the back piazza in the third story. On one side the sky was the citizens can sleep well because] private property shall a few miles off in the country. On the other side, ...Sumter wind blew a fearful gale, waffling the flames from house to forth from the camp to the town shouting, hurrahing, cursing watch the wretches walking, generally staggering, back and illuminated by the burning of General Hampton's residence
Some common words found in the essay are:
South Carolina, Capture Columbia, MSNBC Newsweek, South Carolinians, Trade Compromise, Civil War, King Day, Main Street, Ironically Cohen, LeConte Sherman, south carolina, civil war, battle flag, confederate flag, flag symbol, king day, flag south, capitol building, beginning civil war, owned slaves, south carolina's, south carolina capitol, forget civil war, statement south carolina,
Approximate Word count = 1466
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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